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Matthew 23
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Matthew 23

New American Standard Bible 2020

Hypocrisy Exposed

11ThenG5119 JesusG2424 spokeG2980 to the crowdsG3793 and to His disciplesG3101, 2sayingG3004: “2The scribesG1122 and the PhariseesG5330 have seatedG2523 themselvesG2523 in the chairG2515 of MosesG3475. 3ThereforeG3767, whateverG3745G1437 they tellG3004 you, doG4160 and 3complyG5083 withG5083 it allG3956, but do not doG4160 4as they doG2041; for they sayG3004 things and do not doG4160 them. 4And 5they tieG1195 upG1195 heavyG926 burdensG5413 and layG2007 them on people’sG444 shouldersG5606, but they themselvesG846 are unwillingG3756G2309 to moveG2795 them with so much as their fingerG1147. 5And they doG4160 allG3956 their deedsG2041 6to be noticedG2300 by other peopleG444; for they 7broadenG4115 their 8phylacteriesG5440 and lengthenG3170 9the tasselsG2899 of their garments. 6And they 10loveG5368 the placeG4411 ofG4411 honorG4411 at banquetsG1173, and the seatsG4410 ofG4410 honorG4410 in the synagoguesG4864, 7and personalG783 greetingsG783 in the marketplacesG58, and being calledG2564 1112RabbiG4461 by the peopleG444. 8But as for you, 13do not be calledG2564 1415RabbiG4461; for only OneG1520 is your TeacherG1320, and you are allG3956 brothersG80 and sisters. 9And do not callG2564 anyone on earthG1093 your fatherG3962; for only 16OneG1520 is your FatherG3962, He who is in heavenG3770. 10And do not be calledG2564 17leadersG2519; for only OneG1520 is your LeaderG2519, that is, ChristG5547. 1118But the greatestG3173 of you shall be your servantG1249. 1219WhoeverG3748 exaltsG5312 himselfG1438 shall be humbledG5013, and whoeverG3748 humblesG5013 himselfG1438 shall be exaltedG5312.

Eight Woes

13“20But woeG3759 to you, scribesG1122 and PhariseesG5330, hypocritesG5273, 21becauseG3754 you shutG2808 the kingdomG932 of heavenG3772 inG1715 frontG1715 ofG1715 peopleG444; for you do not enterG1525 it yourselvesG4771, norG3761 do you allowG863 thoseG3588 who are enteringG1525 to goG1525 inG1525.22

15“WoeG3759 to you, scribesG1122 and PhariseesG5330, hypocritesG5273, becauseG3754 you travelG4013 aroundG4013 on seaG2281 and landG3584 to makeG4160 oneG1520 2324proselyteG4339; and whenG3752 he becomesG1096 one, you 25makeG4160 him twiceG1362 asG1362 muchG1362 a sonG5207 of 2627hellG1067 as yourselvesG4771.

16“WoeG3759 to you, 28blindG5185 guidesG3595, who sayG3004, ‘29WhoeverG3739G302 swearsG3660 by the 30templeG3485, that is nothingG3762; but whoeverG3739G302 swearsG3660 by the goldG5557 of the 31templeG3485 is obligatedG3784.’ 17You foolsG3474 and blindG5185 menG5185! 32WhichG5101 is 33moreG3173 importantG3173, the goldG5557 orG2228 the 34templeG3485 that sanctifiedG37 the goldG5557? 18And you say, ‘WhoeverG3739G302 swearsG3660 by the altarG2379, that is nothingG3762; but whoeverG3739G302 swearsG3660 by the 35offeringG1435 that is on it is obligatedG3784.’ 19You blindG5185 menG5185, 36whichG5101 is 37moreG3173 importantG3173, the 38offeringG1435 orG2228 the altarG2379 that sanctifiesG37 the 39offeringG1435? 20ThereforeG3767, the one who swearsG3660 by the altarG2379, swearsG3660 both by 40the altarG2379 and by everythingG3956 on it. 21And the one who swearsG3660 by the 41templeG3485, swearsG3660 both by 42the templeG846 and by Him who 43dwellsG2730 in it. 22And the one who swearsG3660 by 44heavenG3772, 45swearsG3660 both by the throneG2362 of GodG2316 and by Him who sitsG2521 upon it.

23“46WoeG3759 to you, scribesG1122 and PhariseesG5330, hypocritesG5273! For you titheG586 mintG2238 and dillG432 and 47cuminG2951, and have neglectedG863 the weightierG926 provisionsG926 of the LawG3551: justiceG2920 and mercyG1656 and faithfulnessG4102; but theseG3778 are the things you shouldG1163 have doneG4160 withoutG2532G3361 neglectingG863 the othersG2548. 24You 48blindG5185 guidesG3595, who 49strainG1368 outG1368 a gnatG2971 and swallowG2666 a camelG2574!

