Matthew 23 Parallel Bible Translations

Matthew 23 ▼
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1 Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to His disciples, Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples:
2 saying: “The scribes and Pharisees have seated themselves in Moses’ chair [of authority as teachers of the Law]; “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat, “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat.
3 so practice and observe everything they tell you, but do not do as they do; for they preach [things], but do not practice them. so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice. So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.
4 The scribes and Pharisees tie up heavy loads [that are hard to bear] and place them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves will not lift a finger [to make them lighter]. They 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. They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.
5 They do all their deeds to be seen by men; for they make their phylacteries (tefillin) wide [to make them more conspicuous] and make their tassels long. They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, “Everything they do is done for people to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long;
6 They love the place of distinction and honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues [those on the platform near the scrolls of the Law, facing the congregation], and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues;
7 and to be greeted [with respect] in the market places and public forums, and to have people call them Rabbi. and greetings in the marketplaces and being called rabbi by others. they love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and to be called ‘Rabbi’ by others.
8 But do not be called Rabbi (Teacher); for One is your Teacher, and you are all [equally] brothers. But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers. “But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers.
9 Do not call anyone on earth [who guides you spiritually] your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven.
10 Do not let yourselves be called leaders or teachers; for One is your Leader (Teacher), the Christ. Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ. Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Messiah.
11 But the greatest among you will be your servant. The greatest among you shall be your servant. The greatest among you will be your servant.
12 Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be raised to honor. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.
13 “But woe (judgment is coming) to you, [self-righteous] scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you shut off the kingdom of heaven in front of people; for you do not enter yourselves, nor do you allow those who are [in the process of] entering to do so. “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. “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.
14 [Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you swallow up widows’ houses, and to cover it up you make long prayers; therefore you will receive the greater condemnation.]
15 “Woe to you, [self-righteous] scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you travel over sea and land to make a single proselyte (convert to Judaism), and when he becomes a convert, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are. Woe 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. “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when you have succeeded, you make them twice as much a child of hell as you are.
16 “Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘Whoever swears [an oath] by the sanctuary of the temple, that is nothing (non-binding); but whoever swears [an oath] by the gold of the temple is obligated [as a debtor to fulfill his vow and keep his promise].’ “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.’ “Woe to you, blind guides! You say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but anyone who swears by the gold of the temple is bound by that oath.’
17 You fools and blind men! Which is more important, the gold or the sanctuary of the temple that sanctified the gold? You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that has made the gold sacred? You blind fools! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes the gold sacred?
18 And [you scribes and Pharisees say], ‘Whoever swears [an oath] by the altar, that is nothing (non-binding), but whoever swears [an oath] by the offering on it, he is obligated [as a debtor to fulfill his vow and keep his promise].’ And 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.’ You also say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it means nothing; but anyone who swears by the gift on the altar is bound by that oath.’
19 You [spiritually] blind men, which is more important, the offering, or the altar that sanctifies the offering? You blind men! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that makes the gift sacred? You blind men! Which is greater: the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred?
20 Therefore, whoever swears [an oath] by the altar, swears both by it and by everything [offered] on it. So whoever swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. Therefore, anyone who swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it.
21 And whoever swears [an oath] by the sanctuary of the temple, swears by it and by Him who dwells within it. And whoever swears by the temple swears by it and by him who dwells in it. And anyone who swears by the temple swears by it and by the one who dwells in it.
22 And whoever swears [an oath] by heaven, swears both by the throne of God and by Him who sits upon it. And whoever swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by him who sits upon it. And anyone who swears by heaven swears by God’s throne and by the one who sits on it.
23 “Woe to you, [self-righteous] scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you give a tenth (tithe) of your mint and dill and cumin [focusing on minor matters], and have neglected the weightier [more important moral and spiritual] provisions of the Law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the [primary] things you ought to have done without neglecting the others. “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. “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.
24 You [spiritually] blind guides, who strain out a gnat [consuming yourselves with miniscule matters] and swallow a camel [ignoring and violating God’s precepts]! You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel! You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.
25 “Woe to you, [self-righteous] scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the plate, but inside they are full of extortion and robbery and self-indulgence (unrestrained greed). “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. “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.
26 You [spiritually] blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the plate [examine and change your inner self to conform to God’s precepts], so that the outside [your public life and deeds] may be clean also. You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.
27 “Woe to you, [self-righteous] scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which look beautiful on the outside, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and everything unclean. “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. “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean.
28 So you, also, outwardly seem to be just and upright to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.
29 “Woe to you, [self-righteous] scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build tombs for the prophets and decorate and adorn the monuments of the righteous, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and decorate the monuments of the righteous, “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous.
30 and you say, ‘If we had been living in the days of our fathers, we would not have joined them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ saying, ‘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.’ And you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’
31 So you testify against yourselves that you are the descendants of those who murdered the prophets. Thus you witness against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. So you testify against yourselves that you are the descendants of those who murdered the prophets.
32 Fill up, then, the [allotted] measure of the guilt of your fathers’ sins. Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers. Go ahead, then, and complete what your ancestors started!
33 You serpents, you spawn of vipers, how can you escape the penalty of hell? You serpents, you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to hell? “You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell?
34 “Therefore, take notice, I am sending you prophets and wise men [interpreters, teachers] and scribes [men educated in the Mosaic Law and the writings of the prophets]; some of them you will kill and even crucify, and some you will flog in your synagogues, and pursue and persecute from city to city, Therefore 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, Therefore I am sending you prophets and sages and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify; others you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town.
35 so that on you will come the guilt of all the blood of the righteous shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah [the priest], the son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. so 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. And so upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berekiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.
36 I assure you and most solemnly say to you, [the judgment for] all these things [these vile and murderous deeds] will come on this generation. Truly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation. Truly I tell you, all this will come on this generation.
37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who murders the prophets and stones [to death] those [messengers] who are sent to her [by God]! How often I wanted to gather your children together [around Me], as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling. “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! “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing.
38 Listen carefully: your house is being left to you desolate [completely abandoned by God and destitute of His protection]! See, your house is left to you desolate. Look, your house is left to you desolate.
39 For I say to you, you will not see Me again [ministering to you publicly] until you say, ‘BLESSED [to be celebrated with praise] IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD!’” For I tell you, you will not see me again, until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’” For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’”
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