Matthew 23:2-33

2saying: “1The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses; 3therefore all that they tell you, do and observe, but do not do according to their deeds; for they say things and do not do them. 42They 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. 5But they do all their deeds 3to be noticed by men; for they 4broaden their 5phylacteries and lengthen 6the tassels of their garments. 6They 7love the place of honor at banquets and the chief seats in the synagogues, 7and respectful greetings in the market places, and being called 8Rabbi by men. 8But 9do not be called 10Rabbi; for One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers. 9Do not call anyone on earth your father; for 11One is your Father, He who is in heaven. 10Do not be called 12leaders; for One is your Leader, that is, Christ. 1113But the greatest among you shall be your servant. 1214Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.

13“15But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, 16because you shut off the kingdom of heaven 17from 18people; for you do not enter in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in. 14[19Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because 20you devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense you make long prayers; therefore you will receive greater condemnation.]

15“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you travel around on sea and land to make one 2122proselyte; and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of 2324hell as yourselves.

16“Woe to you, 25blind guides, who say, ‘26Whoever swears by the 27temple, that is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the 28temple is obligated.’ 17You fools and blind men! 29Which is 30more important, the gold or the 31temple that sanctified the gold? 18And, ‘Whoever swears by the altar, that is nothing, but whoever swears by the 32offering on it, he is obligated.’ 19You blind men, 33which is 34more important, the 35offering, or the altar that sanctifies the 36offering? 20Therefore, 37whoever swears by the altar, swears both by 38the altar and by everything on it. 21And 39whoever swears by the 40temple, swears both by 41the temple and by Him who 42dwells within it. 22And 43whoever swears by heaven, 44swears both by the throne of God and by Him who sits upon it.

23“45Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and 46cummin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others. 24You 47blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!

25“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For 48you clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full 49of robbery and self-indulgence. 26You blind Pharisee, first 50clean the inside of the cup and of the dish, so that the outside of it may become clean also.

27“51Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. 28So you, too, outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

29“52Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the monuments of the righteous, 30and say, ‘If we had been living in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partners with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ 31So you testify against yourselves, that you 53are 54sons of those who murdered the prophets. 32Fill up, then, the measure of the guilt of your fathers. 33You serpents, 55you brood of vipers, how 56will you escape the 57sentence of 5859hell?