Matthew 23:1-26

1Then Jesus spoke to the multitude, and to his disciples, 2Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in the seat of Moses: 3All therefore whatever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye according to 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 to be seen by men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,1 6And love the uppermost places at feasts, and the best seats in the synagogues, 7And greetings in the markets, and to be called by 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, who 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 whoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

13But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither allow ye them that are entering to go in. 14Woe to 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 to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye travel sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves. 16Woe to you, ye blind guides, who say, Whoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor! 17Ye fools and blind: for which is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold? 18And, Whoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is bound.2 19Ye fools and blind: for which is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift? 20Whoever therefore shall swear by the altar, sweareth by it, and by all things on it. 21And whoever shall swear by the temple, sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth in it. 22And he that shall swear by heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth upon it. 23Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, justice, mercy, and faith: these ye ought to have done, and not to leave the others undone.3 24Ye blind guides, who strain out a gnat, and swallow a camel. 25Woe to 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.