Matthew 23:1-6

Seven Woes to the Scribes and Pharisees

1 Then Jesus ¹said to the crowds and to his disciples,

2 ²“The scribes and the Pharisees ³sit on Moses’ seat,

3 so do and observe whatever they tell you, ⁴but not the works they do. ⁵For they preach, but do not practice.

4 ⁶They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, ^[a] and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger.

5 ⁷They do all their deeds ⁸to be seen by others. For they make ⁹their phylacteries broad and ¹⁰their fringes long,

6 and they ¹¹love the place of honor at feasts and ¹²the best seats in the synagogues