23:1 Then · Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples,
23:2 saying, “The scribes and the Pharisees now sit on the chair of Moses.
23:3 Therefore put into practice and continue to do whatever they tell you; but do not imitate what they · do, for they teach but do not practice.
23:4 For they tie up heavy burdens, · hard to bear, and lay them on · people’s shoulders, · but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger.
23:5 They do all · · their deeds to · be seen by others: they make · their phylacteries broad and their tassels long,
23:6 they love · the place of honor at · banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues,
23:7 and · greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called ‘Rabbi’ by · others.
23:8 But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have but one · teacher, and you are all brothers.
23:9 And do not call anyone on earth your ‘father,’ · for you have but one · Father, and he is in heaven.
23:10 Nor should you be called ‘instructors,’ because Christ is your only instructor. ·
23:11 The · greatest among you will be your servant.
23:12 And whoever will exalt himself will be humbled, and whoever will humble himself will be exalted.
23:13 “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you shut the kingdom of heaven in men’s faces. · For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in.
23:15 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you travel over · sea and · land to gain a single convert; and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.
23:16 “Woe to you, blind guides who say, ‘If someone swears by the temple it means nothing; but if someone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.’
23:17 You fools and blind men! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that makes the gold sacred?
23:18 And you say, ‘If someone swears by the altar it means nothing; but if someone swears by the gift that is on it, he is bound by his oath.’
23:19 How blind you are! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that makes the gift sacred?
23:20 So the one who swears by the altar, swears not only by it but by everything · on it.
23:21 And the one who swears by the temple, swears not only by it but by the one who dwells there.
23:22 And the one who swears by · heaven, swears not only by the throne of God but by the one who sits on it.
23:23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you tithe · mint and · dill and · cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: · justice and · mercy and · faithfulness. These · you ought to have done without neglecting the former.
23:24 You blind guides! · You strain out the gnat but gulp down the camel!
23:25 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you clean off the outside of the cup and the plate while inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.
23:26 You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup, so that its outside may become clean too. ·
23:27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you are like whitewashed tombs that look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and all kinds of filth.
23:28 So you also outwardly appear to others as righteous but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
23:29 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you build the tombs of the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous,
23:30 and you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’
23:31 By saying this you testify against yourselves that you are descendants of those who murdered the prophets.
23:32 Fill up then the measure of your fathers’ guilt.
23:33 You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape from · being condemned to · hell?
23:34 Therefore I am sending you prophets and wise men and scribes, some of whom you will kill and crucify, and some of whom you will flog in · your synagogues and pursue from town to town,
23:35 so that upon you will come all the righteous blood shed on · earth, from the blood of righteous Abel · to the blood of Zechariah son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar.
23:36 I tell you the truth, all these things will come upon · this generation.
23:37 “Jerusalem, O Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those who are sent to you! How often have I wanted to gather · your children together as a hen gathers · her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!
23:39 For I say to you, you will not see me from now until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’”
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