Matthew 23

1 Then [at that specific point in time] Jesus [Joshua, God is salvation] spoke [uttered words, talked] to the crowds [multitudes, a large group of people] and [also] to His disciples [learners, pupils, those who followed Him]: word study 2 “The scribes [scholars and teachers of the law] and Pharisees [a Jewish sect that followed strict religious rules] sit [have the authority to teach, are seated as leaders] in Moses’ [the Hebrew lawgiver, who received the Ten Commandments from God] seat [position of authority, chair of teaching]. word study 3 So practice [obey, follow] and observe [watch, keep] everything [all things, whatsoever] they tell [say, command] you. But do not [refrain from] do what they do [their works, actions], for they do not [fail to] practice [live out, demonstrate] what they preach [say, teach]. word study 4 They tie up [bind together, impose] heavy [weighty], burdensome loads [burdens, oppressive tasks] and lay them on men’s [human beings, people’s] shoulders [to bear the weight], but they themselves are not willing [do not desire, refuse] to lift a finger [with their finger, even slightly] to move [stir, remove] them. word study 5 All [every, everything] their deeds [works, actions] are done [performed, carried out] for men [people, humans] to see [be seen, observed]. They broaden [make wide, enlarge] their phylacteries [small boxes containing scripture texts] and lengthen [make long, extend] their tassels [fringes, borders of their garments]. word study 6 They love [have a strong affection for] the places of honor [positions of prominence, chief seats] at banquets [feasts, dinner parties], the chief seats [positions of respect, seats of authority] in the synagogues [gatherings, assemblies, places of worship], word study 7 the greetings [salutations, words of respect] in the marketplaces [public areas, gathering places], and the title [honor, designation] of ‘Rabbi’ [my master, teacher] by which they are addressed [called, invited]. word study 8 But you [as my disciples] are not to be called [addressed with honor as] ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one [unique, sole] Teacher [director, guide], and you are all [united, equal] brothers [fellow believers, siblings in faith]. word study 9 And do not call anyone on earth [upon the soil, in this world] your father [a male parent, spiritual leader], for you have one [unique, singular] Father [the ultimate authority], who is in heaven [the spiritual realm, among the heavens]. word study 10 Nor [not even, under no circumstances] are you to be called [invited to be known as] instructors [teachers, guides, masters] [directors, leaders], for you have [possess, are united with] one [unique, singular] Instructor [Teacher, Master, Guide], the [this specific, anointed] Christ [Messiah, the Anointed One]. word study 11 The [most prominent] greatest among you [who is, that is] shall be [must become, will be] your [personal, devoted] servant [one who attends to others]. word study 12 For whoever [who/which] exalts [lifts up, elevates] himself [themself] will be humbled [lowered], and whoever [who/which] humbles [lowers] himself [themself] will be exalted [lifted up, elevated]. word study 13 Woe [a cry of sorrow, alas] to you, scribes [scholars of the law] and Pharisees [strict religious sect], you hypocrites [insincere, pretending to be something you are not]! You shut [close, lock] the kingdom [reign, dominion] of heaven [the spiritual realm, God’s dwelling] in men’s faces [before people, in their presence]. You yourselves [personally, individually] do not enter [come in, participate], nor will you let [allow, permit] in those who wish [desire, want] to enter [come in, join]. word study 15 Woe [a cry of sorrow, a lament] to you, scribes [scholars of the law, teachers] and Pharisees [strict followers of Jewish traditions], you hypocrites [pretenders, insincere ones]! You traverse [travel, journey] land and sea to win [gain, convert] a single [one, sole] convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice [double, two-fold] as much a son of hell [Gehenna, a place of eternal punishment] as you are [exist, have become]. word study 16 Woe [a cry of sorrow, alas] to you, blind [spiritually unaware, lacking insight] guides [leaders, teachers]! You say, ‘If anyone swears [takes an oath, makes a vow] by the temple [the sacred place of worship], it means nothing [is of no importance, has no value]; but if anyone swears [binds themselves, makes a promise] by the gold [the precious treasures, valuable ornaments] of the temple [the sacred sanctuary], he is bound [obligated, responsible] by his oath [his promise, his word].’ word study 17 You [foolish and] blind [spiritually unaware] fools! Which [is it that you think] is greater: the gold [a valuable metal], or the temple [a sacred place of worship] that makes [sanctifies, sets apart] it sacred [holy, devoted to God]? word study 18 And you say, ‘If anyone swears [takes an oath, makes a promise] by the altar [a table or platform for offering sacrifices to God], it means nothing [is of no importance, has no value]; but if anyone swears [pledges, vows] by the gift [a sacrifice or offering] on it, he is bound [obligated, indebted] by his oath [promise, vow].’ word study 19 You [fools and] blind [spiritually unaware] men! Which is greater: the gift [sacrifice or offering], or the altar [table for sacrifices] that makes it [sets it apart as] sacred [holy]? word study 20 So then [therefore, as a consequence], he who swears [takes an oath, makes a promise] by the altar [a table or platform for offering sacrifices to God] swears [pledges, vows] by it [the altar itself] and by everything [all things, every object] on it [upon the altar]. word study 21 And he who swears [takes an oath, makes a vow] by the temple [a sacred place of worship, the inner sanctuary] swears by it and by the One [the Almighty, God] who dwells [resides, makes His home] in it. word study 22 And he who swears [takes an oath, makes a vow] by heaven [the sky, God’s dwelling place] swears [binds himself, makes a promise] by God’s [the Supreme Being, Creator] throne [seat of power, authority] and by the One [Him, the Almighty] who sits [is seated, reigns] on it [the throne, the