Matthew 23:5-15

5 "They do everything to attract people's attention. They make their headbands large and the tassels on their shawls long.
6 They love the place of honor at dinners and the front seats in synagogues.
7 They love to be greeted in the marketplaces and to have people call them Rabbi.
8 But don't make others call you Rabbi, because you have only one teacher, and you are all followers.
9 And don't call anyone on earth your father, because you have only one Father, and he is in heaven.
10 Don't make others call you a leader, because you have only one leader, the Messiah.
11 The person who is greatest among you will be your servant.
12 Whoever honors himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be honored.
13 "How horrible it will be for you, scribes and Pharisees! You hypocrites! You lock people out of the kingdom of heaven. You don't enter it yourselves, and you don't permit others to enter when they try.
15 "How horrible it will be for you, scribes and Pharisees! You hypocrites! You cross land and sea to recruit a single follower, and when you do, you make that person twice as fit for hell as you are.

Related Articles

GOD'S WORD® is a copyrighted work of God's Word to the Nations. Copyright © 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. All rights reserved. Used by permission.