Thematic Bible


Thematic Bible



It was then that one of the Twelve, he who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, "What are you ready to give me for betraying him to you?" So they weighed him thirty pieces of silver; and from that time he kept looking for a chance to betray him.

Now Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went away to the high priests to betray Jesus to them; and they were glad when they heard it, and promised to pay him money. So he kept looking for an opportunity to betray him.

Satan however, entered into Judas (the man called Iscariot), who was one of the twelve. And he went out and conferred with the chief priests and commanders They were delighted, and agreed to give him money. read more.
He consented to this, and looked for an opportunity to betray him, when the people were not present.





"Listen to another parable: "A man who was a householder planted a vineyard, fenced it about, dug a wine vat in it, built a tower, then rented it to vine-dressers and went abroad. When the time of fruit drew near, he sent his slaves to the vine-dressers to get his fruit. And the vine-dressers seized his slaves, flogged one, killed another, and stoned a third. read more.
Again he sent other slaves, a larger number than at first, and they treated them in the same way. And last he sent his son to them; 'Surely they will respect my son,' he said. But when the vine-dressers saw his son, they said to themselves: "'This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, and take his inheritance.' "So they took him and cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him. When therefore the lord of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vine-dressers?" "He will utterly destroy those wretches," they answered, "and will entrust his vineyard to other vine-dressers, who will pay back the fruits to him in their season."

As they listened to his parables, the chief priests and the Pharisees recognized that he was speaking about them; Verse ConceptsJesus Using ParablesUnderstanding God's Wordpharisees

"The Scribes and Pharisees sit in Moses' seat; "therefore do and observe whatever they bid you; but do not do as they do, for they preach, but do not practise. "For they bind heavy burdens and lay them on men's shoulders, but they themselves will not lift a finger to move them. read more.
"For they do all their good deeds to be gazed on of men. They widen their phylacteries, "and lengthen the tassels, and are fond of the best places at banquets, and the front seats in the synagogues. "They enjoy salutations in the market-places, and to have men call them 'Rabbi.'

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"But woe unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men's faces; for you do not enter, yourselves, nor do you permit those who are about to come in, to enter. OMITTED TEXT. "Woe unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you scour sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is gained, you make him twofold more a son of hell than you are, yourselves. read more.
"Woe unto you, blind guides, who say, If any one swears by the Sanctuary, it is nothing, but if any one swears by the gold of the Sanctuary, the oath is binding. "You fools and blind; for which is greater, the gold, or the Sanctuary which hallows the gold? "You say, too, that whoever swears by the offering that is upon it, his oath is binding. "You blind! Which is greater, the offering or the altar which hallows the offering? "He then, who swears by the altar, swears by it and by everything on it; "and he who swears by the Sanctuary swears by it and by Him who dwells therein; "and he who swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God and by Him who sits thereon. "Woe unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and anise and cummin, and neglect the weightier matters of the Law??ustice and mercy and good faith; these latter you ought to have done, and not to have left the former undone. "You blind guides! who strain out the gnat and swallow the camel! "Woe unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but within they are filled with extortion and excess. "You blind Pharisees, first clean the inside of the cup and of the plate, so that the outside of it may be clean also. "Woe unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You are like white-washed sepulchers. They look beautiful without, but within they are filled with dead men's bones and all rottenness. "Just so you also outwardly appear to men, just, but within you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness. "Woe unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You rebuild the tombs of the prophets, and adorn the monuments of the righteous, and say, "'If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have been their comrades in the murder of the prophets.' "So you bear witness against yourselves, that you are the descendants of those who slew the prophets! "Fill up then the measure of your fathers! "You serpents! You vipers brood! How shall you escape the judgment of hell?

And the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were trying to get false evidence against Jesus, in order that they might have him executed; but they found none, although many false witnesses came forward. However, at last two came forward who said, "This fellow declared, 'I can destroy the Temple of God and build it in three days.'" read more.
Rising to his feet the high priest asked Jesus. "Do you make no answer? What is it that these are testifying against you?" But Jesus kept silence. Again the high priest addressed him, "I adjure you by the Living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God!" "I am He," Jesus answered; "yet I tell you that from this time on you will see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming upon the clouds of heaven." Then the high priest tore his garments, saying. "He has spoken blasphemy! What further need have we of witnesses? For behold, now you have heard his blasphemy! "What is your verdict?" "He ought to die," they answered. Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and some struck him with the palms of their hands, and cried. "Prophesy to us, you Christ! Who is it who struck you?"