seat of power]. word study 23 Woe [a cry of sorrow, alas] to you, scribes [scholars of the law] and Pharisees [strict followers of Jewish tradition], you hypocrites [pretenders, insincere ones]! You pay tithes [a tenth of your income] of mint [a sweet-smelling plant], dill [anise, a type of herb], and cumin [a type of spice]. But you have disregarded [left undone, neglected] the weightier [more important, heavier] matters of the law [God’s commandments]: justice [fairness, righteousness], mercy [compassion, pity], and faithfulness [trustworthiness, loyalty]. You should have practiced [done, carried out] the latter [these important things], without neglecting [leaving undone, ignoring] the former [the lesser matters]. word study 24 You blind [spiritually unaware] guides [leaders]! You strain out [filter, separate carefully] a gnat [tiny flying insect] but swallow [drink down] a camel [large animal]. word study 25 Woe [a cry of sorrow, alas] to you, scribes [scholars of the law] and Pharisees [strict followers of Jewish tradition], you hypocrites [insincere, pretending to be something you are not]! You clean [purify, make ritually clean] the outside [external appearance] of the cup [a drinking vessel] and dish [a side platter], but inside [inwardly, from the heart] they are full [completely filled] of greed [excessive desire, plunder] and self-indulgence [unrighteousness, excess]. word study 26 Blind [spiritually unaware] Pharisee [a member of a Jewish sect]! First [before all else] clean [purify] the inside [the inner part] of the cup [a drinking vessel] and dish [a side platter], so that the outside [the outer part] may become clean [pure and undefiled] as well. word study 27 Woe [a cry of sorrow, alas] to you, scribes [scholars of the law] and Pharisees [strict followers of Jewish traditions], you hypocrites [pretenders, insincere ones]! You are like whitewashed [plastered, covered up] tombs [graves, resting places], which look beautiful [flourishing, attractive] on the outside [externally, outwardly], but on the inside [inwardly, within] are full [completely filled] of dead men’s bones [remains of the deceased] and every kind [all types] of impurity [uncleanness, moral filth]. word study 28 In the same way [thus, like this], on the outside [externally, outwardly] you appear [seem, shine] to be righteous [just, fair], but on the inside [inwardly, from within] you are full [completely filled] of hypocrisy [deception, pretence] and wickedness [lawlessness, iniquity]. word study 29 Woe [alas, a cry of sorrow] to you, scribes [scholars of the law] and Pharisees [strict religious sect], you hypocrites [insincere, pretending to be something you are not]! You build [construct, erect] tombs [graves, monuments] for the prophets [messengers of God, spokesmen] and decorate [adorn, garnish] the monuments [memorials, sepulchres] of the righteous [just, upright, innocent]. word study 30 And you say, ‘If [under those circumstances] we had lived [existed, been present] in the days [periods of time, eras] of our fathers [ancestors, forefathers], we would not have been [participated, shared] partners [co-partners, accomplices] with them in shedding [pouring out, slaughtering] the blood [life, sacrifice] of the prophets [messengers, spokesmen of God].’ word study 31 So [therefore, as a result] you testify [bear witness, give evidence] against yourselves [to your own condemnation] that you are the sons [children, descendants] of those [who came before you] who murdered [killed, slew] the prophets [God’s messengers, spokesmen]. word study 32 Fill up [to the brim, completely], then, the measure [a standard or limit] of the sin [rebellion against God] of your fathers [ancestors, forefathers, those who came before you]. word study 33 You snakes [serpents, offspring of vipers]! You brood of vipers [generation of poisonous snakes]! How [in what way] will you escape [flee] the sentence [judgment] of hell [Gehenna, a place of eternal punishment]? word study 34 Because of this [due to these circumstances], I am sending [dispatching on a mission] you prophets [messengers of God’s will] and wise men [those with good judgment] and teachers [scribes, scholars of the law]. Some of them you will kill [destroy, take their lives] and crucify [impale on a cross], and others you will flog [whip, scourge] in your synagogues [gatherings, assemblies] and persecute [pursue, follow with hostility] in town after town. word study 35 And so upon [against, to] you will come [be laid, fall] all the righteous [just, innocent] blood [life, atoning sacrifice] shed [poured out, spilled] on earth [the land, soil], from the blood [life, sacrifice] of righteous [just, upright] Abel [the first martyr, son of Adam] to the blood [life, sacrifice] of Zechariah [a prophet, son of Barachiah] son of Berechiah, whom you murdered [killed, slew] between [in the space, during the time] the temple [the sacred place, house of God] and the altar [the table of sacrifice, place of worship]. word study 36 Truly [verily, with utmost certainty] I tell you, all [every single one] these things [events, circumstances] will come [arrive, be present] upon [against, to] this [specific, current] generation [group of people living at the same time]. word study 37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem [the city of God’s peace], who kills [murders, destroys] the prophets [God’s messengers, spokesmen] and stones [executes, rejects] those sent to her [apostles, ambassadors], how often [frequently, repeatedly] I have longed [desired, willed] to gather your children [believers, followers] together, as a hen [a mother bird] gathers her chicks [young ones, vulnerable] under her wings [a place of protection, safety], but you were unwilling [refused, resisted]! word study 38 Look [see, behold, perceive], your house [home, dwelling, family] is left [abandoned, released, sent away] to you [as a judgment, desolate and empty] desolate [empty, uninhabited, deserted]. word study 39 For I tell you [assure you, say unto you] that you will not see Me again [from this time, henceforth] until you say [acknowledge, confess], ‘Blessed is He who comes [arrives, is coming] in the name [authority, character] of the Lord [God, Master].’ ” word study