23Matthew 23

1Then Jesus spake to the multitudes, and to his disciples,Select Matthew 23:1

2saying, `On the seat of Moses sat down the scribes and the Pharisees;Select Matthew 23:2

3all, then, as much as they may say to you to observe, observe and do, but according to their works do not, for they say, and do not;Select Matthew 23:3

4for they bind together burdens heavy and grievous to be borne, and lay upon the shoulders of men, but with their finger they will not move them.Select Matthew 23:4

5`And all their works they do to be seen by men, and they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the fringes of their garments,Select Matthew 23:5

6they love also the chief couches in the supper, and the chief seats in the synagogues,Select Matthew 23:6

7and the salutations in the market-places, and to be called by men, Rabbi, Rabbi.Select Matthew 23:7

8`And ye--ye may not be called Rabbi, for one is your director--the Christ, and all ye are brethren;Select Matthew 23:8

9and ye may not call any your father on the earth, for one is your Father, who is in the heavens,Select Matthew 23:9

10nor may ye be called directors, for one is your director--the Christ.Select Matthew 23:10

11And the greater of you shall be your ministrant,Select Matthew 23:11

12and whoever shall exalt himself shall be humbled, and whoever shall humble himself shall be exalted.Select Matthew 23:12

13`Woe to you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye shut up the reign of the heavens before men, for ye do not go in, nor those going in do ye suffer to enter.Select Matthew 23:13

14`Woe to you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye eat up the houses of the widows, and for a pretence make long prayers, because of this ye shall receive more abundant judgment.Select Matthew 23:14

15`Woe to you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye go round the sea and the dry land to make one proselyte, and whenever it may happen--ye make him a son of gehenna twofold more than yourselves.Select Matthew 23:15

16`Woe to you, blind guides, who are saying, Whoever may swear by the sanctuary, it is nothing, but whoever may swear by the gold of the sanctuary--is debtor!Select Matthew 23:16

17Fools and blind! for which is greater, the gold, or the sanctuary that is sanctifying the gold?Select Matthew 23:17

18`And, whoever may swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever may swear by the gift that is upon it--is debtor!Select Matthew 23:18

19Fools and blind! for which is greater, the gift, or the altar that is sanctifying the gift?Select Matthew 23:19

20`He therefore who did swear by the altar, doth swear by it, and by all things on it;Select Matthew 23:20

21and he who did swear by the sanctuary, doth swear by it, and by Him who is dwelling in it;Select Matthew 23:21

22and he who did swear by the heaven, doth swear by the throne of God, and by Him who is sitting upon it.Select Matthew 23:22

23`Woe to you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye give tithe of the mint, and the dill, and the cumin, and did neglect the weightier things of the Law--the judgment, and the kindness, and the faith; these it behoved you to do, and those not to neglect.Select Matthew 23:23

24`Blind guides! who are straining out the gnat, and the camel are swallowing.Select Matthew 23:24

25`Woe to you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye make clean the outside of the cup and the plate, and within they are full of rapine and incontinence.Select Matthew 23:25

26`Blind Pharisee! cleanse first the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside of them also may become clean.Select Matthew 23:26

27`Woe to you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye are like to whitewashed sepulchres, which outwardly indeed do appear beautiful, and within are full of bones of dead men, and of all uncleanness;Select Matthew 23:27

28so also ye outwardly indeed do appear to men righteous, and within ye are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.Select Matthew 23:28

29`Woe to you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the sepulchres of the prophets, and adorn the tombs of the righteous,Select Matthew 23:29

30and say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.Select Matthew 23:30

31So that ye testify to yourselves, that ye are sons of them who did murder the prophets;Select Matthew 23:31

32and ye--ye fill up the measure of your fathers.Select Matthew 23:32

33`Serpents! brood of vipers! how may ye escape from the judgment of the gehenna?Select Matthew 23:33

34`Because of this, lo, I send to you prophets, and wise men, and scribes, and of them ye will kill and crucify, and of them ye will scourge in your synagogues, and will pursue from city to city;Select Matthew 23:34

35that on you may come all the righteous blood being poured out on the earth from the blood of Abel the righteous, unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the sanctuary and the altar:Select Matthew 23:35

36verily I say to you, all these things shall come upon this generation.Select Matthew 23:36

37`Jerusalem, Jerusalem, that art killing the prophets, and stoning those sent unto thee, how often did I will to gather thy children together, as a hen doth gather her own chickens under the wings, and ye did not will.Select Matthew 23:37

38Lo, left desolate to you is your house;Select Matthew 23:38

39for I say to you, ye may not see me henceforth, till ye may say, Blessed is he who is coming in the name of the Lord.'Select Matthew 23:39