Matthew 23:3-13

3 So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.

4 They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.

5 “Everything they do is done for people to see: They make their phylacteries^[a] wide and the tassels on their garments long;

6 they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues;

7 they love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and to be called ‘Rabbi’ by others.

8 “But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers.

9 And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven.

10 Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Messiah.

11 The greatest among you will be your servant.

12 For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.

Seven Woes on the Teachers of the Law and the Pharisees

13 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.^[b]

Cross References

• 1. Luke 11:46; Acts 15:10; Galatians 6:13
• 2. Mt 6:1,2,5,16
• 3. Exodus 13:9; Deuteronomy 6:8
• 4. Numbers 15:38; Deuteronomy 22:12
• 5. Luke 11:43; Luke 14:7; Luke 20:46
• 6. ver 8; Matthew 26:25,49; Mark 9:5; Mark 10:51; John 1:38,49; John 3:2,26; John 20:16
• 7. Malachi 1:6; Matthew 6:9; Matthew 7:11
• 8. Matthew 20:26; S Mark 9:35
• 9. 1 Samuel 2:8; Psalms 18:27; Proverbs 3:34; Isaiah 57:15; Ezekiel 21:26; Luke 1:52; Luke 14:11
• 10. ver 15,23,25,27,29
• 11. Luke 11:52

Footnotes

• [a]. That is, boxes containing Scripture verses, worn on forehead and arm
• [b]. Some manuscripts include here words similar to Mark 12:40 and Luke 20:47.