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The Scribes and Pharisees Denounced

23 (A)Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to His disciples, saying: (B)The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses; therefore all that they tell you, do and keep, but do not do according to their deeds; for they say things and do not do them. (C)And they tie up heavy burdens and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as a finger. But they do all their deeds (D)to be noticed by men; for they (E)broaden their [a]phylacteries and lengthen (F)the tassels of their garments. And they (G)love the place of honor at banquets and the best seats in the synagogues, and respectful greetings in the marketplaces, and being called (H)Rabbi by men. But (I)do not be called (J)Rabbi; for One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone on earth your father; for (K)One is your Father, He who is in heaven. 10 Do not be called instructors; for One is your Instructor, that is, Christ. 11 (L)But the greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 (M)And whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 23:5 Small cases containing Scripture texts worn on the left arm and forehead for religious purposes

Jesus Denounces the Scribes and the Pharisees(A)

23 Then Jesus told the crowds and his disciples, “The scribes and the Pharisees administer the authority of Moses,[a] so do whatever they tell you and follow it, but stop doing what they do, because they don’t do what they say. They tie up burdens that are heavy and unbearable and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they refuse to lift a finger to remove them.

“They do everything to be seen by people. They increase the size of their phylacteries[b] and lengthen the tassels of their garments. They love to have the places of honor at festivals, the best seats in the synagogues, to be greeted in the marketplaces, and to be called ‘Rabbi’[c] by people.

“But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’[d] because you have only one teacher, and all of you are brothers. And don’t call anyone on earth ‘Father,’ because you have only one Father, the one in heaven. 10 Nor are you to be called ‘Teachers,’ because you have only one teacher, the Messiah![e] 11 The person who is greatest among you must be your servant. 12 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 23:2 Lit. Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat
  2. Matthew 23:5 I.e. leather cases containing Scripture texts
  3. Matthew 23:7 Rabbi is Heb. for Master and/or Teacher.
  4. Matthew 23:8 Rabbi is Heb. for Master and/or Teacher
  5. Matthew 23:10 Or Christ