Matthew 23:13–29

¹³“But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You lock up the kingdom of heaven from people. For you don’t go in, and you don’t allow those entering to go in. ^c

[¹⁴“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You devour widows’ houses and make long prayers just for show. ^dThis is why you will receive a harsher punishment.] ^e

¹⁵“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to make one ^•proselyte, ^fand when he becomes one, you make him twice as fit for ^•hell ^gas you are!

¹⁶“Woe to you, blind guides, ^hwho say, ‘Whoever takes an oath by the sanctuary, it means nothing. But whoever takes an oath ⁱby the gold of the sanctuary is bound by his oath.’ ^j17Blind fools! ^kFor which is greater, the gold or the sanctuary that sanctified the gold? ¹⁸Also, ‘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.’ ^l19Blind people! ^mFor which is greater, the gift or the altar that sanctifies the gift? ⁿ²⁰Therefore, the one who takes an oath by the altar takes an oath by it and by everything on it. ²¹The one who takes an oath by the sanctuary takes an oath by it and by Him who dwells ^oin it. ²²And the one who takes an oath by heaven takes an oath by God’s throne ^pand by Him who sits on it. ^q

²³“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You pay a tenth of ^rmint, dill, and cumin, ^syet you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, ^tmercy, and faith. These things should have been done without neglecting the others. ²⁴Blind guides! ^uYou strain out a gnat, yet 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 ^vand self-indulgence! ^w26Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup, ^xso the outside of it ^ymay also become clean.

²⁷“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, ^zwhich appear beautiful on the outside, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and every impurity. ²⁸In 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 monuments of the righteous,