CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"><title>Matthew 23 Amplified Bible</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/chapnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head> <script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-LR4HSKRP2H"></script> <script> window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'G-LR4HSKRP2H'); </script><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../cmenus/matthew/23.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="../topmenuchap/matthew/23-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="http://biblehub.com">Bible</a> > <a href="../">AMP</a> > Matthew 23</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="../menu.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../matthew/22.htm" title="Matthew 22">◄</a> Matthew 23 <a href="../matthew/24.htm" title="Matthew 24">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top">Amplified Bible</td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/p/nas/esv/matthew/23.shtml" style="color:#001320" title="Parallel Verses"> Par ▾ </a></tr></table></div><p class="hdg">Pharisaism Exposed</p><p><span class="reftext"><a href="/matthew/23-1.htm"><b>1</b></a></span>Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to His disciples, <span class="reftext"><a href="/matthew/23-2.htm"><b>2</b></a></span>saying: “The scribes and Pharisees have seated themselves in Moses’ chair [of authority as teachers of the Law]; <span class="reftext"><a href="/matthew/23-3.htm"><b>3</b></a></span>so practice and observe everything they tell you, but do not do as they do; for they preach [things], but do not practice <i>them</i>. <span class="reftext"><a href="/matthew/23-4.htm"><b>4</b></a></span>The scribes and Pharisees tie up <span class="fn"><a href="#fn">[a]</a></span>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]. <span class="reftext"><a href="/matthew/23-5.htm"><b>5</b></a></span>They do all their deeds to be seen by men; for they make their <span class="fn"><a href="#fn">[b]</a></span>phylacteries (tefillin) wide [to make them more conspicuous] and make their <span class="fn"><a href="#fn">[c]</a></span>tassels long. <span class="reftext"><a href="/matthew/23-6.htm"><b>6</b></a></span>They love the place of distinction <i>and</i> honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues [those on the platform near the scrolls of the Law, facing the congregation], <span class="reftext"><a href="/matthew/23-7.htm"><b>7</b></a></span>and to be greeted [with respect] in the market places <i>and</i> public forums, and to have people call them Rabbi. <span class="reftext"><a href="/matthew/23-8.htm"><b>8</b></a></span>But do not be called Rabbi (Teacher); for One is your Teacher, and you are all [equally] brothers. <span class="reftext"><a href="/matthew/23-9.htm"><b>9</b></a></span>Do not call <i>anyone</i> on earth [who guides you spiritually] your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. <span class="reftext"><a href="/matthew/23-10.htm"><b>10</b></a></span>Do not <i>let yourselves</i> be called leaders <i>or</i> teachers; for One is your Leader (Teacher), the Christ. <span class="reftext"><a href="/matthew/23-11.htm"><b>11</b></a></span>But the greatest among you will be your servant. <span class="reftext"><a href="/matthew/23-12.htm"><b>12</b></a></span>Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be raised to honor. <p class="hdg">Eight Woes</p><p class="paragraph"><span class="reftext"><a href="/matthew/23-13.htm"><b>13</b></a></span>“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. 14<span class="fn"><a href="#fn">[d]</a></span>[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.] <p class="paragraph"><span class="reftext"><a href="/matthew/23-15.htm"><b>15</b></a></span>“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. <p class="paragraph"><span class="reftext"><a href="/matthew/23-16.htm"><b>16</b></a></span>“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].’ <span class="reftext"><a href="/matthew/23-17.htm"><b>17</b></a></span>You fools and blind men! Which is more important, the gold or the sanctuary of the temple that sanctified the gold? <span class="reftext"><a href="/matthew/23-18.htm"><b>18</b></a></span>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].’ <span class="reftext"><a href="/matthew/23-19.htm"><b>19</b></a></span>You [spiritually] blind men, which is more important, the offering, or the altar that sanctifies the offering? <span class="reftext"><a href="/matthew/23-20.htm"><b>20</b></a></span>Therefore, whoever swears [an oath] by the altar, swears both by it and by everything [offered] on it. <span class="reftext"><a href="/matthew/23-21.htm"><b>21</b></a></span>And whoever swears [an oath] by the sanctuary of the temple, swears by it and by Him who dwells within it. <span class="reftext"><a href="/matthew/23-22.htm"><b>22</b></a></span>And whoever swears [an oath] by heaven, swears both by the throne of God and by Him who sits upon it. <p class="paragraph"><span class="reftext"><a href="/matthew/23-23.htm"><b>23</b></a></span>“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. <span class="reftext"><a href="/matthew/23-24.htm"><b>24</b></a></span>You [spiritually] blind guides, who strain out a gnat [consuming yourselves with miniscule