Matthew 23:1–22

¹Then Jesus spake to the multitudes, and to his disciples, ²saying, ‘On the seat of Moses sat down the scribes and the Pharisees; ³all, then, as much as they may say to you to observe, observe and do, but according to their works do not, for they say, and do not; ⁴for they bind together burdens heavy and grievous to be borne, and lay upon the shoulders of men, but with their finger they will not move them.

⁵‘And all their works they do to be seen by men, and they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the fringes of their garments, ⁶they love also the chief couches in the supper, and the chief seats in the synagogues, ⁷and the salutations in the market-places, and to be called by men, Rabbi, Rabbi.

⁸‘And ye—ye may not be called Rabbi, for one is your director—the Christ, and all ye are brethren; ⁹and ye may not call any your father on the earth, for one is your Father, who is in the heavens, ¹⁰nor may ye be called directors, for one is your director—the Christ. ¹¹And the greater of you shall be your ministrant, ¹²and whoever shall exalt himself shall be humbled, and whoever shall humble himself shall be exalted.

¹³‘Woe to you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye shut up the reign of the heavens before men, for ye do not go in, nor those going in do ye suffer to enter.

¹⁴‘Woe to you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye eat up the houses of the widows, and for a pretence make long prayers, because of this ye shall receive more abundant judgment.

¹⁵‘Woe to you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye go round the sea and the dry land to make one proselyte, and whenever it may happen—ye make him a son of gehenna twofold more than yourselves.

¹⁶‘Woe to you, blind guides, who are saying, Whoever may swear by the sanctuary, it is nothing, but whoever may swear by the gold of the sanctuary—is debtor! ¹⁷Fools and blind! for which is greater, the gold, or the sanctuary that is sanctifying the gold?

¹⁸‘And, whoever may swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever may swear by the gift that is upon it—is debtor! ¹⁹Fools and blind! for which is greater, the gift, or the altar that is sanctifying the gift?

²⁰‘He therefore who did swear by the altar, doth swear by it, and by all things on it; ²¹and he who did swear by the sanctuary, doth swear by it, and by Him who is dwelling in it; ²²and he who did swear by the heaven, doth swear by the throne of God, and by Him who is sitting upon it.