Jesus Denounces the Scribes and the Pharisees^(A)

23 Then Jesus told the crowds and his disciples, ² “The scribes and the Pharisees administer the authority of Moses,^{[a] 3} so do whatever they tell you and follow it, but stop doing what they do, because they don’t do what they say. ⁴ 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.

⁵ “They do everything to be seen by people. They increase the size of their phylacteries^[b] and lengthen the tassels of their garments. ⁶ They love to have the places of honor at festivals, the best seats in the synagogues, ⁷ to be greeted in the marketplaces, and to be called ‘Rabbi’^[c] by people.

⁸ “But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’^[d] because you have only one teacher, and all of you are brothers. ⁹ 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.