Presently Jesus began to speak to them in parables. "There was once a man," he said, "who planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a pit for the wine-press, built a tower, rented it to tenants, and went abroad. At vintage-time he sent a slave to the vine-dressers to collect some of the proceeds of the vineyard; but they seized him, and flogged him, and sent him away empty-handed. read more.
Then he sent another slave to them; and this man they knocked over the head and handled shamefully. And he sent another; and him they killed; and many others; beating some, and killing some. He had still one, a Son beloved, He sent him last to them, saying, "'They will reverence my Son.' "But those tenants said to themselves. 'Here is the heir! Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.' "So they took him and killed him, and threw his body out of the vineyard. What will the owner of the Vineyard do?" "He will come and put the tenants to death," they said, "and will give the vineyard to others." "Have you not read this Scripture?" (he continued) "The very stone which the builders rejected Has now become the corner-stone; This is the Lord's doing; It is marvelous in our eyes." And they kept seeking to lay hold on him, but were afraid of the crowd, for they knew well that he had spoken this parable about them; so they left him and went away.

"But you are not to be called 'Rabbi'; for one is your Teacher, and you are all brothers; "and call no one 'Father' on earth, for One is your Father in heaven. "And call no one 'Leader,' because One is your leader, even the Christ.

And he rose and followed him. And while he was at table in Matthew's house, there came many tax-gatherers and sinners, and they dined with Jesus and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw it, they kept saying to his disciples, "Why does your Teacher eat with the tax-gatherers and sinners?" "It is not those who are well," said Jesus, when he heard this, "but the sick, who need a doctor. read more.
"But go and learn what this means, "It is mercy I desire, and not sacrifice; for I am come not to call just men, but sinners."

"The Scribes and Pharisees sit in Moses' seat; "therefore do and observe whatever they bid you; but do not do as they do, for they preach, but do not practise. "For they bind heavy burdens and lay them on men's shoulders, but they themselves will not lift a finger to move them.

"But woe unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men's faces; for you do not enter, yourselves, nor do you permit those who are about to come in, to enter. OMITTED TEXT. "Woe unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you scour sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is gained, you make him twofold more a son of hell than you are, yourselves. read more.
"Woe unto you, blind guides, who say, If any one swears by the Sanctuary, it is nothing, but if any one swears by the gold of the Sanctuary, the oath is binding. "You fools and blind; for which is greater, the gold, or the Sanctuary which hallows the gold? "You say, too, that whoever swears by the offering that is upon it, his oath is binding. "You blind! Which is greater, the offering or the altar which hallows the offering? "He then, who swears by the altar, swears by it and by everything on it; "and he who swears by the Sanctuary swears by it and by Him who dwells therein; "and he who swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God and by Him who sits thereon. "Woe unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and anise and cummin, and neglect the weightier matters of the Law??ustice and mercy and good faith; these latter you ought to have done, and not to have left the former undone. "You blind guides! who strain out the gnat and swallow the camel! "Woe unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but within they are filled with extortion and excess. "You blind Pharisees, first clean the inside of the cup and of the plate, so that the outside of it may be clean also. "Woe unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You are like white-washed sepulchers. They look beautiful without, but within they are filled with dead men's bones and all rottenness. "Just so you also outwardly appear to men, just, but within you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness. "Woe unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You rebuild the tombs of the prophets, and adorn the monuments of the righteous, and say, "'If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have been their comrades in the murder of the prophets.' "So you bear witness against yourselves, that you are the descendants of those who slew the prophets! "Fill up then the measure of your fathers! "You serpents! You vipers brood! How shall you escape the judgment of hell? "For this cause, behold! I am sending you prophets and wise men and scribes. Some of them you will kill and crucify; some of them you will scourge in your synagogues, and pursue from city to city; "that upon your heads may come every drop of innocent blood spilt upon the earth, from the blood of Abel, the just, to the blood of Zechariah the son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the Sanctuary and the altar.

For by fire every one will be salted; salt is excellent, but if the salt has lost its savor, what will you use to restore its saltness? Then have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another."

"The Scribes and Pharisees sit in Moses' seat; "therefore do and observe whatever they bid you; but do not do as they do, for they preach, but do not practise.



"The Scribes and Pharisees sit in Moses' seat; "therefore do and observe whatever they bid you; but do not do as they do, for they preach, but do not practise.

