King James Reference Version

952/1189

Matthew 23

1 Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples,

2 Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat:

3 All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe (Malachi 2:7) and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.

4 For they bind (Luke 11:46) heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.

5 But all their works they do for to be seen (Matthew 6:1; Matthew 6:5; Matthew 6:16) of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders (Numbers 15:38; Deuteronomy 22:12) of their garments,

6 And love (Mark 12:38; Luke 20:46) the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues,

7 And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.

8 But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.

9 And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, (Malachi 1:6) which is in heaven.

10 Neither be ye called masters: (James 3:1) for one is your Master, even Christ.

11 But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. (Matthew 20:26; Mark 9:35; Mark 10:43)

12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted. (Job 22:29; Proverbs 15:33; Proverbs 29:23; Daniel 4:37; Luke 14:11; Luke 18:14)

13 But woe (Luke 11:52) unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.

14 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour (Ezekiel 22:25; Mark 12:40; Luke 20:47; 2 Timothy 3:6; Titus 1:11) widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.

15 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell (Matthew 5:22; Matthew 5:29; Matthew 5:30; Matthew 10:28; Matthew 18:9; Matthew 23:33; Mark 9:43; Luke 12:5; James 3:6) than yourselves.

16 Woe unto you, ye blind guides, (Isaiah 9:16; Malachi 2:8; Matthew 15:14; Luke 6:39) which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor!

17 Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth (Exodus 30:29) the gold?

18 And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty.

19 Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth (Exodus 29:37) the gift?

20 Whoso therefore shall swear by the altar, sweareth by it, and by all things thereon.

21 And whoso shall swear by the temple, sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth (1 Kings 8:13; 2 Chronicles 6:2; Psalms 26:8; Psalms 132:13) therein.

22 And he that shall swear by heaven, sweareth by the throne (Isaiah 66:1; Matthew 5:34) of God, and by him that sitteth thereon.

23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint (Luke 11:42) and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

24 Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.

25 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup (Mark 7:4; Luke 11:39) and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.

26 Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.

27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited (Acts 23:3) sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. (Romans 1:24; Romans 6:19; 2 Corinthians 6:17; 2 Corinthians 12:21; Galatians 5:19; Ephesians 4:19; Ephesians 5:3; Ephesians 5:5; Colossians 3:5; 1 Thessalonians 4:7)

28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

29 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous,

30 And 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.

31 Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children (Acts 7:51) of them which killed the prophets.

32 Fill (Genesis 15:16; 1 Thessalonians 2:16) ye up then the measure of your fathers.

33 Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, (Genesis 3:1; Matthew 3:7; Matthew 12:34; Luke 3:7; John 8:44; Revelation 20:2) how can ye escape the damnation of hell? (Matthew 5:22; Matthew 5:29; Matthew 5:30; Matthew 10:28; Matthew 18:9; Matthew 23:15; Mark 9:43; Luke 12:5; James 3:6)

34 Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill (2 Chronicles 24:21; Nehemiah 9:26; Matthew 21:35; Hebrews 11:37) and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city:

35 That upon (Revelation 18:24) you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood (Genesis 4:10; Matthew 27:25; Acts 5:28; Revelation 6:10) of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.

36 Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation.

37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, (2 Chronicles 36:16; Matthew 5:12; Acts 7:52; 1 Thessalonians 2:15; Hebrews 11:35; James 5:10) and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!

38 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.

39 For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed (Psalms 118:26; Matthew 21:9) is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.Psalms 118:26