77 Bible Verses about Pharisees, Attitudes To Jesus Christ

Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered Him as follows: "Teacher, we would like to see a spectacular sign given by you." But He answered, "Only a wicked and treacherous age is hankering for a spectacular sign, and no sign will be given it but the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was in the whale's stomach for three days and nights, the Son of Man will be three days and nights in the heart of the earth.read more.
The men of Nineveh will rise with the leaders of this age at the judgment and condemn them, for they turned to the message preached by Jonah, and there is more than Jonah here! The queen of the south will rise with the leaders of this age at the judgment and condemn them, for she came from the farthest limits of the earth to listen to Solomon's wisdom, and there is more than Solomon here!

Now as the crowds continued to throng upon Him, He began to say: "This is a wicked age. It is looking for a spectacular sign, but none will be given it but the sign of Jonah. For just as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so the Son of Man will be a sign to this age. The queen of the south will rise at the judgment with the men of this age and will condemn them, for she came from the very ends of the earth to listen to Solomon's wisdom; and yet, One who is more than Solomon is here.read more.
The men of Nineveh will rise at the judgment with the men of this age and will condemn them, for they turned to the message preached by Jonah, and yet One who is more than Jonah is here.

The Pharisees and the Sadducees came up, and to test Him asked Him to show them a spectacular sign from heaven. He answered, Omitted Text.read more.
"It is a wicked and immoral age that is hankering for a spectacular sign, so no sign will be given it but the sign of Jonah." Then He left them and went away.

Now the Pharisees came out and began a discussion with Him, and to test Him asked Him to show them a spectacular sign from heaven. But He sighed in spirit and said, "Why do the people of these times ask for a spectacular sign? I solemnly say, no sign at all will be given them."

And some Pharisees came up to Him, to try Him out with the question, "Is it right for a man to divorce his wife for any cause?" And He answered, "Have you not read that the Creator at the beginning made them male and female, and said, 'For this reason a man must leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two of them must be one!'read more.
So they are no longer two but one. Therefore, what God has joined together man must stop separating." Then they asked Him, "Why did Moses command us to give a written divorce charge, and in this way to divorce a wife?" He answered them, "It was because of your moral perversity that Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but it was not so from the beginning. I tell you, whoever divorces his wife for any other cause than her unfaithfulness, and marries another woman, commits adultery."

Some Pharisees came up, and to test Him they began to ask Him whether a man should be allowed to divorce his wife. And He answered them by asking, "What has Moses commanded you about it?" They answered, "Moses allowed a man to divorce his wife, if he wrote out a divorce charge."read more.
But Jesus said to them, "It was due to your moral perversity that Moses wrote that command in your law. But from the beginning of the creation, 'God made them male and female. Therefore, a man must leave his father and mother, and he and his wife must become one,' so they are no longer two but one. Therefore, what God has joined together man must stop separating."

Then the Pharisees went and made a plot to trap Him in argument. So they sent to Him their disciples with the Herodians, to say to Him, "Teacher, we know that you are in the habit of telling the truth and of teaching the way of God in honesty, and you do not care what anyone says, for you are not partial. So give us your opinion on the question: Is it right to pay Caesar the poll-tax, or not?"read more.
But Jesus saw their malicious plot, and so asked, "Why are you testing me so, you hypocrites? Show me a poll-tax coin." And He asked them, "Whose likeness and title is this?" They answered, "Caesar's." Then He said to them, "Pay Caesar, therefore, what belongs to Caesar, and pay God what belongs to God." And when they heard it, they were dumbfounded; and they left Him and went away.

Then they sent some Pharisees and Herodians to Him to trap Him in argument. And they came up and said to Him, "We know that you always tell the truth, and pay no personal consideration to anyone, but teach the way of God honestly. Is it right to pay poll-tax to Caesar, or not? Should we pay it, or should we not?" Now because He saw their pretense, He said to them, "Why are you testing me so? Bring me a twenty-cent coin to look at."read more.
And they brought Him one. Then He asked them, "Whose picture and title is this?" They answered Him, "Caesar's." So He said, "Pay Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and pay God what belongs to God." And they were utterly dumbfounded at Him.

