Matthew 23

1 Then Jesus told the crowds and his disciples,ISV — Matthew 23:1

2 “The scribes and the Pharisees administer the authority of Moses, ^{a23:2 Lit. Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat}ISV — Matthew 23:2

3 So do whatever they tell you and follow it, but stop doing what they do, because they don’t do what they say.ISV — Matthew 23:3

4 They tie up burdens that are heavy and unbearable and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they refuse to lift a finger to remove them.ISV — Matthew 23:4

5 “They do everything to be seen by people. They increase the size of their phylacteries ^{b23:5 i.e. leather cases containing Scripture texts} and lengthen the tassels of their garments.ISV — Matthew 23:5

6 They love to have the places of honor at festivals, the best seats in the synagogues,ISV — Matthew 23:6

7 to be greeted in the marketplaces, and to be called ‘Rabbi’ ^{c23:7 Rabbi is Heb. for Master and/or Teacher.} by people.ISV — Matthew 23:7

8 “But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ ^{d23:8 Rabbi is Heb. for Master and/or Teacher} because you have only one teacher, and all of you are brothers.ISV — Matthew 23:8

9 And don’t call anyone on earth ‘Father,’ because you have only one Father, the one in heaven.ISV — Matthew 23:9

10 Nor are you to be called ‘Teachers,’ because you have only one teacher, the Messiah! ^{e23:10 Or Christ}ISV — Matthew 23:10

11 The person who is greatest among you must be your servant.ISV — Matthew 23:11

12 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.ISV — Matthew 23:12

13 “How terrible it will be for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door to the kingdom from ^{f23:13 Lit. of} heaven in people’s faces. You don’t go in yourselves, and you don’t allow those who are trying to enter to go in.ISV — Matthew 23:13

14 “How terrible it will be for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You devour widows’ houses and say long prayers to cover it up. Therefore, you will receive greater condemnation! ^{g23:14 Other mss. omit vs. 14.}ISV — Matthew 23:14

15 “How terrible it will be for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to make a single convert, and when this happens you make him twice as fit for ^{h23:15 Lit. twice as much a son of} hell ^{i23:15 Lit. Gehenna; a Gk. transliteration of the Heb. for Valley of Hinnom} as you are.ISV — Matthew 23:15

16 “How terrible it will be for you, blind guides! You say, ‘Whoever swears an oath by the sanctuary is excused, ^{j23:16 Lit. is nothing} but whoever swears an oath by the gold of the sanctuary must keep his oath.’ ^{k23:16 Lit. owes a debt}ISV — Matthew 23:16

17 You blind fools! What is more important, the gold or the sanctuary that made the gold holy?ISV — Matthew 23:17

18 Again you say, ^{l23:18 Lit. And} ‘Whoever swears an oath by the altar is excused, ^{m23:18 Lit. is nothing} but whoever swears by the gift that is on it must keep his oath.’ ^{n23:18 Lit. owes a debt}ISV — Matthew 23:18

19 You blind men! ^{o23:19 Other mss. read blind and foolish men} Which is more important, the gift or the altar that makes the gift holy?ISV — Matthew 23:19

20 Therefore, the one who swears an oath by the altar swears by it and by everything on it.ISV — Matthew 23:20

21 The one who swears an oath by the sanctuary swears by it and by the one who lives there.ISV — Matthew 23:21

22 And the one who swears an oath by heaven swears by God’s throne and by the one who sits on it.ISV — Matthew 23:22

23 “How terrible it will be for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your mint, dill, and cummin, but have neglected the more important matters of the Law: justice, mercy, and faithfulness. ^{p23:23 Or faith} These are the things you should have practiced, without neglecting the others.ISV — Matthew 23:23

24 You blind guides! You filter out a gnat, yet swallow a camel!ISV — Matthew 23:24

25 “How terrible it will be for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but on the inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.ISV — Matthew 23:25

26 You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup, ^{q23:26 Other mss. read of the cup and the plate} so that its outside may also be clean.ISV — Matthew 23:26

27 “How terrible it will be for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs that look beautiful on the outside but inside are full of dead people’s bones and every kind of impurity.ISV — Matthew 23:27

28 In the same way, on the outside you look righteous to people, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.ISV — Matthew 23:28

29 “How terrible it will be for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the monuments of the righteous.ISV — Matthew 23:29

30 Then you say, ‘If we had been living in the days of our ancestors, we would have had no part with them in shedding ^{r23:30 The Gk. lacks shedding} the blood of the prophets.’ISV — Matthew 23:30

31 Therefore, you testify against yourselves that you are descendants of those who murdered the prophets.ISV — Matthew 23:31

32 Then finish what your ancestors started! ^{s23:32 Lit. Fill up the measure of your ancestors}ISV — Matthew 23:32

33 You snakes, you children of serpents! How can you escape being condemned to hell? ^{t23:33 Lit. Gehenna; a Gk. transliteration of the Heb. for Valley of Hinnom}ISV — Matthew 23:33

34 “That is why I am sending you prophets, wise men, and scribes. Some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will whip in your synagogues and persecute from town to town.ISV — Matthew 23:34

35 As a result, you will be held accountable for ^{u23:35 Lit. on you will come} all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of the righteous Abel ^{v23:35 Cf. Gen 4:8} to the blood of Berechiah’s son Zechariah, ^{w23:35 Cf. 2Chr 24:20-21} whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar.ISV — Matthew 23:35

36 I tell all of you ^{x23:36 The Gk. pronoun you is pl.} with certainty, all these things will happen to those living today.” ^{y23:36 Lit. to this generation} ( )ISV — Matthew 23:36

37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones to death those who have been sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling!ISV — Matthew 23:37

38 Look! Your house is left abandoned!ISV — Matthew 23:38

39 I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘How blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!’” ^{z23:39 Cf. Ps 118:26; MT source citation reads Lord}ISV — Matthew 23:39