Meanwhile when myriads of the multitudes were thronging around him so that they trod one upon another, he began to say to his disciples, first of all. "Beware of the leaven of the Pharisee, which is hypocrisy. Verse ConceptsCrowdsAn Innumerable Numberevil, warnings againstPharisees, Attitudes To Jesus ChristPopularityPretenceWarningPopularity Of ChristDealing With Many PeopleTrampling PeopleLeavenedBeginning To TeachDisadvantages Of CrowdsCharacteristics Of PhariseesChrist Speaking To DisciplesShowing HypocrisyHypocrisy

"When you fast, do not look downcast like the hypocrites; for they disfigure their faces so that it may be apparent to men that they are fasting. In solemn truth I tell you, they already have received their reward. "But when one of you fasts, let him anoint his head and wash his face, "so that he may not appear to men to be fasting, but to his Father who is in secret; and his Father who sees in secret will reward him.

"Listen to another parable: "A man who was a householder planted a vineyard, fenced it about, dug a wine vat in it, built a tower, then rented it to vine-dressers and went abroad. When the time of fruit drew near, he sent his slaves to the vine-dressers to get his fruit. And the vine-dressers seized his slaves, flogged one, killed another, and stoned a third. read more.
Again he sent other slaves, a larger number than at first, and they treated them in the same way. And last he sent his son to them; 'Surely they will respect my son,' he said. But when the vine-dressers saw his son, they said to themselves: "'This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, and take his inheritance.' "So they took him and cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him. When therefore the lord of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vine-dressers?" "He will utterly destroy those wretches," they answered, "and will entrust his vineyard to other vine-dressers, who will pay back the fruits to him in their season." "Have you never read in the Scriptures," Jesus answered, "how The stone that the builders rejected Has been made the corner-stone; This is the Lord's doing, It is wonderful in our eyes? "I tell you that for this reason the kingdom of God will be taken away from you, and will be given to a nation that does produce the fruit of it. "He who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; but he upon whom it falls will be scattered as dust." As they listened to his parables, the chief priests and the Pharisees recognized that he was speaking about them; but although they longed to apprehend him, they were afraid of the crowds, because they held him to be a prophet.

"And whatever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and streets, in order that men may praise them. In solemn truth I tell you they already have their reward in full. "But when you give alms, do not let your right hand know what your left is doing, "so that your alms may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. read more.
"And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the corners of the avenues, in order that men may see them. In solemn truth I tell you that they have their reward in full. "But you, when you pray, go into your own room and shut your door; pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. "While praying do not say the same words over and over again, as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that by their much speaking they will gain attention. "Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

Then some Scribes and Pharisees from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying, "Why do your disciples keep transgressing the tradition of the elders by not washing their hands before eating?" "And why do you also keep transgressing the command of God by your tradition?" he asked. read more.
"For God said, Honor your father and mother, and, Let him who reviles father or mother be put to death; but you say that whoever tells his father or mother, 'Whatever of mine might have been of service to you is dedicated to God,' is in no way bound to honor his father. Thus do you make void the word of God by your tradition! Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy concerning you, saying. This is a people that honors me with their lips, But their heart is far from me. In vain do they worship me, While they teach doctrines that are the commands of men."

Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came to him, and in order to test him, asked him to show them a sign from heaven. In answer he said: "In the evening you say, 'It will be fine weather, for the sky is red as fire'; and at dawn you say, 'It will storm today, for the sky is red and lowering.' You know how to discern the look of the sky, but the signs of the times you cannot read. read more.
A wicked and faithless generation is seeking a sign, but no sign shall be given it but the sign of Jonah." So he left them and went away. When his disciples reached the other side of the lake, they had forgotten to bring bread. Presently Jesus said to them, "Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees." And they began discussing it among themselves, saying, "It is because we did not bring any bread." When Jesus knew it he said: "Weaklings in faith! Why are you arguing among yourselves, because you have no bread? "Do you not remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many large basketfuls you took up? "Nor the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many large basketfuls you took up? "How is it that you do not perceive that I did not speak to you concerning bread? But beware off the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees!" Then they realized that he had not told them to beware of the leaven, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