So they closely watched and sent spies who pretended to be upright men, to catch Him in His conversation, so as to turn Him over to the power and authority of the governor. They asked Him, "Teacher, we know that you speak and teach what is right, and show no favors to anyone, but teach the way of God honestly. Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?"read more.
But He detected their cunning, and said to them, "Show me a twenty-cent coin. Whose picture and title does it bear?" They answered, "Caesar's." He said to them, "Then pay Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and pay God what belongs to God!" So they could not use what he said before the people, and in astonishment at His answer they said no more.

Now the Pharisees heard that He had silenced the Sadducees, and so they had a meeting. And one of their number, an expert in the law, to tempt Him, asked, "Teacher, what sort of command is greatest in the law?"read more.
And He answered him, "'You must love the Lord your God with your whole heart, your whole soul, and your whole mind.' This is the greatest command, and is first in importance. The second is like it: 'You must love your neighbor as you do yourself.' The essence of the whole law and the prophets is packed into these two commands."

Then one of the scribes, on hearing them arguing, came up, and since he saw that Jesus had answered them properly, he asked Him, "What sort of command is the first of all commands?" Jesus answered, "The first one is, 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord, and you must love the Lord your God with your whole heart, your whole soul, your whole mind, and your whole strength.'read more.
And this is the second, 'You must love your neighbor as you do yourself.' No other command is greater than these." Then the scribe said to Him, "Indeed, Teacher, you have properly said that He is one by Himself, and there is no other but Him, and to love Him with one's whole heart, one's whole understanding, and one's whole strength, and to love one's neighbor as one loves himself is far more than all the burnt-offerings and sacrifices." So Jesus said to him, as He saw that he had answered thoughtfully, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." And no one ventured to ask Him any more questions.

And the scribes and Pharisees brought a woman they had caught in adultery. And standing her in the middle, they said to Him, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In our law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now, what do you say?"read more.
They were asking this to trap him so that they might have something to accuse him of. But Jesus stooped and began to write in the dirt with his finger. When the questioners persisted, Jesus straightened up and said to them, "Let the one of you who is sinless be the first one to cast a stone at her." Then Jesus again stooped and continued writing in the dirt. Having heard, they began to leave one by one, starting with the eldest, until only Jesus was left with the woman. He straightened up and said to her, "Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?" And she said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you. Go. Stop sinning from this point on."

Then they sent some Pharisees and Herodians to Him to trap Him in argument. And they came up and said to Him, "We know that you always tell the truth, and pay no personal consideration to anyone, but teach the way of God honestly. Is it right to pay poll-tax to Caesar, or not?

Then the Pharisees went and made a plot to trap Him in argument. So they sent to Him their disciples with the Herodians, to say to Him, "Teacher, we know that you are in the habit of telling the truth and of teaching the way of God in honesty, and you do not care what anyone says, for you are not partial.

Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered Him as follows: "Teacher, we would like to see a spectacular sign given by you."

Now the Pharisees heard that He had silenced the Sadducees, and so they had a meeting. And one of their number, an expert in the law, to tempt Him, asked, "Teacher, what sort of command is greatest in the law?"

So when the Pharisee who invited Him saw it, he said to himself, "If He were really a prophet, He would know who and of what character the woman is who is clinging to Him -- that she is a social outcast." Then Jesus answered him, "Simon, I have something to say to you." "Teacher," said he, "go on and say it."

Then some Pharisees in the crowd said to Him, "Teacher, reprove your disciples."

They asked Him, "Teacher, we know that you speak and teach what is right, and show no favors to anyone, but teach the way of God honestly.

He came to Jesus one night and said to Him, "Teacher, we know that you have come from God, for no one can perform the wonder-works that you are doing, unless God is with him."

And the scribes and Pharisees brought a woman they had caught in adultery. And standing her in the middle, they said to Him, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery.

And when the Pharisees came together, Jesus asked them, "What is your opinion of the Christ? Whose son is He?" They answered Him, "He is David's son." He asked them, "How then does David, under the guidance of the Spirit, call Him Lord, when he says:read more.
'The Lord has said to my Lord, Sit at my right hand, Until I put your enemies under your feet!' If David, then, calls Him Lord, how can He be his son?" And not one could answer Him a word, and from that day on no one ever dared to ask Him any more questions.

