Matthew 23

1Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples.

2saying, "The scribes and Pharisees sit on Moses' seat."

3Therefore, whatever they tell you, do and keep, but do not follow their deeds, for they say and do not.

4They bind heavy burdens and place them on people's shoulders, but they themselves refuse to move them with one of their fingers.

5But they do all their works to be seen by people, for they broaden their phylacteries and enlarge their fringes.

6But they love the place of honor at banquets and the chief seats in the synagogues.

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

8But you, do not be called Rabbi, for one is your teacher, and all of you are brothers.

9And do not call anyone on earth your father, for one is your heavenly Father.

10Neither be called masters, because one is your master, the Christ.

11But the greatest among you will be your servant.

12But whoever exalts himself will be brought low, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

13But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you shut the kingdom of heaven against people—for you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who are entering to enter.

14Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you consume widows' homes and for show offer lengthy prayers. Therefore you will face heavier judgment.

15Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you roam sea and dry land to produce one proselyte, and when he becomes one, you make him twice the son of hell you are.

16Woe to you, blind guides, who say, "Whoever swears by the temple, it means nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple is bound."

17Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that sanctifies the gold?

18And whoever swears by the altar, it means nothing; but whoever swears by the gift on it, he is bound.

19Blind ones, for which is greater, the gift or the altar that makes the gift holy?

20Therefore whoever swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it.

21And whoever swears by the temple swears by it and by the one who dwells in it.

22And whoever swears by heaven swears by God's throne and by the one seated upon it.

23Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you tithe mint, dill, and cumin, yet neglect the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faith. These you needed to practice without neglecting the others.

24You blind guides who strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.

25Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you clean the outside of the cup and platter, but inside they brim with extortion and indulgence.

26Blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and platter, so that its outside may become clean also.

27Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you resemble whitewashed tombs which indeed seem beautiful on the outside but inwardly brim with bones of the dead and every impurity.

28So also you outwardly indeed appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

29Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the tombs of the righteous.

30And you say, "If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partners with them in the blood of the prophets."

31Thus you testify against yourselves that you are sons of those who killed the prophets.

32And you, fill up the measure of your fathers.

33Serpents, brood of vipers, how will you escape the judgment of hell?

34For this reason, see, I send prophets, wise men, and scribes to you; some of them you will kill and crucify, and some you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from city to city.

35so that all righteous blood shed on the earth may come upon you, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar.

36Truly I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation.

37Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her—how often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling!

38Look, your house is left to you desolate.

39For I say to you, by no means will you see me from now until you say, “Blessed is the one coming in the name of the Lord.”