Matthew 23 - Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

Religious Hypocrites Denounced

23 Then(A) Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples:(B) 2 “The scribes and the Pharisees are seated in the chair of Moses.(C) 3 Therefore do whatever they tell you, and observe it. But don’t do what they do, because they don’t practice what they teach.(D) 4 They tie up heavy loads that are hard to carry[a] and put them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves aren’t willing to lift a finger to move them.(E) 5 They do everything[b] to be seen by others: They enlarge their phylacteries(F) and lengthen their tassels.[c](G) 6 They love the place of honor at banquets, the front seats in the synagogues,(H) 7 greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called ‘Rabbi’ by people.

8 “But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ because you have one Teacher,[d] and you are all brothers and sisters.(I) 9 Do not call anyone on earth your father, because you have one Father, who is in heaven.(J) 10 You are not to be called instructors either, because you have one Instructor, the Messiah. 11 The greatest among you will be your servant.(K) 12 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.(L)

13 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. For you don’t go in, and you don’t allow those entering to go in.[e](M)

15 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to make one convert,(N) and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a child of hell as you are!

16 “Woe to you, blind guides,(O) who say, ‘Whoever takes an oath by the temple, it means nothing. But whoever takes an oath(P) by the gold of the temple is bound by his oath.’[f] 17 Blind fools! For which is greater, the gold or the temple 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.’ 19 Blind people![g] For which is greater, the gift or the altar that sanctifies the gift?(Q) 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 temple takes an oath by it and by him who dwells(R) in it. 22 And the one who takes an oath by heaven takes an oath by God’s throne(S) and by him who sits on it.(T)

23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You pay a tenth of[h] mint, dill, and cumin, and yet you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice,(U) mercy, and faithfulness.[i] These things should have been done without neglecting the others. 24 Blind guides!(V) You strain out a gnat, but gulp down a camel!

25 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed[j] and self-indulgence.(W) 26 Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup,[k] so that the outside of it[l] may also become clean.

27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs,(X) which appear beautiful on the outside, but inside are full of the bones of the dead and every kind of impurity. 28 In the same way, on the outside you seem righteous to people, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

29 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You build the tombs of the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous, 30 and you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we wouldn’t have taken part with them in shedding the prophets’ blood.’ 31 So you testify against yourselves that you are descendants of those who murdered the prophets. 32 Fill up, then, the measure of your ancestors’ sins!(Y)

33 “Snakes! Brood of vipers! How can you escape being condemned to hell?[m](Z) 34 This is why I am sending you prophets,(AA) sages, and scribes. Some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will flog in your synagogues(AB) and pursue from town to town. 35 So all the righteous blood shed on the earth will be charged to you,[n] from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah,(AC) son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar.(AD) 36 Truly I tell you, all these things will come on this generation.(AE)

Jesus’s Lamenting over Jerusalem

37 “Jerusalem, Jerusalem,(AF) who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her. How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks[o] under her wings, but you were not willing!(AG) 38 See, your house is left to you desolate.(AH) 39 For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord’!”[p](AI)

Footnotes

  1. 23:4 Other mss omit that are hard to carry
  2. 23:5 Lit do all their works
  3. 23:5 Other mss add on their robes
  4. 23:8 Other mss add the Christ
  5. 23:13 Some mss include v. 14: “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You devour widows’ houses and make long prayers just for show. This is why you will receive a harsher punishment.
  6. 23:16 Lit is obligated, also in v. 18
  7. 23:19 Other mss read Fools and blind
  8. 23:23 Or You tithe
  9. 23:23 Or faith
  10. 23:25 Or full of violence
  11. 23:26 Other mss add and dish
  12. 23:26 Other mss read of them
  13. 23:33 Lit escape from the judgment of gehenna
  14. 23:35 Lit will come on you
  15. 23:37 Or as a mother bird gathers her young
  16. 23:39 Ps 118:26