While He was teaching in the temple, He answered them and said, "How can the scribes say that the Christ is the son of David? David himself, Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, said: 'The Lord has said to my Lord, "Sit at my right hand Until I make your enemies the footstool of your feet."' David himself called him Lord, so how can He be his son?" Most of the people liked to hear Him.read more.
And in His teaching He continued to say: "Beware of the scribes who like to go about in long robes, to be saluted with honor in public places, to be seated in the front seats in the synagogues, to occupy the places of honor at banquets -- men who eat up widows' houses and to cover it up make long prayers. They will get a much heavier sentence!"

Then He said to them, "How do people say that the Christ is David's Son? For David himself in the Book of Psalms says: 'The Lord has said to my Lord, "Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies the footstool of your feet."'read more.
So David calls Him Lord, then how can He be his Son?"

And on leaving there He went into their synagogue. Now there was a man there with one hand withered. And, to get a charge against Him, they asked Him, "Is it right to cure people on the sabbath?" But He said to them, "What man is there among you, if he has only one sheep and it falls into a ditch on the sabbath, will not lay hold on it and lift it out?read more.
And how much more a man is worth than a sheep! So it is right to do good on the sabbath." Then He said to the man, "Hold out your hand." And he held it out, and it was cured so that it became like the other. But the Pharisees went out and held a consultation against Him, to put Him to death.

Then He went into a synagogue again, and a man was there who had a withered hand. And they kept closely watching Him, to see whether He would cure him on the Sabbath, to get a charge to bring against Him. But He said to the man with the withered hand, "Get up in the crowd."read more.
Then He asked them, "Is it right to do people good on the Sabbath, or to do them evil, to save life or to take it?" But they had nothing to say. So Jesus looked around at them in anger, because He was pained over their stubbornness of mind, and said to the man, "Hold out your hand." And he held it out, and his hand was cured. Then the Pharisees went out and held a consultation with the Herodians against Him, to put Him to death.

On another Sabbath He found Himself in the synagogue teaching; and there was there a man whose right hand was withered. And the scribes and the Pharisees were closely watching Him to see whether He would cure him on the Sabbath, in order to get a charge against Him. But He knew what they were thinking, and He said to the man with the withered hand, "Get up and stand at the front." So he got up and stood there.read more.
Then Jesus said to them, "Is it right on the Sabbath to do people good, or to do them evil, to save life or to take it?" Then He glanced around at them all and said to him, "Put out your hand." And he did so, and his hand was at once completely restored. But they were filled with fury and began to discuss what they could do to Jesus.

Jesus answered them, "Let me too ask you just one question, and if you answer it, I will tell you what sort of authority I have for doing as I do. Where did John's baptism come from? From heaven, or from men?" They argued it out among themselves in this way, "If we say, 'From heaven,' He will say to us, 'Then why did you not believe him?' But if we say, 'From men,' we are afraid of the people, for they all consider John a prophet."read more.
So they answered Jesus, "We do not know." He also answered them, "Nor am I going to tell you what sort of authority I have for doing as I do.

Jesus said to them, "Let me ask you just one question, and if you answer me, I will tell you what sort of authority I have for doing as I do. Was John's baptism from heaven or from men? Answer me." Then they argued with one another in this way, "If we say, 'It was from heaven,' He will say, 'Then why did you not believe him?'read more.
On the other hand, can we say, 'It was from men'?" For they were afraid of the people, because everybody thought that John was really a prophet. So they said to Jesus, "We do not know." Jesus also said to them, "Nor am I going to tell you what sort of authority I have for doing as I do."

Then He answered them, "I will ask you a question too. Tell me, was John's baptism from heaven or from men?" And they argued with one another, and said, "If we say, 'From heaven,' He will say, 'Why did you not believe him?'read more.
But if we say, 'From men,' all the people will stone us to death, for they are convinced that John was a prophet." So they answered and said that they did not know where it was from. Then Jesus said to them, "Nor am I going to tell you what sort of authority I have for doing as I do."

One Sabbath, when He went to take a meal at the house of a Pharisee who was a member of the council, they continued to watch Him closely. Just in front of Him was a man who was suffering from dropsy. He answered the experts in the law and the Pharisees by asking, "Is it right to cure people on the Sabbath or not?"read more.
But they made no answer. So He took hold of the man and cured him and sent him away. Then He said to them, "Which of you, if his son or ox falls into a well, will not at once pull him out on the Sabbath?" But they could make no reply to this.