25“WoeG3759 to you, scribesG1122 and PhariseesG5330, hypocritesG5273! For 50you cleanG2511 the outsideG1855 of the cupG4221 and of the dishG3953, but insideG2081 they are fullG1073 51of robberyG724 and self-indulgenceG192. 26You blindG5185 PhariseeG5330, firstG4413 52cleanG2511 the insideG1787 of the cupG4221 and of the dishG3953, soG2443 thatG2443 the 53outsideG1622 of it may alsoG2532 becomeG1096 cleanG2513.

27“54WoeG3759 to you, scribesG1122 and PhariseesG5330, hypocritesG5273! For you are likeG3945 whitewashedG2867 tombsG5028 whichG3748 on the outsideG1855 appearG5316 beautifulG5611, but insideG2081 they are fullG1073 of deadG3498 men’sG3498 bonesG3747 and allG3956 uncleannessG167. 28SoG3779 you tooG2532, outwardlyG1855 appearG5316 righteousG1342 to peopleG444, but inwardlyG2081 you are fullG3324 of hypocrisyG5272 and lawlessnessG458.

29“55WoeG3759 to you, scribesG1122 and PhariseesG5330, hypocritesG5273! For you buildG3618 the tombsG5028 for the prophetsG4396 and decorateG2885 the monumentsG3419 of the righteousG1342, 30and you sayG3004, ‘IfG1487 we had beenG1510 living in the daysG2250 of our fathersG3962, we would not have beenG1510 partnersG2844 with them in shedding the bloodG129 of the prophetsG4396.’ 31SoG5620 you testifyG3140 against yourselvesG1438, that you 56are 57sonsG5207 of thoseG3588 who murderedG5407 the prophetsG4396. 3258FillG4137 up, thenG2532, the measureG3358 of the guilt of your fathersG3962. 33You snakesG3789, 59you 60offspringG1081 of vipersG2191, howG4459 61will you escapeG5343 the 62sentenceG2920 of 6364hellG1067?

34“65ThereforeG1223G3778, beholdG2400, 66I am sendingG649 you prophetsG4396 and wiseG4680 menG4680 and scribesG1122; someG1537 of them you will killG615 and crucifyG4717, and someG1537 of them you will 67flogG3146 in your synagoguesG4864, and 68persecuteG1377 from cityG4172 to cityG4172, 35soG3704 thatG3704 upon you will fallG2064 the guilt of allG3956 the righteousG1342 bloodG129 shedG1632 on earthG1093, from the bloodG129 of righteousG1342 69AbelG6 to the bloodG129 of ZechariahG2197, the 70sonG5207 of BerechiahG914, whomG3739 71you murderedG5407 betweenG3342 the 72templeG3485 and the altarG2379. 36TrulyG281 I sayG3004 to you, allG3956 theseG3778 thingsG3778 will comeG2240 upon 73thisG3778 generationG1074.

Grieving over Jerusalem

37“74JerusalemG2419, JerusalemG2419, who 75killsG615 the prophetsG4396 and stonesG3036 thoseG3588 who have been sentG649 to her! HowG4212 oftenG4212 I wantedG2309 to gatherG1996 your childrenG5043 togetherG1996, 76the wayG5158 a henG3733 gathersG1996 her chicksG3556 underG5259 her wingsG4420, and you were unwillingG3756G2309. 38BeholdG2400, 77your houseG3624 is being leftG863 to you desolateG2048! 39For I sayG3004 to you, from nowG737 on you will not seeG3708 Me untilG2193 you sayG3004, ‘78BlessedG2127 is the One who comesG2064 in the nameG3686 of the LordG2962!’”

