Matthew 23:3-39

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. 41They 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 2to be noticed by men; for they 3broaden their 4phylacteries and lengthen 5the tassels of their garments. 6They 6love the place of honor at banquets and the chief seats in the synagogues, 7and respectful greetings in the market places, and being called 7Rabbi by men. 8But 8do not be called 9Rabbi; for One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers. 9Do not call anyone on earth your father; for 10One is your Father, He who is in heaven. 10Do not be called 11leaders; for One is your Leader, that is, Christ. 1112But the greatest among you shall be your servant. 1213Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.

13“14But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, 15because you shut off the kingdom of heaven 16from 17people; for you do not enter in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in. 14[18Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because 19you 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 2021proselyte; and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of 2223hell as yourselves.

16“Woe to you, 24blind guides, who say, ‘25Whoever swears by the 26temple, that is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the 27temple is obligated.’ 17You fools and blind men! 28Which is 29more important, the gold or the 30temple that sanctified the gold? 18And, ‘Whoever swears by the altar, that is nothing, but whoever swears by the 31offering on it, he is obligated.’ 19You blind men, 32which is 33more important, the 34offering, or the altar that sanctifies the 35offering? 20Therefore, 36whoever swears by the altar, swears both by 37the altar and by everything on it. 21And 38whoever swears by the 39temple, swears both by 40the temple and by Him who 41dwells within it. 22And 42whoever swears by heaven, 43swears both by the throne of God and by Him who sits upon it.

23“44Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and 45cummin, 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 46blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!

25“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For 47you clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full 48of robbery and self-indulgence. 26You blind Pharisee, first 49clean the inside of the cup and of the dish, so that the outside of it may become clean also.

27“50Woe 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“51Woe 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 52are 53sons of those who murdered the prophets. 32Fill up, then, the measure of the guilt of your fathers. 33You serpents, 54you brood of vipers, how 55will you escape the 56sentence of 5758hell?

34“59Therefore, behold, 60I am sending you prophets and wise men and scribes; some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will 61scourge in your synagogues, and 62persecute from city to city, 35so that upon you may fall the guilt of all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous 63Abel to the blood of Zechariah, the 64son of Berechiah, whom 65you murdered between the 66temple and the altar. 36Truly I say to you, all these things will come upon 67this generation.

37“68Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who 69kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, 70the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling. 38Behold, 71your house is being left to you desolate! 39For I say to you, from now on you will not see Me until you say, ‘72Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’”