Now one of the Pharisees invited Him to take dinner with him. So He came to the Pharisee's house and took His place at the table.

The Pharisees met about Him, and also some scribes who had come from Jerusalem. They had noticed that some of His disciples were in the habit of eating their meals without first giving their hands a ceremonial washing to make them clean.

When He had said this, a Pharisee asked Him to lunch at his house, and He went in and took His place at table.

Just at that time some Pharisees came up and said to Him, "Get out at once! Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you!"

One Sabbath, when He went to take a meal at the house of a Pharisee who was a member of the council, they continued to watch Him closely.

Meanwhile as the people had gathered in tens of thousands, so that they were trampling upon one another, He began to say, first of all, to His disciples: "Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees, that is, hypocrisy.

For I tell you that unless your righteousness far surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never get into the kingdom of heaven at all.

When the disciples crossed the sea, they forgot to take any bread. And Jesus said to them, "Look out, and keep on guarding yourselves against the yeast of the Pharisees and the Sadducees!" Then they began to discuss it among themselves, and said, "It is because we did not take any bread."read more.
Jesus knew it and said, "Why are you discussing among yourselves the fact that you have no bread? Have you so little faith? Do you not understand yet? Do you not remember the five loaves for the five thousand and how many basketfuls you took up? Nor the seven loaves for the four thousand and how many hamper-basketfuls you took up? How is it that you do not understand that I did not speak to you about bread, when I said, keep on guarding yourselves against the yeast of the Pharisees and the Sadducees?" Then they understood that He meant, guard yourselves not against yeast for bread, but against the teaching of the Pharisees and the Sadducees.

Now they had forgotten to bring any bread; that is, they had only one loaf with them in the boat. Then He kept warning them by saying, "Look out! Keep on guarding yourselves against the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod." So they were discussing with one another the fact that they had no bread.read more.
And as He noticed it He said to them, "Why are you discussing the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet know nor understand? Are your minds so dull? Since you have eyes can you not see with them? Since you have ears can you not hear with them? Do you not remember how many basketfuls of pieces you picked up when I broke the five loaves in pieces for the five thousand?" They said to Him, "Twelve." "And how many hamper-basketfuls of pieces when I broke the seven loaves in pieces for the four thousand?" They said to Him, "Seven." He said to them, "How is it that you do not understand?"

"Listen to another story. There was once an owner of an estate who planted a vineyard and built a fence around it, and hewed out a wine-vat in it, and built a tower, and rented it to tenant farmers, and then went abroad. But when the time for gathering grapes was near, he sent his slaves to the tenants to collect his rent. But the tenants took his slaves and beat the first one, killed the second, and stoned the third.read more.
Again he sent other slaves, and more than at first, and they treated them exactly the same way. At last he sent his son to them, for he said to himself, 'They will surely respect my son.' But when the tenants saw the son, they said among themselves, 'This is his heir, come on, let us kill him, and get all that is coming to him!' So they took him and drove him out of the vineyard and murdered him. Now when the owner of the estate comes back, what will he do to these tenants?" They answered, "In vengeance he will put the scoundrels to death, and rent the vineyard to other tenants who will promptly pay him the rent." Then Jesus said to them, "Did you never read in the Scriptures: 'That stone which the builders threw away has become the cornerstone; this is the work of the Lord and seems wonderful to us!' "This, I tell you, is why the kingdom will be taken away from you, and given to a people who will pay a fair rent for it. Who ever falls upon that stone will be broken to pieces, but whomever it falls upon will be crushed to powder." When the high priests and the Pharisees heard His stories, they knew that He was speaking about them,

Then He began to speak to them in stories. "A man once planted a vineyard and fenced it in and hewed out a wine-vat and built a watchtower; then he rented it to tenant farmers, and went abroad. At the proper time he sent a slave to the tenants to collect his part of the grape crop. But they took him and beat him and sent him back empty-handed.read more.
And again he sent another slave to them, and they beat his head and treated him shamefully. Then he sent a third one, and they killed him, and many others, some of whom they beat, some they killed. He had one more to send, his dearly loved son; at last he sent him to them, for he said to himself, 'They will surely respect my son.' But those tenants said among themselves, 'This is his heir; come on, let us kill him, and all that is coming to him will be ours.' So they took him and killed him, and threw his body outside the vineyard. Now what will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come back and destroy those tenants and give the vineyard to others. Have you never read this passage of Scripture: "'That stone which the builders threw away has now become the cornerstone; This is the work of the Lord, and seems wonderful to us'?"

