Chapter 23

1Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and his disciples.

2He said, “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat—the recognized position of teaching his law.

3So follow everything they tell you and put it into practice. But do not copy what they do, because they say one thing and do another.

4They tie up heavy burdens and place them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves will not lift a finger to move them.

5Everything they do is meant to attract attention. They make the scripture boxes they wear especially wide and their ceremonial tassels especially large.

6They love the places of honor at dinners and the best seats in the synagogues, where Jewish communities gather for worship and teaching.

7They love receiving respectful greetings in the marketplaces and having people call them ‘Teacher.’

8But you must not accept the title ‘Teacher,’ because you have only one teacher, and you are all brothers and sisters.

9Do not give anyone on earth the title ‘Father,’ because you have only one Father, your heavenly Father.

10Do not accept the title ‘Leader,’ either, because you have only one leader: the Messiah, God’s chosen king.

11The greatest among you must be your servant.

12Whoever puts themselves above others will be brought low, and whoever takes a humble place will be raised up.

13How terrible it will be for you teachers of the law and Pharisees—you hypocrites! You shut the door to God’s kingdom in people’s faces. You do not enter yourselves, and you do not let those trying to enter go in.

15How terrible it will be for you teachers of the law and Pharisees—you hypocrites! You travel across sea and land to win a single convert to Judaism. Once that person converts, you make them twice as bound for hell as you are.

16How terrible it will be for you blind guides! You teach, ‘If someone makes an oath by the temple, the oath does not count. But if someone makes an oath by the temple’s gold, the oath must be kept.’

17You foolish, blind people! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes the gold sacred?

18You also teach, ‘If someone makes an oath by the altar, the oath does not count. But if someone makes an oath by the gift on the altar, the oath must be kept.’

19You blind people! Which is greater: the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred?

20Anyone who makes an oath by the altar makes it by both the altar and everything on it.

21Anyone who makes an oath by the temple makes it by both the temple and God, who lives there.

22Anyone who makes an oath by heaven makes it by both God’s throne and God, who sits on it.

23How terrible it will be for you teachers of the law and Pharisees—you hypocrites! You give a tenth as a religious offering, even from your mint, dill, and cumin. But you have neglected what matters most in God’s law: justice, mercy, and faithfulness. You should have practiced these without neglecting those offerings.

24You blind guides! You strain a tiny gnat out of a drink, yet swallow a camel.

25How terrible it will be for you teachers of the law and Pharisees—you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and serving dish, but inside they are full of greed and lack of self-control.

26Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and serving dish, so that the outside will also become clean.

27How terrible it will be for you teachers of the law and Pharisees—you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs. They look beautiful on the outside, but inside they are full of dead people’s bones and all kinds of filth.

28In the same way, you look like people who do what is right, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and disregard for God’s law.

29How terrible it will be for you teachers of the law and Pharisees—you hypocrites! You build the tombs of the prophets—people who spoke for God—and decorate the monuments of people who did what was right.

30You say, ‘If we had lived in the time of our ancestors, we would not have joined them in murdering the prophets.’

31By saying this, you admit that you are descendants of those who murdered the prophets.

32Go ahead, then—fill your ancestors’ measure of wrongdoing to the brim!

33You snakes! You offspring of poisonous snakes! How can you escape being condemned to hell?

34That is why I am sending you prophets, wise people, and teachers of the law. You will kill and crucify some of them. You will whip others in your synagogues and pursue them from city to city.

35In this way, you will be held responsible for all the innocent blood shed on earth—from the blood of Abel, who did what was right, to the blood of Zechariah son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.

36I tell you the truth: all of this will come upon this generation.

37Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you kill the prophets and stone to death those sent to you! How often I wanted to gather your people together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you refused!

38Look—your house is being left to you deserted.

39I tell you, you will certainly not see me again from now on until you say, ‘God’s blessing rests on the one who comes with God’s authority.’”