The Complete Jewish Bible CJB
The Bible in Basic English BBE
1 Then Yeshua addressed the crowds and his talmidim:
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Then Jesus said to the people and to his disciples:
2 "The Torah-teachers and the P'rushim," he said, "sit in the seat of Moshe.
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The scribes and the Pharisees have the authority of Moses;
3 So whatever they tell you, take care to do it. But don't do what they do, because they talk but don't act!
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All things, then, which they give you orders to do, these do and keep: but do not take their works as your example, for they say and do not.
4 They tie heavy loads onto people's shoulders but won't lift a finger to help carry them
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They make hard laws and put great weights on men's backs; but they themselves will not put a finger to them
5 Everything they do is done to be seen by others; for they make their t'fillin broad and their tzitziyot long,
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But all their works they do so as to be seen by men: for they make wide their phylacteries, and the edges of their robes,
6 they love the place of honor at banquets and the best seats in the synagogues,
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And the things desired by them are the first places at feasts, and the chief seats in the Synagogues,
7 and they love being greeted deferentially in the marketplaces and being called `Rabbi.'
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And words of respect in the market-places, and to be named by men, Teacher.
8 "But you are not to let yourselves be called `Rabbi'; because you have one Rabbi, and you are all each other's brothers.
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But you may not be named Teacher: for one is your teacher, and you are all brothers.
9 And do not call anyone on earth `Father.' because you have one Father, and he is in heaven.
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And give no man the name of father on earth: because one is your Father, who is in heaven.
10 Nor are you to let yourselves be called `leaders,' because you have one Leader, and he is the Messiah!
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And you may not be named guides: because one is your Guide, even Christ.
11 The greatest among you must be your servant,
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But let the greatest among you be your servant.
12 for whoever promotes himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be promoted.
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And whoever makes himself high will be made low, and whoever makes himself low will be made high.
13 "But woe to you hypocritical Torah-teachers and P'rushim! For you are shutting the Kingdom of Heaven in people's faces, neither entering yourselves nor allowing those who wish to enter to do so.
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But a curse is on you, scribes and Pharisees, false ones! because you are shutting the kingdom of heaven against men: for you do not go in yourselves, and those who are going in, you keep back.
14 Some manuscripts include verse 14: Woe to you hypocritical Torah-teachers and P'rushim! For you swallow up widow's houses while making a show of davvening at great length. Because of this your punishment will be all the worse
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15 "Woe to you hypocritical Torah-teachers and P'rushim! You go about over land and sea to make one proselyte; and when you succeed, you make him twice as fit for Gei-Hinnom as you are!
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A curse is on you, scribes and Pharisees, false ones! for you go about land and sea to get one disciple and, having him, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.
Complete Jewish Bible Copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
The Bible in Basic English is in the public domain.