Matthew 23
Geneva Bible of 1587 Par ▾ 

Woes to Scribes and Pharisees
(Luke 11:37–54)

1Then spake Iesus to the multitude, and to his disciples, 2Saying, The Scribes and the Pharises sit in Moses seate. 3All therefore whatsoeuer they bid you obserue, that obserue and doe: but after their workes doe not: for they say, and doe not. 4For they binde heauie burdens, & grieuous to be borne, and lay them on mens shoulders, but they themselues will not moue them with one of their fingers. 5All their workes they doe for to be seene of men: for they make their phylacteries broad, and make long the frindges of their garments, 6And loue the chiefe place at feastes, and to haue the chiefe seates in the assemblies, 7And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi. 8But be not ye called, Rabbi: for one is your doctour, to wit, Christ, and all ye are brethren. 9And call no man your father vpon the earth: for there is but one, your father which is in heauen. 10Be not called doctors: for one is your doctor, euen Christ. 11But he that is greatest among you, let him be your seruant. 12For whosoeuer will exalt himselfe, shall be brought lowe: and whosoeuer will humble himselfe, shalbe exalted.

13Wo therefore be vnto you, Scribes and Pharises, hypocrites, because ye shut vp the kingdome of heauen before men: for ye your selues go not in, neither suffer ye them that would enter, to come in. 14Wo be vnto you, Scribes and Pharises, hypocrites: for ye deuoure widowes houses, euen vnder a colour of long prayers: wherefore ye shall receiue the greater damnation.

15Wo be vnto you, Scribes and Pharises, hypocrites: for ye compasse sea and land to make one of your profession: and when he is made, ye make him two folde more the childe of hell, then you your selues.

16Wo be vnto you blinde guides, which say, Whosoeuer sweareth by the Temple, it is nothing: but whosoeuer sweareth by the golde of the Temple, he offendeth. 17Ye fooles and blinde, whether is greater, the golde, or the Temple that sanctifieth the golde? 18And whosoeuer sweareth by the altar, it is nothing: but whosoeuer sweareth by the offering that is vpon it, offendeth. 19Ye fooles and blinde, whether is greater, the offering, or the altar which sanctifieth the offering? 20Whosoeuer therefore sweareth by the altar, sweareth by it, and by all things thereon. 21And whosoeuer sweareth by the Temple, sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth therein. 22And he that sweareth by heauen, sweareth by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth thereon.

23Wo be to you, Scribes and Pharises, hypocrites: for ye tithe mynt, & annyse, & cummyn, & leaue the weightier matters of the law, as iudgement, and mercy and fidelitie. These ought ye to haue done, and not to haue left the other. 24Ye blinde guides, which straine out a gnat, and swallowe a camell.

25Wo be to you, Scribes and Pharises, hypocrites: for ye make cleane the vtter side of the cup, and of the platter: but within they are ful of briberie and excesse. 26Thou blinde Pharise, cleanse first the inside of the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be cleane also.

27Wo be to you, Scribes and Pharises, hypocrites: for ye are like vnto whited tombes, which appeare beautifull outward, but are within full of dead mens bones, and all filthines. 28So are ye also: for outwarde ye appeare righteous vnto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisie and iniquitie.

29Wo be vnto you, Scribes & Pharises, hypocrites: for ye build the tombes of the Prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous, 30And say, If we had bene in the dayes of our fathers, we would not haue bene partners with them in the blood of the Prophets. 31So then ye be witnesses vnto your selues, that ye are the children of them that murthered the Prophets. 32Fulfill ye also ye measure of your fathers. 33O serpents, the generation of vipers, howe should ye escape the damnation of hell!

34Wherefore beholde, I send vnto you Prophets, and wise men, and Scribes, and of them ye shall kill and crucifie: and of them shall ye scourge in your Synagogues, and persecute from citie to citie, 35That vpon you may come all the righteous blood that was shed vpon the earth, from the blood of Abel the righteous, vnto the blood of Zacharias the sonne of Barachias, whome ye slewe betweene the Temple and the altar. 36Verely I say vnto you, all these things shall come vpon this generation.

Lament over Jerusalem
(Luke 13:31–35)

37Hierusalem, Hierusalem, which killest the Prophets, and stonest them which are sent to thee, how often would I haue gathered thy children together, as the henne gathereth her chickins vnder her wings, and ye would not! 38Beholde, your habitation shalbe left vnto you desolate, 39For I say vnto you, ye shall not see mee henceforth till that ye say, Blessed is he that commeth in the Name of the Lord.


Geneva Bible of 1587

Section Headings Courtesy Berean Bible

Matthew 22
Top of Page
Top of Page