matters] and swallow a camel [ignoring and violating God’s precepts]! <p class="paragraph"><span class="reftext"><a href="/matthew/23-25.htm"><b>25</b></a></span>“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 <i>and</i> robbery and self-indulgence (unrestrained greed). <span class="reftext"><a href="/matthew/23-26.htm"><b>26</b></a></span>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. <p class="paragraph"><span class="reftext"><a href="/matthew/23-27.htm"><b>27</b></a></span>“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. <span class="reftext"><a href="/matthew/23-28.htm"><b>28</b></a></span>So you, also, outwardly seem to be just <i>and</i> upright to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. <p class="paragraph"><span class="reftext"><a href="/matthew/23-29.htm"><b>29</b></a></span>“Woe to you, [self-righteous] scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build tombs for the prophets and decorate <i>and</i> adorn the monuments of the righteous, <span class="reftext"><a href="/matthew/23-30.htm"><b>30</b></a></span>and you say, ‘If we had been <i>living</i> in the days of our fathers, we would not have joined them in <i>shedding</i> the blood of the prophets.’ <span class="reftext"><a href="/matthew/23-31.htm"><b>31</b></a></span>So you testify against yourselves that you are the descendants of those who murdered the prophets. <span class="reftext"><a href="/matthew/23-32.htm"><b>32</b></a></span>Fill up, then, the [allotted] measure <i>of the guilt</i> of your fathers’ <i>sins</i>. <span class="reftext"><a href="/matthew/23-33.htm"><b>33</b></a></span>You <span class="fn"><a href="#fn">[e]</a></span>serpents, you spawn of vipers, how can you escape the penalty of hell? <p class="paragraph"><span class="reftext"><a href="/matthew/23-34.htm"><b>34</b></a></span>“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 <i>even</i> crucify, and some you will flog in your synagogues, and pursue <i>and</i> persecute from city to city, <span class="reftext"><a href="/matthew/23-35.htm"><b>35</b></a></span>so that on you will come <i>the guilt of</i> all the blood of the righteous shed on earth, from the blood of righteous <span class="fn"><a href="#fn">[f]</a></span>Abel to the blood of Zechariah [the priest], the son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. <span class="reftext"><a href="/matthew/23-36.htm"><b>36</b></a></span>I assure you <i>and</i> most solemnly say to you, [the judgment for] all these things [these vile and murderous deeds] will come on this generation. <p class="hdg">Lament over Jerusalem</p><p class="paragraph"><span class="reftext"><a href="/matthew/23-37.htm"><b>37</b></a></span>“<span class="fn"><a href="#fn">[g]</a></span>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. <span class="reftext"><a href="/matthew/23-38.htm"><b>38</b></a></span>Listen carefully: your house is being left to you desolate [completely abandoned by God and destitute of His protection]! <span class="reftext"><a href="/matthew/23-39.htm"><b>39</b></a></span>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!’”<A name="fn"></a></p><br /><br /><span class="footnotesbot">[a]</span> <span class="fnverse">4</span> I.e. detailed instructions of rabbinic interpretations of the Law.<br><span class="footnotesbot">[b]</span> <span class="fnverse">5</span> Small cases containing Scripture passages, worn on the left arm and the forehead.<br><span class="footnotesbot">[c]</span> <span class="fnverse">5</span> Tassels (tzitzit) were worn on the garments of all Jewish males, according to the Law.<br><span class="footnotesbot">[d]</span> <span class="fnverse">14</span> Early mss do not contain v 14.<br><span class="footnotesbot">[e]</span> <span class="fnverse">33</span> The serpent is the creature used by Satan to introduce evil into the Garden of Eden (Gen 3:1ff). Here Jesus continues the imagery of Satan as the serpent working through the religious leaders to continue the propagation of evil through deception, false teaching, and man-made laws and traditions which are given priority over God’s law.<br><span class="footnotesbot">[f]</span> <span class="fnverse">35</span> I.e. the first and last martyrs recorded in the Hebrew text.<br><span class="footnotesbot">[g]</span> <span class="fnverse">37</span> The nation of Israel personified.<br></div><br /><div id="botbox"><div class="padbot"><div align="center">Amplified Bible Copyright © 2015<br>by The Lockman Foundation<br>All rights reserved <a href="http://www.lockman.org">www.lockman.org</a><br><br><a href="/">Bible Hub</a><br>                                                                                                                                <span class="p"><br /><br /></span></div></div></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="../matthew/22.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Matthew 22"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Matthew 22" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="../matthew/24.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Matthew 24"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Matthew 24" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div align="center"><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhchapnoad.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>