Then He went on to tell the people the following story: "Once upon a time a man planted a vineyard and leased it to tenant farmers, and then went abroad for a long stay. So at the proper time He sent a slave to the tenants, that they might pay him his part of the grape-crop, but the tenants beat him and sent him back empty-handed. Then again he sent another slave, and they beat him and insulted him, and sent him back empty-handed.read more.
And again he sent a third slave, and they wounded him and threw him out of the vineyard. Then the owner of the vineyard said, 'What shall I do? I will send my dearly loved son. They will, I should think, respect him.' But when the tenants saw him, they argued among themselves, 'This is the heir; let us kill him, so that what he inherits may be ours.' So they drove him out of the vineyard and killed him. What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? He will come and put those tenants to death and give the vineyard to others." When they heard this, they said, "May it never be so!" But He glanced at them and said, "Then what does this Scripture mean: 'That stone which the builders threw away has now become the cornerstone'? Everyone who falls upon that stone will be shattered, and he on whom it falls will be crushed to dust." Then the scribes and the high priests tried to arrest Him at that very hour, but they were afraid of the people, for they knew that He meant this story for them.

Then Jesus said to the crowds and to His disciples: "The scribes and Pharisees have taken Moses' seat as teachers. So everything they tell you, do and practice, but stop doing what they do, for they preach but do not practice.read more.
They tie up heavy burdens and fasten them on men's shoulders, but they refuse to lift a finger to help bear them. They do what they do to attract people's attention. They wear on their coats Scripture texts in big letters, and they wear large tassels, and they like the places of honor at feasts and the front seats in synagogues, to be greeted with honor in public places, and to have men call them 'Teacher.' But as for you, you must not seek for others to call you 'Teacher,' for you have but one who is 'Teacher,' and you are all brothers. And you must not call anyone on earth 'father,' for the Heavenly One is your Father. And you must not be called 'leaders,' for you have only one Leader, and that is Christ. Whoever is greatest among you must be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. "A curse on you, you hypocritical scribes and Pharisees! For you bolt the doors of the kingdom of heaven in men's faces, for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you let those who are trying to do so go in. Omitted Text. A curse on you, you hypocritical scribes and Pharisees! For you scour land and sea to win a single convert, and when he is won you make him twice as fit for the pit as you are. A curse on you, you blind leaders who say, 'Whoever swears by the sanctuary is not duty-bound, but whoever swears by the gold of the sanctuary is duty-bound.' You blind fools! which is greater, the gold, or the sanctuary that makes the gold sacred? You say, 'Whoever swears by the altar is not duty-bound, but whoever swears by the offering on the altar is duty-bound!' You blind men! which is greater, the offering, or the altar that makes the offering sacred? So whoever swears by the altar swears by everything on it; whoever swears by the sanctuary swears by it and by Him who dwells in it; whoever swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by Him who sits on it. "A curse on you, you hypocritical scribes and Pharisees! For you pay tithes on mint and dill and cummin, and yet leave out the more vital matters of the law, justice, love and fidelity. These latter especially you ought to have done, but ought not to have left out the former. You blind leaders, who are straining out the gnat but gulping down the camel! A curse on you, you hypocritical scribes and Pharisees, for you clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside they are full of your greed and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisees! You must first clean the inside of the cup and the dish, so that the outside may be clean too. "A curse on you, you hypocritical scribes and Pharisees, for you are like white-washed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside, but inside are full of dead people's bones and everything that is unclean! So you, too, on the outside seem to people to be upright, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. "A curse on you, you hypocritical scribes and Pharisees, for you build tombs for the prophets, and decorate monuments for the upright, and say, 'If we had lived in the days of our forefathers, we would not have been sharers with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.' So you are witnessing against yourselves that you are the descendants of those who murdered the prophets. Then fill up to the brim the cup of your forefathers' guilt! You serpents! You brood of vipers! How can you escape a sentence to the pit! Therefore, I am going to send you prophets, wise men, and scribes, some of whom you will kill -- even crucify -- and some you will flog in your synagogues and chase from city to city, so that on you will come all the righteous blood shed on the earth from the blood of upright Abel to the blood of Zechariah, Barachiah's son, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar. I solemnly say to you, all this will come upon this age!