Notes

  1. 1. Matthew 23:1 Matt 23:1-7: Mark 12:38, 39; Luke 20:45, 46 ↩
  2. 2. Matthew 23:2 Deut 33:3f; Ezra 7:6, 25; Neh 8:4 ↩
  3. 3. Matthew 23:3 Lit keep all ↩
  4. 4. Matthew 23:3 Lit according to their deeds ↩
  5. 5. Matthew 23:4 Luke 11:46; Acts 15:10 ↩
  6. 6. Matthew 23:5 Matt 6:1, 5, 16 ↩
  7. 7. Matthew 23:5 Ex 13:9; Deut 6:8; 11:18 ↩
  8. 8. Matthew 23:5 I.e., small pouches containing Scripture texts, worn on the left forearm and forehead for religious purposes ↩
  9. 9. Matthew 23:5 Matt 9:20 ↩
  10. 10. Matthew 23:6 Luke 11:43; 14:7; 20:46 ↩
  11. 11. Matthew 23:7 In Heb “My Teacher” or “My Master” ↩
  12. 12. Matthew 23:7 Matt 23:8; 26:25, 49; Mark 9:5; 10:51; 11:21; John 1:38, 49; 3:2, 26; 4:31; 6:25; 9:2; 11:8; 20:16 ↩
  13. 13. Matthew 23:8 James 3:1 ↩
  14. 14. Matthew 23:8 In Heb “My Teacher” or “My Master” ↩
  15. 15. Matthew 23:8 Matt 23:7; 26:25, 49; Mark 9:5; 10:51; 11:21; 14:45; John 1:38, 49; 3:2, 26; 4:31; 6:25; 9:2; 11:8; 20:16 ↩
  16. 16. Matthew 23:9 Matt 6:9; 7:11 ↩
  17. 17. Matthew 23:10 Or teachers ↩
  18. 18. Matthew 23:11 Matt 20:26 ↩
  19. 19. Matthew 23:12 Luke 14:11; 18:14 ↩
  20. 20. Matthew 23:13 Matt 23:15, 16, 23, 25, 27, 29 ↩
  21. 21. Matthew 23:13 Luke 11:52 ↩
  22. 22. Matthew 23:13 Late mss add (traditionally v 14): Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you devour widows’ houses even while for appearances’ sake you make long prayers; therefore you will receive greater condemnation (as v 14); cf. Mark 12:40; Luke 20:47 ↩
  23. 23. Matthew 23:15 Or convert ↩
  24. 24. Matthew 23:15 Acts 2:10; 6:5; 13:43 ↩
  25. 25. Matthew 23:15 I.e., doom him to hell ↩
  26. 26. Matthew 23:15 Gr Gehenna ↩
  27. 27. Matthew 23:15 Matt 5:22 ↩
  28. 28. Matthew 23:16 Matt 15:14; 23:24 ↩
  29. 29. Matthew 23:16 Matt 5:33-35 ↩
  30. 30. Matthew 23:16 Or sanctuary ↩
  31. 31. Matthew 23:16 Or sanctuary ↩
  32. 32. Matthew 23:17 Ex 30:29 ↩
  33. 33. Matthew 23:17 Lit greater ↩
  34. 34. Matthew 23:17 Or sanctuary ↩
  35. 35. Matthew 23:18 Or gift ↩
  36. 36. Matthew 23:19 Ex 29:37 ↩
  37. 37. Matthew 23:19 Lit greater ↩
  38. 38. Matthew 23:19 Or gift ↩
  39. 39. Matthew 23:19 Or gift ↩
  40. 40. Matthew 23:20 Lit it ↩
  41. 41. Matthew 23:21 Or sanctuary ↩
  42. 42. Matthew 23:21 Lit it ↩
  43. 43. Matthew 23:21 1 Kin 8:13; Ps 26:8; 132:14 ↩
  44. 44. Matthew 23:22 I.e., an indirect reference to God ↩
  45. 45. Matthew 23:22 Is 66:1; Matt 5:34 ↩
  46. 46. Matthew 23:23 Matt 23:13; Luke 11:42 ↩
  47. 47. Matthew 23:23 Similar to caraway seeds ↩
  48. 48. Matthew 23:24 Matt 23:16 ↩
  49. 49. Matthew 23:24 Or filter out ↩
  50. 50. Matthew 23:25 Mark 7:4; Luke 11:39f ↩
  51. 51. Matthew 23:25 Or as a result of ↩
  52. 52. Matthew 23:26 Mark 7:4; Luke 11:39f ↩
  53. 53. Matthew 23:26 If the inside was ritually unclean, the entire vessel was unclean whether the outside was cleaned or not (cf. Num 19:15) ↩
  54. 54. Matthew 23:27 Luke 11:44; Acts 23:3 ↩
  55. 55. Matthew 23:29 Luke 11:47f ↩
  56. 56. Matthew 23:31 Matt 23:34, 37; Acts 7:51f ↩
  57. 57. Matthew 23:31 Or descendants ↩
  58. 58. Matthew 23:32 I.e., finish what they started ↩
  59. 59. Matthew 23:33 Matt 3:7; Luke 3:7 ↩
  60. 60. Matthew 23:33 Or brood ↩
  61. 61. Matthew 23:33 Lit are you to escape ↩
  62. 62. Matthew 23:33 Or judgment ↩
  63. 63. Matthew 23:33 Gr Gehenna ↩
  64. 64. Matthew 23:33 Matt 5:22 ↩
  65. 65. Matthew 23:34 Matt 23:34-36; Luke 11:49-51 ↩
  66. 66. Matthew 23:34 2 Chr 36:15, 16 ↩
  67. 67. Matthew 23:34 Matt 10:17 ↩
  68. 68. Matthew 23:34 Matt 10:23 ↩
  69. 69. Matthew 23:35 Gen 4:8ff; Heb 11:4 ↩
  70. 70. Matthew 23:35 Zech 1:1 ↩
  71. 71. Matthew 23:35 2 Chr 24:21 ↩
  72. 72. Matthew 23:35 Or sanctuary ↩
  73. 73. Matthew 23:36 Matt 10:23; 24:34 ↩
  74. 74. Matthew 23:37 Matt 23:37-39: Luke 13:34, 35 ↩
  75. 75. Matthew 23:37 Matt 5:12 ↩
  76. 76. Matthew 23:37 Ruth 2:12 ↩
  77. 77. Matthew 23:38 1 Kin 9:7f; Jer 22:5 ↩
  78. 78. Matthew 23:39 Ps 118:26; Matt 21:9 ↩

Commentaries on Matthew 23

New American Standard Bible 2020 — © 1960–2020 The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.