Christian Standard Bible

English Standard Version

1Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples:

1Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples,

2"The scribes and the Pharisees are seated in the chair of Moses.

2“The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat,

3Therefore do whatever they tell you, and observe it. But don't do what they do, because they don't practice what they teach.

3so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice.

4They tie up heavy loads that are hard to carry and put them on people's shoulders, but they themselves aren't willing to lift a finger to move them.

4They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger.

5They do everything to be seen by others: They enlarge their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels.

5They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long,

6They love the place of honor at banquets, the front seats in the synagogues,

6and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues

7greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called 'Rabbi' by people.

7and greetings in the marketplaces and being called rabbi by others.

8"But you are not to be called 'Rabbi,' because you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers and sisters.

8But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers.

9Do not call anyone on earth your father, because you have one Father, who is in heaven.

9And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven.

10You are not to be called instructors either, because you have one Instructor, the Messiah.

10Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ.

11The greatest among you will be your servant.

11The greatest among you shall be your servant.

12Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

12Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

13"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people's faces. For you don't go in, and you don't allow those entering to go in.

13“But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in.

14

14

15"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to make one convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as fit for hell as you are!

15Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves.

16"Woe to you, blind guides, who say, 'Whoever takes an oath by the temple, it means nothing. But whoever takes an oath by the gold of the temple is bound by his oath.'

16“Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.’

17Blind fools! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that sanctified the gold?

17You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that has made the gold sacred?

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.'

18And you say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gift that is on the altar, he is bound by his oath.’

19Blind people! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that sanctifies the gift?

19You blind men! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that makes the gift sacred?

20Therefore, the one who takes an oath by the altar takes an oath by it and by everything on it.

20So whoever swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it.

21The one who takes an oath by the temple takes an oath by it and by him who dwells in it.

21And whoever swears by the temple swears by it and by him who dwells in it.

22And the one who takes an oath by heaven takes an oath by God's throne and by him who sits on it.

22And whoever swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by him who sits upon it.

23"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You pay a tenth of mint, dill, and cumin, and yet you have neglected the more important matters of the law--justice, mercy, and faithfulness. These things should have been done without neglecting the others.

23“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.

24Blind guides! You strain out a gnat, but gulp down a camel!

24You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing 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 and self-indulgence.

25“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.

26Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup, so that the outside of it may also become clean.

26You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean.

27"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which appear beautiful on the outside, but inside are full of the bones of the dead and every kind of impurity.

27“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness.

28In the same way, on the outside you seem righteous to people, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

28So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within 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 graves of the righteous,

29“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and decorate the monuments of the righteous,

30and you say, 'If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we wouldn't have taken part with them in shedding the prophets' blood.'

30saying, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’

31So you testify against yourselves that you are descendants of those who murdered the prophets.

31Thus you witness against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets.

32Fill up, then, the measure of your ancestors' sins!

32Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers.

33"Snakes! Brood of vipers! How can you escape being condemned to hell?

33You serpents, you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to hell?

34This is why I am sending you prophets, sages, and scribes. Some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town.

34Therefore I send you prophets and wise men and scribes, some of whom you will kill and crucify, and some you will flog in your synagogues and persecute from town to town,

35So all the righteous blood shed on the earth will be charged to you, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar.

35so that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah the son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar.

36Truly I tell you, all these things will come on this generation.

36Truly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation.

37"Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her. How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!

37“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!

38See, your house is left to you desolate.

38See, your house is left to you desolate.

39For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord '!"

39For I tell you, you will not see me again, until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’”

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.