Matthew 23:2-33

2saying: “1The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses. 3Therefore, whatever they tell you, do and 2comply with it all, but do not do 3as they do; for they say things and do not do them. 4And 4they tie up heavy burdens and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as their finger. 5And they do all their deeds 5to be noticed by other people; for they 6broaden their 7phylacteries and lengthen 8the tassels of their garments. 6And they 9love the place of honor at banquets, and the seats of honor in the synagogues, 7and personal greetings in the marketplaces, and being called 1011Rabbi by the people. 8But as for you, 12do not be called 1314Rabbi; for only One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers and sisters. 9And do not call anyone on earth your father; for only 15One is your Father, He who is in heaven. 10And do not be called 16leaders; for only One is your Leader, that is, Christ. 1117But the greatest of you shall be your servant. 1218Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled, and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.

13“19But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, 20because you shut the kingdom of heaven in front of people; for you do not enter it yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in.21

15“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you travel around on sea and land to make one 2223proselyte; and when he becomes one, you 24make him twice as much a son of 2526hell as yourselves.

16“Woe to you, 27blind guides, who say, ‘28Whoever swears by the 29temple, that is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the 30temple is obligated.’ 17You fools and blind men! 31Which is 32more important, the gold or the 33temple that sanctified the gold? 18And you say, ‘Whoever swears by the altar, that is nothing; but whoever swears by the 34offering that is on it is obligated.’ 19You blind men, 35which is 36more important, the 37offering or the altar that sanctifies the 38offering? 20Therefore, the one who swears by the altar, swears both by 39the altar and by everything on it. 21And the one who swears by the 40temple, swears both by 41the temple and by Him who 42dwells in it. 22And the one who swears by 43heaven, 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 46cumin, 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 48strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!

25“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For 49you clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full 50of robbery and self-indulgence. 26You blind Pharisee, first 51clean the inside of the cup and of the dish, so that the 52outside of it may also become clean.

27“53Woe 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 people, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

29“54Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs for the prophets and decorate the monuments of the righteous, 30and you 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 55are 56sons of those who murdered the prophets. 3257Fill up, then, the measure of the guilt of your fathers. 33You snakes, 58you 59offspring of vipers, how 60will you escape the 61sentence of 6263hell?