1Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, (Mt 23:5; Mr 12:38; Lu 11:43; Lu 20:45)2“The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat, (De 17:10; Ezr 7:6; Ezr 7:10; Ezr 7:25; Ne 8:4; Joh 9:28)3so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice. (Mt 5:20; Mt 15:3; Ro 2:17)4They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear,[1] and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. (Mt 11:28; Lu 11:46; Ac 15:10)5They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, (Ex 13:9; De 6:8; De 11:18; Mt 6:1; Mt 6:16; Mt 9:20; Mt 23:1; Joh 5:44)6and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues (Lu 11:43; Lu 14:7)7and greetings in the marketplaces and being called rabbi[2] by others. (Mt 11:16; Mt 20:3; Mt 23:6; Joh 1:38)8But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers.[3] (Lu 22:32; Joh 21:23; Phm 1:16; Jas 3:1)9And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. (Mal 1:6; Mt 6:9; Mt 7:11; 1Co 1:12; 1Co 3:4)10Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ. (Mt 1:17)11The greatest among you shall be your servant. (Mt 20:26)12Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. (Pr 29:23; Eze 21:26; Mt 18:4; Lu 14:11; Lu 18:14; Jas 4:6; Jas 4:10; 1Pe 5:5)13“But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in.[4] (Mt 5:20; Mt 16:19; Mt 21:31; Lu 7:30; Lu 11:52)15Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell[5] as yourselves. (Mt 5:29; Joh 17:12; Ac 2:10; Ac 6:5; Ac 13:43; 2Th 2:3)16“Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.’ (Mt 5:33; Mt 15:14; Mt 23:17; Mt 23:19; Mt 23:26; Joh 9:39; Ro 2:19; 2Pe 1:9; Re 3:17)17You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that has made the gold sacred? (Ex 30:29)18And you say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gift that is on the altar, he is bound by his oath.’ (Mt 5:23)19You blind men! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that makes the gift sacred? (Ex 29:37)20So whoever swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it.21And whoever swears by the temple swears by it and by him who dwells in it. (1Ki 8:13; 2Ch 6:2; Ps 26:8; Ps 132:14)22And whoever swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by him who sits upon it. (Mt 5:34; Mt 21:25; Re 4:2)23“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. (De 14:22; 1Sa 15:22; Ps 33:5; Isa 28:25; Isa 28:27; Jer 5:1; Mic 6:8; Zec 7:9; Lu 11:42; Lu 18:12)24You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel! (Mt 19:24)25“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. (Mt 15:11; Mr 7:4; Lu 11:39; Lu 16:14; Lu 20:47)26You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean. (Mt 23:25)27“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness. (Nu 19:16; 2Ki 23:16; Lu 11:44; Ac 23:3; Eph 5:3)28So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. (Mt 23:5; Lu 12:1)29“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and decorate the monuments of the righteous, (Lu 11:47)30saying, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’31Thus you witness against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. (Ac 7:51)32Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers. (Ge 15:16; Da 8:23; 1Th 2:15)33You serpents, you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to hell? (Mt 3:7; Mt 12:34; Mt 23:15)34Therefore I send you prophets and wise men and scribes, some of whom you will kill and crucify, and some you will flog in your synagogues and persecute from town to town, (Mt 10:16; Mt 10:17; Mt 10:23; Mt 13:52; Mt 21:35; Mr 13:9; Lu 11:49; Lu 12:11; Lu 21:12; Ac 13:1; Ac 22:19; Ac 26:11; 1Co 12:28)35so that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah the son of Barachiah,[6] whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar. (Ge 4:4; Ge 4:8; Ex 40:6; 2Ki 16:14; Eze 40:47; Zec 1:1; Lu 1:9; Heb 11:4; 1Jo 3:12; Re 18:24)36Truly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation. (Mt 10:23; Mt 16:28; Mt 24:34)
Lament over Jerusalem
37“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! (De 32:11; Ru 2:12; Ps 147:2; Pr 1:24; Mt 21:35; Lu 13:34; Lu 19:41; Lu 23:28; Joh 5:40)38See, your house is left to you desolate. (Isa 64:11; Jer 12:7; Jer 22:5)39For I tell you, you will not see me again, until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’” (Ps 118:26; Mt 21:9)
Matthew 23
New International Version
A warning against hypocrisy
1Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples:2‘The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat.3So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practise what they preach.4They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.5‘Everything they do is done for people to see: They make their phylacteries[1] wide and the tassels on their garments long;6they love the place of honour at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues;7they love to be greeted with respect in the market-places and to be called “Rabbi” by others.8‘But you are not to be called “Rabbi”, for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers.9And do not call anyone on earth “father”, for you have one Father, and he is in heaven.10Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Messiah.11The greatest among you will be your servant.12For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.
