Abuses of Authority
Matthew 23, verse 1. Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, Matthew 23, verse 2. saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. Matthew 23, verse 3. Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do. Matthew 23, verse 4. For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. Matthew 23, verse 5. But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments. Matthew 23, verse 6. They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, Matthew 23, verse 7. greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, ‘Rabbi, Rabbi.’ Matthew 23, verse 8. But you, do not be called ‘Rabbi’; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren. Matthew 23, verse 9. Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. Matthew 23, verse 10. And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ. Matthew 23, verse 11. But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. Matthew 23, verse 12. And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.
Pronouncement of Judgment
Matthew 23, verse 13. “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in. Matthew 23, verse 14. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation. Matthew 23, verse 15. “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves. Matthew 23, verse 16. “Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘Whoever swears by the temple, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple, he is obliged to perform it. ’ Matthew 23, verse 17. Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that sanctifies the gold? Matthew 23, verse 18. And, ‘Whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gift that is on it, he is obliged to perform it. ’ Matthew 23, verse 19. Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that sanctifies the gift? Matthew 23, verse 20. Therefore he who swears by the altar, swears by it and by all things on it. Matthew 23, verse 21. He who swears by the temple, swears by it and by Him who dwells in it. Matthew 23, verse 22. And he who swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God and by Him who sits on it. Matthew 23, verse 23. “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. Matthew 23, verse 24. Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel! Matthew 23, verse 25. “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence. Matthew 23, verse 26. Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also. Matthew 23, verse 27. “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. Matthew 23, verse 28. Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. Matthew 23, verse 29. “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the monuments of the righteous, Matthew 23, verse 30. and say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.’ Matthew 23, verse 31. “Therefore you are witnesses against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. Matthew 23, verse 32. Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers’ guilt. Matthew 23, verse 33. Serpents, brood of vipers! How can you escape the condemnation of hell? Matthew 23, verse 34. Therefore, indeed, I send you prophets, wise men, and scribes: some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from city to city, Matthew 23, verse 35. that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. Matthew 23, verse 36. Assuredly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation.
The Fate of Jerusalem
Matthew 23, verse 37. “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one 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 under her wings, but you were not willing! Matthew 23, verse 38. See! Your house is left to you desolate; Matthew 23, verse 39. for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ”