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

1Then Jesus addressing himself to the people, and to his disciples, 2said, the Scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses's chair. 3therefore whatever moral precepts they bid you observe, those observe and practise; but don't follow their example: for they preach one thing, and practise another. 4for they load men with intolerable impositions, and will not take the least pains to ease them of the burthen: they do nothing but out of ostentation, 5their phylacterys are broader, and the fringes of their garments are larger than those of others: 6they affect the uppermost place at feasts, the principal chair in the synagogues, 7to be saluted in publick places, and to have men address to them with the title of Doctor Doctor. 8But don't you assume that title, for you have but one doctor, who is the Christ; as for you, you are all brethren alike. 9don't stile any one among you, Father upon earth; for he alone is your father, who is in heaven. 10neither take the title of masters, for you have but one master, who is the Messias. 11he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. 12for whosoever exalts himself, shall be abased; and he that humbles himself, shall be exalted.

13Wo unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, who prey upon the estates of widows, under the pretext of making long prayers; therefore ye shall be punish'd with the greater severity. 14wo unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, who shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye not only refuse to go in your selves, but hinder those that would.

15wo unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, who ransack sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is gain'd, ye make him deserve Gehenna much more than your selves.

16wo unto you, ye blind guides, who say, if any man swear by the temple he is under no obligation: but if he swear by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath. 17ye blind fools, which is most sacred, the treasure of the temple, or the temple that makes the treasure sacred? 18again, if any one swear by the altar he is under no engagement but if he swear by the gift that is upon it, he is bound thereby. 19ye blind fools, which is most sacred, the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred? 20whoever swears by the altar, swears not only by the altar, but by every thing upon it. 21and whoever swears by the temple, swears by it, and by him that dwelleth therein. 22and he that swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth thereon.

23wo unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, who pay tithe of mint, anise, and cummin, but neglect those more important matters of the law, justice, mercy, and fidelity: these were the things ye ought to have practis'd, without neglecting however the other matters. 24ye blind guides, who strain your liquor for a gnat, and swallow a beetle.

25wo unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites; for ye clean the outside of the cup, and of the plate, but within they are full of rapine and impurity. 26thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first the inside of the cup and plate, that the outside may be likewise clean.

27wo unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites; for ye are like whited sepulchres, which to outward appearance are fine, but within are full of dead mens bones, and all sort of filth. 28just so ye put on an air of probity in the sight of men, but within are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

29wo unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites; because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the just, 30and say, if we had liv'd in the time of our forefathers, we would not have been accessory with them in shedding the blood of the prophets. 31whereby you yourselves own that ye are indeed the children of those who killed the prophets, 32children that can't fail to fill up the measure of your fathers iniquities. 33ye serpents, ye brood of vipers, how can ye escape the punishment of Gehenna?

34wherefore I shall send you prophets, and wise men, and Scribes; you will kill some, and crucify others, many will ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city. 35so that you maybe charg'd with all the innocent blood shed upon earth, from the blood of Abel the just, unto the blood of Zacharias, the son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar. 36I declare unto you, all these things shall befall this generation.

Lament over Jerusalem
(Luke 13:31–35)

37O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, but ye would not! 38know, that your habitation shall be soon turned into a desert. 39for I tell you, after a while, ye shall not see me again, till ye shall cry out, "Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord."