Why is Matthew 23:14 omitted in some Bible translations? Canonical Setting and Immediate Context Matthew 23 records Jesus’ climactic public denunciation of the scribes and Pharisees. Thirteen “woes” appear when the Synoptic parallels (Mark 12:38–40; Luke 20:45–47) and Matthew 23 are read together. In the Berean Standard Bible the disputed text of Matthew 23:14 reads: “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You devour widows’ houses and make a show with lengthy prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation.” The Numerical Question: Why Some Editions Jump from v. 13 to v. 15 Modern critical editions of the Greek New Testament (Nestle-Aland 28, UBS 5, Tyndale House GNT) omit the sentence because it is absent from the earliest and most geographically diverse witnesses. When translators rely primarily on these editions, they either bracket the sentence or place it in a footnote; the verse number is then skipped to preserve cross-reference consistency with older English versions that did include the words. Early Manuscripts That Omit the Verse • 𝔓¹°⁵ (early 3rd cent.)—fragmentary but confirms omission in this manuscript family • Codex Vaticanus (𝐁, c. AD 325) • Codex Sinaiticus (𝐀, c. AD 330–360) • Codex Bezae (𝐃, 5th cent.)—omits the sentence in Matthew though it keeps the parallel in Luke • Codices L, Θ, Z, 0102, and the consistently cited minuscules of families ¹, ¹³, 33, 565, 579, 892, 1424, and the Majority of Coptic, Sahidic, and Bohairic versions These represent the Alexandrian, Western, and early Caesarean streams, suggesting the shorter reading was widespread before the Byzantine text formed. Later Manuscripts That Contain the Verse The verse appears in the majority of medieval Byzantine manuscripts (K, W, Γ, Π, 700, etc.), in the Old Latin itª, it¹, the Vulgate (Jerome, late 4th cent.), the Syriac Peshitta, and Syriac Harklean. Erasmus’ 1516 first printed Greek New Testament followed two late-medieval exemplars that had the fuller reading; thus the verse entered the Textus Receptus and the King James Version. Probable Scribal Motive for Addition Internal evidence indicates harmonization. A scribe familiar with Mark 12:40 and Luke 20:47 likely inserted the parallel “woe” into Matthew to create rhetorical symmetry. The wording in Matthew’s longer reading is nearly verbatim to the other Synoptic lines, and its placement between vv. 13 and 15 fits that harmonizing impulse. No compelling theological reason exists to remove the line, but a strong narrative reason exists to add it for completeness; therefore omission is considered the more original state by the canons of textual criticism. Does the Difference Threaten Inspiration or Inerrancy? No doctrine changes: the same saying is preserved intact in Mark and Luke. Inspiration applies to the autographs; God has providentially preserved His word across thousands of manuscripts so that every line of Scripture can be reconstructed with greater than 99 % certainty. Where minor variants remain, none overturn a single Christian doctrine (cf. Isaiah 40:8; 1 Peter 1:24-25; Psalm 119:160). How Major English Versions Handle Matthew 23:14 Included: KJV, NKJV, MEV, Douay-Rheims, Orthodox Study Bible Bracketed/Footnoted: NASB 1995, HCSB, Berean Standard Bible Omitted with footnote: ESV, NIV, CSB, NET, NASB 2020, NRSV, LSB Typical footnote: “Some manuscripts add v. 14: Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites….” This alerts readers to the textual question while retaining transparency. Patristic Evidence Origen (c. AD 184-253) alludes to the condemnation of devouring widows’ houses but cites Mark. Chrysostom (c. AD 349-407) comments on Matthew 23 yet skips directly from v. 13 to v. 15 in his Homilies, confirming his manuscript lacked the sentence. Jerome’s Vulgate (late 4th cent.) includes the verse, showing its rise in the Western church by that time. Archaeological and Documentary Corroboration The wealth of papyri from Oxyrhynchus and Chester Beatty (𝔓⁴⁵, c. AD 200-250) demonstrate how early the Gospels circulated independently, explaining occasional assimilation during later collation. The Chester Beatty codex shows Mark and Luke side by side but lacks Matthew 23:14, further supporting originality of the shorter reading. Why the Verse Number Remains Numbering introduced by Robert Estienne (Stephens) in 1551 followed the Textus Receptus. Modern translations rarely renumber because that would scramble half a millennium of concordances, commentaries, and memorization helps. Skipping the number signals a textual issue without erasing historical tools. Confidence in the Gospels’ Reliability Over 5,800 Greek manuscripts, 10,000 Latin, and 9,300 in other ancient languages bear witness to the New Testament—far surpassing any other classical text. God’s providence in this vast attestation allows scholars to identify the handful of verses (about one-thousandth of the NT) that pose significant variation. Every variant is catalogued; none undermines the historicity of Jesus or the truth of His bodily resurrection attested by more than 500 eyewitnesses (1 Corinthians 15:3-8). Pastoral Takeaway Whether your Bible shows the verse in line, in brackets, or in a footnote, its message stands sure: God sees through pious façades and will judge those who exploit others under the guise of religion. Let that sober warning lead each reader to the grace found only in the risen Christ, who condemned hypocrisy yet forgives the repentant (Matthew 23:37; Romans 5:8). Summary Matthew 23:14 is omitted or footnoted in many modern translations because the earliest, most reliable, and geographically diverse Greek manuscripts lack it. The sentence is textually secure in Mark 12:40 and Luke 20:47, so no truth is lost. The variation arose through scribal harmonization, but God’s providential preservation of a massive manuscript tradition allows us to detect such expansions and stand confidently on the inerrant word He has given. |
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