Matthew 23

Seven Woes Pronounced on the Scribes and Pharisees

1 Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples,2 saying, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on the seat of Moses.3 Therefore do and observe everything that they tell you, but do not do as they do,t for they tell others to do something and do not do it themselves.4 And they tie up heavy burdenst and put them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing with their finger to move them.5 And they do all their deeds in order to be seen by people, for they make their phylacteries broad and make theirt tassels long.6 And they love the place of honor at banquets and the best seats in the synagogues7 and the greetings in the marketplaces and to be called ‘Rabbi’ by people.8 But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ because one is your teacher, and you are all brothers,9 And do not call anyone your father on earth, for one is your heavenly Father.10 And do not be called teachers, because one is your teacher, the Christ.11 And the greatest among you will be your servant.

12 And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
13 “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees—hypocrites!—because you shut the kingdom of heaven before people! For you do not enter, nor permit those wanting to go in to enter.t15 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees—hypocrites!—because you travel around the sea and the dry land to make one convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are!16 “Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘Whoever swears by the temple, it is nothing! But whoever swears by the gold of the temple is bound by his oath.’t17 Fools and blind people! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that makes the gold holy?18 And, ‘Whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing! But whoever swears by the gift that is on it is bound by his oath.’t19 Blind people! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that makes the gift holy?20 Therefore the one who swears by the altar swears by it and by everything that is on it.21 And the one who swears by the temple swears by it and by the one who dwells in it.

22 And the one who swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by the one who sits on it.
23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees—hypocrites!—because you pay a tenth of mint and dill and cumin, and neglect the more important matters of the law—justice and mercy and faithfulness! It was necessaryt to do these things while not neglecting those.t

24 Blind guides who filter out a gnat and swallow a camel!
25 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees—hypocrites!—because you cleanse the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence!

26 Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the dish,t so that the outside of it may become clean also.
27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees—hypocrites!—because you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and of everything unclean!

28 In the same way, on the outside you also appear righteous to people, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
29 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees—hypocrites!—because you build the tombs of the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous,30 and you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partners with them in the blood of the prophets!’31 Thus you testify against yourselves that you are descendants of those who murdered the prophets!32 And you—fill up the measure of your fathers!33 Serpents! Offspring of vipers! How will you escape from the condemnation to hell?34 For this reason, behold, I am sending to you prophets and wise men and scribes. Some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will flog in your synagogues and will pursue from town to town,35 so that upon you will come all the righteous blood shed on the earth from the blood of righteous Abel up to the blood of Zechariah son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.

36 Truly I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation!

The Lament over Jerusalem

37 “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How many times I wanted to gather your children together the wayt a hen gathers her young together under her wings, and you were not willing!38 Behold, your house has been left to you desolate!

39 For I tell you, you will never see me from now on until you say,
‘Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ”t

Matthew 23

1 Then spake Jesus to the multitudes and to his disciples,2 saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses seat:3 all things therefore whatsoever they bid you, these do and observe: but do not ye after their works; for they say, and do not.4 Yea, they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with their finger.5 But all their works they do to be seen of men: for they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,6 and love the chief place at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues,7 and the salutations in the marketplaces, and to be called of men, Rabbi.8 But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your teacher, and all ye are brethren.9 And call no man your father on the earth: for one is your Father, even he who is in heaven.10 Neither be ye called masters: for one is your master, even the Christ.11 But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be humbled; and whosoever shall humble himself shall be exalted.

13 But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye shut the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye enter not in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering in to enter.14 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows’ houses, even while for a pretence ye make long prayers: therefore ye shall receive greater condemnation.

15 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he is become so, ye make him twofold more a son of hell than yourselves.

16 Woe unto you, ye blind guides, that say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor.17 Ye fools and blind: for which is greater, the gold, or the temple that hath sanctified the gold?18 And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gift that is upon it, he is a debtor.19 Ye blind: for which is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift?20 He therefore that sweareth by the altar, sweareth by it, and by all things thereon.21 And he that sweareth by the temple, sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth therein.22 And he that sweareth by the heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth thereon.

23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye tithe mint and anise and cummin, and have left undone the weightier matters of the law, justice, and mercy, and faith: but these ye ought to have done, and not to have left the other undone.24 Ye blind guides, that strain out the gnat, and swallow the camel!

25 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye cleanse the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full from extortion and excess.26 Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first the inside of the cup and of the platter, that the outside thereof may become clean also.

27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which outwardly appear beautiful, but inwardly are full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but inwardly ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

29 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye build the sepulchres of the prophets, and garnish the tombs of the righteous,30 and say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we should not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.31 Wherefore ye witness to yourselves, that ye are sons of them that slew the prophets.32 Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers.33 Ye serpents, ye offspring of vipers, how shall ye escape the judgment of hell?34 Therefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: some of them shall ye kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute from city to city:35 that upon you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of Abel the righteous unto the blood of Zachariah son of Barachiah, whom ye slew between the sanctuary and the altar.36 Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation.

37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, that killeth the prophets, and stoneth them that are sent unto her! how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!38 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.39 For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.