21
And the person who swears by the Temple is really using the Temple and also everything in the Temple
22
The person who swears by heaven is also using God's throne and the One who sits on that throne.
23
"How terrible for you, teachers of the law and Pharisees! You are hypocrites! You give to God one-tenth of everything you earn -- even your mint, dill, and cumin. But you don't obey the really important teachings of the law -- justice, mercy, and being loyal. These are the things you should do, as well as those other things.
24
You guide the people, but you are blind! You are like a person who picks a fly out of a drink and then swallows a camel!
25
"How terrible for you, teachers of the law and Pharisees! You are hypocrites! You wash the outside of your cups and dishes, but inside they are full of things you got by cheating others and by pleasing only yourselves.
26
Pharisees, you are blind! First make the inside of the cup clean, and then the outside of the cup can be truly clean.
27
"How terrible for you, teachers of the law and Pharisees! You are hypocrites! You are like tombs that are painted white. Outside, those tombs look fine, but inside, they are full of the bones of dead people and all kinds of unclean things.
28
It is the same with you. People look at you and think you are good, but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and evil.
29
"How terrible for you, teachers of the law and Pharisees! You are hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets, and you show honor to the graves of those who lived good lives.
30
You say, 'If we had lived during the time of our ancestors, we would not have helped them kill the prophets.'
31
But you give proof that you are children of those who murdered the prophets.