Seven woes on the teachers of the law and the Pharisees
13-14‘Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.[2] (Mr 12:40; Lu 20:47)15‘Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when you have succeeded, you make them twice as much a child of hell as you are.16‘Woe to you, blind guides! You say, “If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but anyone who swears by the gold of the temple is bound by that oath.”17You blind fools! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes the gold sacred?18You also say, “If anyone swears by the altar, it means nothing; but anyone who swears by the gift on the altar is bound by that oath.”19You blind men! Which is greater: the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred?20Therefore, anyone who swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it.21And anyone who swears by the temple swears by it and by the one who dwells in it.22And anyone who swears by heaven swears by God’s throne and by the one who sits on it.23‘Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices – mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law – justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practised the latter, without neglecting the former.24You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.25‘Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.26Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.27‘Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean.28In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.29‘Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous.30And you say, “If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.”31So you testify against yourselves that you are the descendants of those who murdered the prophets.32Go ahead, then, and complete what your ancestors started!33‘You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell?34Therefore I am sending you prophets and sages and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify; others you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town.35And so upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berekiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.36Truly I tell you, all this will come upon this generation.37‘Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing.38Look, your house is left to you desolate.39For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.” ’ (Ps 118:26)
Matthew 23
King James Version
1Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples,2Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat:3All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.4For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.5But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,6And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues,7And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.8But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.9And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.10Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.11But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.12And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.13But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.14Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.15Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.16Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor!17Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold?18And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty.19Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift?20Whoso therefore shall swear by the altar, sweareth by it, and by all things thereon.21And whoso shall swear by the temple, sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth therein.22And he that shall swear by heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth thereon.23Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.24Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.25Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.26Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.27Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.28Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.29Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous,30And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.31Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets.32Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers.33Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?34Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city:35That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.36Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation.37O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!38Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.39For 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.
Matthew 23
New International Reader’s Version
A warning against doing things for the wrong reasons
1Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples.2‘The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat,’ he said.3‘So you must be careful to do everything they say. But don’t do what they do. They don’t practise what they preach.4They tie up heavy loads that are hard to carry. Then they put them on other people’s shoulders. But they themselves aren’t willing to lift a finger to move them.5‘Everything they do is done for others to see. On their foreheads and arms they wear little boxes that hold Scripture verses. They make the boxes very wide. And they make the tassels on their coats very long.6They love to sit down in the place of honour at dinners. They also love to have the most important seats in the synagogues.7They love to be greeted with respect in the markets. They love it when people call them “Rabbi”.8‘But you shouldn’t be called “Rabbi”. You have only one Teacher, and you are all brothers.9Do not call anyone on earth “father”. You have one Father, and he is in heaven.10You shouldn’t be called “teacher”. You have one Teacher, and he is the Messiah.11The most important person among you will be your servant.12People who lift themselves up will be made humble. And people who make themselves humble will be lifted up.
How terrible for the teachers of the law and the Pharisees
13-14‘How terrible it will be for you, teachers of the law and Pharisees! You pretenders! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. You yourselves do not enter. And you will not let those enter who are trying to.15‘How terrible for you, teachers of the law and Pharisees! You pretenders! You travel everywhere to win one person to your faith. Then you make them twice as much a child of hell as you are.16‘How terrible for you, blind guides! You say, “If anyone makes a promise in the name of the temple, it means nothing. But anyone who makes a promise in the name of the gold of the temple must keep that promise.”17You are blind and foolish! Which is more important? Is it the gold? Or is it the temple that makes the gold holy?18You also say, “If anyone makes a promise in the name of the altar, it means nothing. But anyone who makes a promise in the name of the gift on the altar must keep that promise.”19You are blind! Which is more important? Is it the gift? Or is it the altar that makes the gift holy?20So anyone making a promise in the name of the altar makes a promise in the name of it and everything on it.21And anyone making a promise in the name of the temple makes a promise in the name of it and the one who lives in it.22And anyone making a promise in the name of heaven makes a promise in the name of God’s throne and the one who sits on it.23‘How terrible for you, teachers of the law and Pharisees! You pretenders! You give God a tenth of your spices, like mint, dill and cummin. But you have not practised the more important things of the law, which are fairness, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practised the last things without failing to do the first.24You blind guides! You remove the smallest insect from your food. But you swallow a whole camel!25‘How terrible for you, teachers of the law and Pharisees! You pretenders! You clean the outside of a cup and dish. But on the inside you are full of greed. You only want to satisfy yourselves.26Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish. Then the outside will also be clean.27‘How terrible for you, teachers of the law and Pharisees! You pretenders! You are like tombs that are painted white. They look beautiful on the outside. But on the inside they are full of the bones of the dead. They are also full of other things that are not pure and “clean”.28It is the same with you. On the outside you seem to be doing what is right. But on the inside you are full of what is wrong. You pretend to be what you are not.29‘How terrible for you, teachers of the law and Pharisees! You pretenders! You build tombs for the prophets. You decorate the graves of the godly.30And you say, “If we had lived in the days of those who lived before us, we wouldn’t have done what they did. We wouldn’t have helped to kill the prophets.”31So you are witnesses against yourselves. You admit that you are the children of those who murdered the prophets.32So go ahead and finish the sins that those who lived before you started!33‘You nest of poisonous snakes! How will you escape from being sentenced to hell?34So I am sending you prophets, wise people, and teachers. You will kill some of them. You will nail some to a cross. Others you will whip in your synagogues. You will chase them from town to town.35So you will pay for all the godly people’s blood spilled on earth. I mean from the blood of godly Abel to the blood of Zechariah, the son of Berekiah. Zechariah was the one you murdered between the temple and the altar.36What I’m about to tell you is true. All this will happen to those who are now living.37‘Jerusalem! Jerusalem! You kill the prophets and throw stones in order to kill those who are sent to you. Many times I have wanted to gather your people together. I have wanted to be like a hen who gathers her chicks under her wings. And you would not let me!38Look, your house is left empty.39I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, “Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.” ’ (Ps 118:26)