And in His teaching He continued to say: "Beware of the scribes who like to go about in long robes, to be saluted with honor in public places, to be seated in the front seats in the synagogues, to occupy the places of honor at banquets -- men who eat up widows' houses and to cover it up make long prayers. They will get a much heavier sentence!"

While all the people were listening, He said to His disciples, "Beware of the scribes who like to go about in long robes and love to be saluted with honor in public places, to be seated in the front seats in the synagogues, and to occupy the places of honor at banquets -- men who eat up widows' houses and to cover it up make long prayers! They will receive a much heavier sentence."

When He had said this, a Pharisee asked Him to lunch at his house, and He went in and took His place at table. The Pharisee noticed that He did not first wash before lunch, and was surprised. But the Lord said to him, "Now you Pharisees have the habit of cleaning the outside of your cups and dishes, but inside you yourselves are full of greed and wickedness.read more.
You fools! Did not the One who made the outside make the inside too? But dedicate once for all your inner self, and at once you will have everything clean. But a curse on you Pharisees, because you pay tithes on mint, rue, and every tiny garden herb, but neglect justice and the love of God! These latter especially you ought to have done, but ought not to have neglected the former. A curse on you Pharisees, because you like to have the front seats in synagogues, and to be greeted with honor in public places! A curse on you, because you are like unmarked graves which men walk over without knowing it!" Then an expert in the law interrupted Him and said, "Teacher, in saying this you are insulting us, too." He said, "Yes, a curse on you experts in the law, too, because you load people down with loads too heavy to carry, and yet you do not touch the loads yourselves with one of your fingers! A curse on you, because you build monuments for the prophets, whom your forefathers killed! So you testify to what your forefathers did and approve it, because they killed them and you build monuments for them. This is why the Wisdom of God said, 'I will send to them prophets and apostles, and some of them they will kill, and some they will persecute'; so that the blood of all the prophets that has been shed from the creation of the world may be charged against the men of this age -- from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah who perished between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, it will be charged against the men of this age. A curse on you experts in the law, because you have taken away the key to the door of knowledge! You did not go in yourselves, and you kept out those who tried to get in."

Now He was saying to the disciples: "Once there was a rich man who had a household manager, and he was accused to his master of squandering the latter's property. So he called the manager to him and said, 'What is this that I am hearing about you? Balance your accounts and show how you are conducting my affairs, for you cannot be manager any longer.' Then the manager said to himself, What shall I do, because my master is going to take my position away from me? I am not strong enough to dig; I am ashamed to beg.read more.
I know what I will do -- I will ask them to take me into their homes when I am removed from my position. So he called in each of his master's debtors, and asked the first one, 'How much do you owe my master?' He answered, 'Nine hundred gallons of oil.' Then he said to him, 'Take your bill and sit right down and write four hundred and fifty.' Then he asked another, 'And how much do you owe?' He answered, 'Twelve hundred bushels of wheat:' He said to him, 'Take your bill and write nine hundred and sixty.' And his master praised the dishonest manager, because he acted with shrewd business sense, for the men of the world act with more business sense toward their fellows than the men who enjoy spiritual light. So I tell you, make friends by the right use of your money, which so easily tends to wrongdoing, so that when it fails, your friends may welcome you to the eternal dwellings. The man who is dependable in a very small matter is dependable also in a large deal, the man who is dishonest in a very small matter is dishonest also in a large deal. So if you have not proved dependable in handling your ill-gotten riches, who will trust you with the true riches? And if you have not proved dependable in what belongs to someone else, who will trust you with what belongs to you? No house-servant can be a slave to two masters, for either he will hate one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. Now the Pharisees who were lovers of money had been listening to all this, and they began to ridicule Him. Then He said to them, "You are the men who exhibit your uprightness before the public, but God knows your hearts. For what stands high in the sight of men is detestable in the sight of God.

