“Woes” on the Lawyers

45 Then one of the lawyers answered and said to Him, “Teacher, by saying these things You reproach us also.”

46 And He said, “Woe to you also, lawyers! oFor you load men with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do not touch the burdens with one of your fingers. 47 pWoe to you! For you build the tombs of the prophets, and your fathers killed them. 48 In fact, you bear witness that you approve the deeds of your fathers; for they indeed killed them, and you build their tombs. 49 Therefore the wisdom of God also said, q‘I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they will kill and persecute,’ 50 that the blood of all the prophets which was shed from the foundation of the world may be required of this generation, 51 rfrom the blood of Abel to sthe blood of Zechariah who perished between the altar and the temple. Yes, I say to you, it shall be required of this generation.

52 t“Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge. You did not enter in yourselves, and those who were entering in you hindered.”

53 6And as He said these things to them, the scribes and the Pharisees began to assail Him vehemently, and to cross-examine Him about many things, 54 lying in wait for Him, 7and useeking to catch Him in something He might say, 8that they might accuse Him.

Christ Warns About Hypocrisy

Matt. 10:26–33

12 In athe meantime, when an innumerable multitude of people had gathered together, so that they trampled one another, He began to say to His disciples first of all, b“Beware of the 1leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. 2 cFor there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known. 3 Therefore whatever you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.

4 d“And I say to you, eMy friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. 5 But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, ffear Him!

6 “Are not five sparrows sold for two 2copper coins? And gnot one of them is forgotten before God. 7 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.

8 h“Also I say to you, whoever confesses Me ibefore men, him the Son of Man also will confess before the angels of God. 9 But he who jdenies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God.

10 “And kanyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but to him who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven.

11 l“Now when they bring you to the synagogues and magistrates and authorities, do not worry about how or what you should answer, or what you should say. 12 For the Holy Spirit will mteach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”

Parable of the Rich Fool

13 Then one from the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”

14 But He said to him, n“Man, who made Me a judge or an arbitrator over you?” 15 And He said to them, o“Take heed and beware of 3covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.”

16 Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. 17 And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’ 18 So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, p“Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; qeat, drink, and be merry.” ’ 20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night ryour soul will be required of you; sthen whose will those things be which you have provided?’

21 “So is he who lays up treasure for himself, tand is not rich toward God.”