³Therefore do and observe everything that they tell you, but do not do as they do,^a for they tell others to do something^* and do not do it themselves.^* ⁴And they tie up heavy burdens^b and put them^* on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing with their finger to move them. ⁵And they do all their deeds in order to be seen by people, for they make their phylacteries broad and make their^c tassels long. ⁶And they love the place of honor at banquets and the best seats in the synagogues ⁷and the greetings in the marketplaces and to be called ‘Rabbi’ by people. ⁸But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ because one is your teacher, and you are all brothers, ⁹And do not call anyone^* your father on earth, for one is your heavenly Father. ¹⁰And do not be called teachers, because one is your teacher, the Christ. ¹¹And the greatest among you will be your servant. ¹²And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

¹³“But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees—hypocrites!—because you shut the kingdom of heaven before people! For you do not enter, nor permit those wanting to go in^* to enter.^d

¹⁵“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees—hypocrites!—because you travel around the sea and the dry land to make one convert, and when he becomes one,^* you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are!

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 is bound by his oath.’^e ¹⁷Fools and blind people! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that makes the gold holy? ¹⁸And, ‘Whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing! But whoever swears by the gift that is on it is bound by his oath.’^f ¹⁹Blind people! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that makes the gift holy? ²⁰Therefore the one who swears by the altar swears by it and by everything that is on it. ²¹And the one who swears by the temple swears by it and by the one who dwells in it. ²²And the one who swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by the one who sits on it.

²³“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees—hypocrites!—because you pay a tenth of mint and dill and cumin, and neglect the more important matters of the law—justice and mercy and faithfulness! It was necessary^g to do these things while not neglecting those.^h ²⁴Blind guides who filter out a gnat and swallow a camel!

²⁵“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees—hypocrites!—because you cleanse the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence! ²⁶Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the dish,ⁱ so that the outside of it may become clean also.

²⁷“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees—hypocrites!—because you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and of everything unclean! ²⁸In the same way, on the outside you also appear righteous to people, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

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Footnotes

aLiterally “their deeds”
*The words “others to do something” are not in the Greek text but are implied
*The words “it themselves” are not in the Greek text but are implied
bSome manuscripts have “burdens that are heavy and hard to bear”
*Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
cLiterally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
*Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
*Here the present tense has been translated as voluntative (“wanting to go in”)
dThe most important Greek manuscripts omit v. 14, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees—hypocrites!—because you devour widows’ houses and for show you pray long prayers! Therefore you will receive the greater condemnation.”
*Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
eThe phrase “by his oath” is not in the Greek text but is implied
fThe phrase “by his oath” is not in the Greek text but is implied
gSome manuscripts have “But it was necessary”
hLiterally “and those not to neglect”
iSome manuscripts omit “and the dish”