To some people who were confident that they themselves were upright, but who scorned everybody else, He told the following story: "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee, the other a tax-collector. The Pharisee stood and said this self-centered prayer, 'O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of men, robbers, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax-collector.read more.
I fast two days in the week. I pay a tithe on everything I get.' But the tax-collector stood at a distance and would not even lift his eyes to heaven, but continued to beat his breast, and say, 'O God, have mercy on me, a sinner!' I tell you, this man, and not the other, went back home forgiven and accepted by God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but whoever humbles himself will be exalted."

After He left the house, the scribes and the Pharisees began to be violently enraged against Him and to try to draw Him out on many subjects, plotting, as if in ambush, to entrap Him in something that might fall from His lips.

And all at once some men were bringing to Him a paralyzed man, lying on a couch. And because He saw their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, "Cheer up, my child, your sins are forgiven." Then some of the scribes said to themselves, "He is a blasphemer." And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said, "Why do you have such wicked thoughts in your hearts?read more.
For which is easier, to say 'Your sins are forgiven,' or, to say 'Get up and go to walking'? But to show you that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins on earth" -- turning to the paralyzed man, He said to Him -- "Get up, pick up your bed, and go home." And he got up and went home.

Then four men came bringing to Him a paralyzed man. And as they could not get him near to Jesus, on account of the crowd, they dug through the roof over the spot where He was standing and let the pallet down that the paralyzed man was lying on. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralyzed man, "My son, your sins are forgiven."read more.
Some scribes were sitting there arguing and saying to themselves, "Why is He talking this way? He is blaspheming. Who can forgive sins but God alone?" Now Jesus at once felt in His spirit that they were arguing about this, and said, "Why are you arguing to yourselves about this? Which is easier, to say to the paralyzed man, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say to him, 'Get up, pick up your pallet and start walking!" But to show you that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins on earth," turning to the paralyzed man He said, "I tell you, get up, pick up your pallet, and go home." Then he got up and at once picked up his pallet, and went out before them all. The result was that they were all dumbfounded and began to praise God and say, "We have never seen anything like this before."

One day as He was teaching, there were some Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting by who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with Him to cure people. Now some men were carrying on a bed a man who was paralyzed, and they were trying to get him in and lay him before Jesus. And as they could not find a way because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down with his pallet through the tiles, among the people right in front of Jesus.read more.
When He saw their faith, He said, "Friend, your sins are forgiven." But the scribes and the Pharisees began to argue, saying, "Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?" Jesus saw that they were arguing, and answered them: "Why are you arguing so in your hearts? Which is easier, to say 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say 'Get up and start walking'? But to show you that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins on earth" -- turning to the man who was paralyzed, He said to him, "Get up, pick up your pallet, and go home." Then at once he got up before them all, picked up the pallet on which he had been lying, and went off home, giving praise to God. Then an overwhelming wonder seized them all and they began to give praise to God. They were filled with awe and continued to say, "We have seen unthinkable wonders today!"

While He was at table in the house many tax-collectors and notorious sinners came in and took their seats at table with Jesus and His disciples. And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to His disciples, "Why does your Teacher eat with tax-collectors and notorious sinners?" And when He heard it, He said, "It is not well, but sick people that have to send for a doctor.read more.
Go, learn what this means, 'It is mercy and not sacrifice that I want.' It is not upright but sinful people that I have come to invite."

Levi was at table in his house, and he had many tax-collectors and notorious sinners as guests, along with Jesus and His disciples, for there were many of them, and they began to follow Him. And when the scribes who belonged to the Pharisees' party saw that He was eating with notorious sinners and tax-collectors, they said to His disciples, "Why does He eat with tax-collectors and notorious sinners?" Jesus heard it, and said to them, "Not well but sick people have to send for the doctor. It is not upright but sinful people that I have come to invite."

Then Levi gave a great reception for Him in his house, and there was a large crowd of tax-collectors and others who were at table with them. Now the Pharisees and their scribes were grumbling at His disciples, and were saying, "Why are you eating and drinking with tax-collectors and notorious sinners?" But Jesus answered them, "Not well but sick people have to send for the doctor.read more.
It is not upright but sinful people that I have come to invite to repentance."

