Matthew 23:1-22

Religious Hypocrites Denounced

1 Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to His disciples:

2 "The scribes and the Pharisees are seated in the chair of Moses. ^[a]

3 Therefore do whatever they tell you and observe [it]. But don't do what they do, ^[b] because they don't practice what they teach.

4 They tie up heavy loads that are hard to carry ^[c] and put them on people's shoulders, but they themselves aren't willing to lift a finger ^[d] to move them.

5 They do everything ^[e] to be observed by others: They enlarge their phylacteries ^[f] and lengthen their tassels. ^[g]

6 They love the place of honor at banquets, the front seats in the synagogues,

7 greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called 'Rabbi' by people.

8 "But as for you, do not be called 'Rabbi,' because you have one Teacher, ^[h] and you are all brothers.

9 Do not call anyone on earth your father, because you have one Father, who is in heaven.

10 And do not be called masters either, because you have one Master, ^[i] the Messiah.

11 The greatest among you will be your servant.

12 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

13 "But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You lock up the kingdom of heaven from people. For you don't go in, and you don't allow those entering to go in. [

14 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You devour widows' houses and make long prayers just for show. ^[j] This is why you will receive a harsher punishment.] ^[k]

15 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to make one proselyte, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as fit for hell ^[l] as you are!

16 "Woe to you, blind guides, who say, 'Whoever takes an oath by the sanctuary, it means nothing. But whoever takes an oath by the gold of the sanctuary is bound by his oath.' ^[m]

17 Blind fools! ^[n] For which is greater, the gold or the sanctuary that sanctified the gold?

18 Also, 'Whoever takes an oath by the altar, it means nothing. But whoever takes an oath by the gift that is on it is bound by his oath.' ^[o]

19 Blind people! ^[p] For which is greater, the gift or the altar that sanctifies the gift?

20 Therefore the one who takes an oath by the altar takes an oath by it and by everything on it.

21 The one who takes an oath by the sanctuary takes an oath by it and by Him who dwells in it.

22 And the one who takes an oath by heaven takes an oath by God's throne and by Him who sits on it.

Footnotes

• [a]. Perhaps a special chair for teaching in synagogues, or a metaphorical phrase for teaching with Moses' authority
• [b]. Lit do according to their works
• [c]. Other mss omit that are hard to carry
• [d]. Lit lift with their finger
• [e]. Lit do all their works
• [f]. Small leather boxes containing OT texts, worn by Jews on their arms and foreheads
• [g]. Other mss add on their robes
• [h]. Other mss add the Messiah
• [i]. Or Teacher
• [j]. Or prayers with false motivation
• [k]. Other mss omit bracketed text
• [l]. Lit twice the son of gehenna
• [m]. Lit is obligated
• [n]. Lit Fools and blind
• [o]. Lit is obligated
• [p]. Other mss read Fools and blind