Cross references

  1. 23:1–7 : Mk 12:38–39; Lk 20:45–46
  2. 23:1 : Mt 10:42; 28:19; Lk 14:26; Jn 8:31; 13:35; 15:8; Ac 6:1
  3. 23:2 : Ezr 7:6,25; Neh 8:4
  4. 23:3 : Mt 5:20; 15:3–9; Rm 2:17–23
  5. 23:4 : Lk 11:46; Ac 15:10; Gl 6:13
  6. 23:5 : Ex 13:9; Dt 6:8; 11:18; Mt 6:1,5,16
  7. 23:5 : Mt 9:20; 14:36; Mk 6:56; Lk 8:44
  8. 23:6 : Lk 11:43; 14:7; 20:46
  9. 23:7–8 : Mk 9:5; 10:51; Jn 1:38,49; 11:8; Jms 3:1
  10. 23:9 : Mal 1:6; Mt 6:9; 7:11
  11. 23:11 : Mt 20:26–27; Mk 9:35; 3Jn 9
  12. 23:12 : Pr 29:23; Ezk 21:26; Lk 14:11; 18:14; Jms 4:6,10; 1Pt 5:5–6
  13. 23:13 : Mt 23:15,23,25; Lk 11:52
  14. 23:15 : Ac 2:11; 6:5; 13:43
  15. 23:16 : Mt 15:14; 23:24; Ac 1:16; Rm 2:19
  16. 23:16 : Lv 19:12; Nm 30:2; Dt 23:21; Mt 5:33; 14:7; 26:63,72
  17. 23:19 : Ex 29:37; 30:29
  18. 23:21 : 1Kg 8:13; 2Ch 6:2; Ps 26:8; 132:14
  19. 23:22 : Ex 17:16; Ps 11:4; Mt 5:34; Heb 8:1
  20. 23:22 : Ps 47:8; Mt 19:28; Rv 4:2
  21. 23:23 : 1Sm 15:22; Ps 33:5; Jr 5:1; Mc 6:8; Zch 7:9; Lk 11:42
  22. 23:24 : Mt 15:14; 23:16
  23. 23:25 : Mk 7:4; Lk 11:39
  24. 23:27 : Lk 11:44; Ac 23:3
  25. 23:31–32 : Gn 15:16; Ac 7:51; 1Th 2:15–16
  26. 23:33 : Mt 3:7; 5:22; 12:34
  27. 23:34 : Ac 13:1; 1Co 12:28
  28. 23:34 : 2Ch 36:15–16; Mt 10:17; Ac 22:19
  29. 23:35 : 2Ch 24:21; Zch 1:1
  30. 23:35 : Gn 4:8; Heb 11:4; 1Jn 3:12; Rv 18:24
  31. 23:36 : Mt 10:23; 16:28; 24:34
  32. 23:37–39 : Lk 13:34–35
  33. 23:37 : Dt 32:11–12; Ru 2:12; Mt 5:12
  34. 23:38 : 1Kg 9:7; Is 64:11; Jr 12:7; 22:5
  35. 23:39 : Ps 118:26; Mt 21:9

You Might Also Like:

Matthew 23 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

23 Then Jesus spake to the multitudes, and to his disciples, 2 saying, `On the seat of Moses sat down the scribes and the Pharisees; 3 all, 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; 4 for they bind together burdens...
Read More

Matthew 23 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

23 Then Jesus spake to the people, and to his disciples, [Then Jesus spake to the companies, and to his disciples,] 2 and said, On the chair of Moses, scribes and Pharisees have sat. [saying, Scribes and Pharisees sat on the chair of Moses.] 3 Therefore keep ye, and do ye all things, whatever thing...
Read More

Matthew 23 - Worldwide English (New Testament) (WE)

23 Then Jesus talked to the people and to his disciples. 2 He said, `The scribes and Pharisees have taken Moses' place. 3 So obey and do everything they tell you to do. But do not do what they do. They say what should be done, but they do it not. 4 They make heavy loads and put them on people's back...
Read More