But at the very time they were going out, some people brought to Him a dumb man, who was under the power of a demon, and after the demon had been driven out, the dumb man could talk. So the crowds were dumbfounded, saying, "Never before among the Jews was anything like this? But the Pharisees kept on saying, "It is by the help of the prince of the demons that He drives them out."

At that time some people brought to Him a man under the power of demons, who was blind and dumb, and He cured him, so that the dumb man could talk and see. And all the crowds of people were dumbfounded, and began to say, "He is by no means the Son of David, is He?" But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, "This man is not driving out demons except by the help of Beelzebub, the prince of the demons."

And the scribes who had come down from Jerusalem kept saying, "He is under the spell of Beelzebub and by the help of the prince of the demons He drives out the demons."

At that time Jesus walked one sabbath through the wheat fields, and His disciples became hungry, and began to pull the heads of wheat and eat them. And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to Him, "Just look! Your disciples are doing something that it is against the law to do on the sabbath!"

On the Sabbath He was passing through the wheat fields, and His disciples started to make a path by pulling off the wheat heads. So the Pharisees were saying to Him, "Just look! Why are they doing on the Sabbath what it is against the law to do?"

One Sabbath He happened to be passing through the wheat fields, and His disciples were pulling and eating the heads of wheat, rubbing them in their hands. And some of the Pharisees said, "Why are you doing what is against the law to do on the Sabbath?"

And the scribes and the Pharisees were closely watching Him to see whether He would cure him on the Sabbath, in order to get a charge against Him.

They took the man who had been blind to the Pharisees. Now it was on the Sabbath when Jesus had made the clay and caused the man's eyes to see. So the Pharisees again asked him how he had come to see. He answered them: "He put some clay on my eyes, and I washed them, and so now I can see."read more.
Then some of the Pharisees said, "This man does not come from God, for He does not keep the Sabbath." Others said, "How can a sinful man perform such wonder- works?" So there was a difference of opinion among them.

Now one of the Pharisees invited Him to take dinner with him. So He came to the Pharisee's house and took His place at the table. There was a woman in the town who was a social outcast, and when she learned that He was taking dinner at the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster bottle of perfume and took her stand behind Him at His feet, continually weeping. Then she began to wet His feet with her tears, but she continued to wipe them off with the hair of her head, and she kept right on kissing His feet with affection and anointing them with the perfume.read more.
So when the Pharisee who invited Him saw it, he said to himself, "If He were really a prophet, He would know who and of what character the woman is who is clinging to Him -- that she is a social outcast."

Now all the tax-collectors and notorious sinners were crowding around Him to listen to Him. And so the Pharisees and scribes continually grumbled, and said, "This fellow is welcoming notorious sinners, and even eating with them."

Just as He was approaching the city, going down the Mount of Olives, the whole throng of the disciples began to praise God exultantly and loudly for all the wonder-works that they had seen, and said: "Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord; peace in heaven and praise on high!" Then some Pharisees in the crowd said to Him, "Teacher, reprove your disciples."read more.
But He answered, "I tell you, if they keep silent, the stones will cry out!"

The Pharisees then said to Him, "You are testifying to yourself; your testimony is not true."

Then Jesus said, "I have come into this world to judge people, so that those who do not see may see, and those who do see may become blind." Some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard this, and asked Him, "We are not blind, are we?" Jesus answered them, "If you were blind, you would not be guilty, but now you keep on claiming, 'We can see'; so your sin remains."

Then the Pharisees went out and held a consultation with the Herodians against Him, to put Him to death.

But the Pharisees went out and held a consultation against Him, to put Him to death.

But they were filled with fury and began to discuss what they could do to Jesus.

When the high priests and the Pharisees heard His stories, they knew that He was speaking about them, but although they were trying to have Him arrested, they were afraid of the people, for they considered Him a prophet.

Then they were trying to have Him arrested, but they were afraid of the people, for they knew that He aimed this story at them. And so they left Him and went away.

Then the scribes and the high priests tried to arrest Him at that very hour, but they were afraid of the people, for they knew that He meant this story for them.

Then they sent some Pharisees and Herodians to Him to trap Him in argument.

So they closely watched and sent spies who pretended to be upright men, to catch Him in His conversation, so as to turn Him over to the power and authority of the governor.