Jesus' Last Discourse. Denunciation of Scribes and Pharisees.

  18 And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gift that is upon it, he is a debtor.

  19 Ye blind: for which is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift?

  20 He therefore that sweareth by the altar, sweareth by it, and by all things thereon.

  21 And he that sweareth by the temple, sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth therein.

  22 And he that sweareth by the heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth thereon.

  23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye tithe mint and anise and cummin, and have left undone the weightier matters of the law, justice, and mercy, and faith: but these ye ought to have done, and not to have left the other undone. [See Section 51. The anise was used for medical purposes and also for culinary seasoning, so that Pliny says "the kitchen can not be without it." Cummin also was a condiment and a medicine, the bruised seed mixed with wine being used as a styptic, especially after circumcision. It was also used as an ingredient for salves and plasters such as were applied to the ulcers of cattle produced from the bites, grubs, etc., of insects.]

swallow the camel! [A proverbial expression, indicating care for little faults and a corresponding unconcern for big ones.]

  25 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye cleanse the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full from extortion and excess. [Jesus here compares the Pharisees to a woman who washes the outside of her dishes and leaves the inside unclean. But in describing that inner uncleanness he passes from the figure to the reality, and specifies that it consists of extortion and self-indulgence. They made their outside clean by traditionary ablutions. See Section 65.]

  26 Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first the inside of the cup and of the platter, that the outside thereof may become clean also. [Here again the literal peeps through the figurative: a pure inner life makes clean outward conduct.]

  27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which outwardly appear beautiful, but inwardly are full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.

  28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but inwardly ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

[Luke records Jesus as having taught this lesson by an exactly opposite figure. See Section 51. There men were contaminated by the touch of a grave because there was nothing outside to notify them of its presence. Here men are contaminated by the same thing because the outside is rendered so white and beautiful that men are deceived into thinking that the inside is harmless.]

  28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but inwardly ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

  29 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye build the sepulchres of the prophets, and garnish the tombs of the righteous,

  30 and say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we should not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.

  31 Wherefore ye witness to yourselves, that ye are sons of them that slew the prophets.

  32 Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers.

[See Section 51.]

  30 and say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we should not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.

  31 Wherefore ye witness to yourselves, that ye are sons of them that slew the prophets.

  32 Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers.

  33 Ye serpents, ye offspring of vipers, how shall ye escape the judgment of hell? [See Section 17.]

prophets, and wise men, and scribes: some of them shall ye kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute from city to city:

  35 that upon you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of Abel the righteous unto the blood of Zachariah son of Barachiah, whom ye slew between the sanctuary and the altar.

  36 Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation.

[See Section 51.]

  35 that upon you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of Abel the righteous unto the blood of Zachariah son of Barachiah, whom ye slew between the sanctuary and the altar.

  36 Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation.

  37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, that killeth the prophets, and stoneth them that are sent unto her! how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!

  38 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.

  39 For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.

[See Section 89.]

  38 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.

  39 For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.