Matthew 23 - World English Bible (WEB)

23 Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to his disciples, 2 saying, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat. 3 All things therefore whatever they tell you to observe, observe and do, but don’t do their works; for they say, and don’t do. 4 For they bind heavy burdens that are grievous ...
Read More

Matthew 23 - The Voice (VOICE)

23 Jesus spoke to His disciples and to the crowds that had gathered around. Jesus with the Pharisees listening uses them as an example of the pious but truly unrighteous. He calls the people to mind the Pharisees’ words, not their examples, because they talk about righteousness and faithfulness, but...
Read More

Matthew 23 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

Seven Woes23 Then Yeshua spoke to the crowds and to His disciples, 2 saying, “The Torah scholars and Pharisees sit on the seat of Moses. 3 So whatever they tell you, do and observe. But don’t do what they do; for what they say, they do not do. 4 They tie up heavy loads, hard to carry,[a] and lay ...
Read More

Matthew 23 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

Jesus Denounces Scribes and Pharisees23 Then said Jesus to the crowds and to his disciples, 2 “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat; 3 so practice and observe whatever they tell you, but not what they do; for they preach, but do not practice. 4 They bind heavy burdens, hard to bear,[a...
Read More

Matthew 23 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

Jesus Denounces Scribes and Pharisees23 Then said Jesus to the crowds and to his disciples, 2 “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat; 3 so practice and observe whatever they tell you, but not what they do; for they preach, but do not practice. 4 They bind heavy burdens, hard to bear,[a...
Read More

Matthew 23 - Revised Geneva Translation (RGT)

23 Then Jesus spoke to the multitude, and to His disciples, 2 saying, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. 3 “Therefore, all of whatever they ask you to observe, observe and do. But do not imitate their deeds, for they do not do as they say. 4 “For they bind heavy burdens, and hard to ...
Read More

Matthew 23 - New Testament for Everyone (NTE)

Warnings against Scribes and Pharisees23 Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples: 2 ‘The scribes and Pharisees’, he said, ‘sit on the seat of Moses. 3 So you must do whatever they tell you, and keep it, but don’t do the things they do. You see, they talk but they don’t do. 4 They tie ...
Read More

Matthew 23 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

Jesus Denounces Scribes and Pharisees23 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, 2 ‘The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat; 3 therefore, do whatever they teach you and follow it; but do not do as they do, for they do not practise what they teach. 4 They tie up heavy burdens, ...
Read More

Matthew 23 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Jesus Denounces Scribes and Pharisees23 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, 2 “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’s seat;(A)3 therefore, do whatever they teach you and follow it, but do not do as they do, for they do not practice what they teach. 4 They tie up heavy burdens, ...
Read More

Matthew 23 - New Matthew Bible (NMB)

Christ cries woe over the Pharisees, scribes, and hypocrites, and prophesies the destruction of Jerusalem. 23 Then Jesus spoke to the people and to his disciples, 2 saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. 3 All therefore that they bid you to observe, that observe and do. But do n...
Read More

Matthew 23 - New Living Translation (NLT)

Jesus Criticizes the Religious Leaders23 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, 2 “The teachers of religious law and the Pharisees are the official interpreters of the law of Moses.[a] 3 So practice and obey whatever they tell you, but don’t follow their example. For they don’t practice...
Read More

Matthew 23 - New Life Version (NLV)

The Teachers of the Law and the Proud Religious Law-Keepers (A)23 Then Jesus talked to the many people and to His followers. 2 He said, “The teachers of the Law and the proud religious law-keepers have put themselves in Moses’ place as teachers. 3 Do what they tell you to do and keep on doing it. ...
Read More

Matthew 23 - New King James Version (NKJV)

Woe to the Scribes and Pharisees(A)23 Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, 2 saying: (B)“The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. 3 Therefore whatever they tell you [a]to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for (C)they say, and do not ...
Read More