"The Scribes and Pharisees sit in Moses' seat; "therefore do and observe whatever they bid you; but do not do as they do, for they preach, but do not practise. "For they bind heavy burdens and lay them on men's shoulders, but they themselves will not lift a finger to move them. read more.
"For they do all their good deeds to be gazed on of men. They widen their phylacteries, "and lengthen the tassels, and are fond of the best places at banquets, and the front seats in the synagogues. "They enjoy salutations in the market-places, and to have men call them 'Rabbi.' "But you are not to be called 'Rabbi'; for one is your Teacher, and you are all brothers; "and call no one 'Father' on earth, for One is your Father in heaven. "And call no one 'Leader,' because One is your leader, even the Christ. "Whoever is great among you shall be your minister; "whoever exalts himself shall be humbled, and he who humbles himself shall be exalted. "But woe unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men's faces; for you do not enter, yourselves, nor do you permit those who are about to come in, to enter. OMITTED TEXT. "Woe unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you scour sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is gained, you make him twofold more a son of hell than you are, yourselves. "Woe unto you, blind guides, who say, If any one swears by the Sanctuary, it is nothing, but if any one swears by the gold of the Sanctuary, the oath is binding. "You fools and blind; for which is greater, the gold, or the Sanctuary which hallows the gold? "You say, too, that whoever swears by the offering that is upon it, his oath is binding. "You blind! Which is greater, the offering or the altar which hallows the offering? "He then, who swears by the altar, swears by it and by everything on it; "and he who swears by the Sanctuary swears by it and by Him who dwells therein; "and he who swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God and by Him who sits thereon. "Woe unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and anise and cummin, and neglect the weightier matters of the Law??ustice and mercy and good faith; these latter you ought to have done, and not to have left the former undone. "You blind guides! who strain out the gnat and swallow the camel! "Woe unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but within they are filled with extortion and excess. "You blind Pharisees, first clean the inside of the cup and of the plate, so that the outside of it may be clean also. "Woe unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You are like white-washed sepulchers. They look beautiful without, but within they are filled with dead men's bones and all rottenness. "Just so you also outwardly appear to men, just, but within you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness. "Woe unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You rebuild the tombs of the prophets, and adorn the monuments of the righteous, and say, "'If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have been their comrades in the murder of the prophets.' "So you bear witness against yourselves, that you are the descendants of those who slew the prophets! "Fill up then the measure of your fathers! "You serpents! You vipers brood! How shall you escape the judgment of hell?

Once he was casting out a dumb demon, and when the demon was gone out, the dumb man spoke, and the people wondered. But some of them said, "It is by Beelzebub, the prince of demons, that he cast out demons." Others, tempting him, kept seeking from him a sign from heaven. read more.
He knew their intentions and said to them. "Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste and house falls upon house. "And if Satan also is divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand? "Do you say that I am casting out demons by the power of Beelzebub? If I then am casting out demons by Beelzebub, by whom are your sons casting them out? They therefore shall be your judges. "But if it is by the finger of God that I am casting out demons, then the kingdom of God is come upon you. "When the strong man fully aroused keeps guard over his homestead, his property is undisturbed; "but when the stronger man attacks him, he takes away from the strong armor in which he was trusting and divides up the spoil. "He who is not for me is against me, and he who is not gathering with me is scattering. "Whenever a foul spirit is gone out of a man, it roams through waterless places, in search of rest; but when it can find none, it says, 'I will go back to the house which I have left.' When it comes and finds the house completely swept and garnished. "Then it goes off and fetches seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the last state of that man is worse than the first." It happened while he was saying this, that a certain woman out of the crowd shouted to him, saying, "Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breast that you have sucked." "No, rather," he answered, "blessed are those who listen to the word of God, and keep it." When the crowd were beginning to throng about him he proceeded to say. "This is an evil generation! It seeks a sign, and there shall be no sign be given to it except the sign of Jonah; "for as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so shall the Son of man be to this generation. "The queen of the South shall rise up in Judgment with the men of this generation, and shall condemn them; because she came from the ends of the earth to listen to the wisdom of Solomon, and lo, one greater than Solomon is here! "The men of the Nineveh shall stand up in the judgment with his generation and shall condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and lo! one greater than Jonah is here! "When one lights a lamp he does not put it in a cellar nor under the bushel, but on a lamp-stand that those who enter may see the light. "The lamp of the body is your eye; when your eye is single then your whole body is full of light; but when it is evil your whole body is full of darkness. "Look carefully! Perhaps that very light of yours is darkness. "If, however, your whole body is full of light, without having any part dark, it will be wholly radiant with light, as when the lamp illumines you with its bright rays." When he had finished speaking a Pharisee asked him to dine with him; so he went in with him and reclined. And the Pharisee noticed, to his amazement, that he did not wash his hands before eating, but the Lord said to him. "You Pharisee do cleanse the outside of your cup or plate, but your secret heart is full of extortion and wickedness. "Foolish men! Did not He who made the outside make the inside also? "Better cleanse what is within, and nothing will be unclean for you. "But woe unto you Pharisee! for you tithe mint and rue and every herb, and disregard justice and the love of God; but these you ought to have done, and not leave the other undone. "Woe unto you Pharisee! for you delight in the best seats in the synagogue, and in the salutation in the market-places. "Woe unto you! for you are like the tombs which are hidden, and men walk over them unsuspecting." Hereupon one of the lawyers exclaimed, "But teacher, in saying such things you are also reproaching us also." "Woe unto you lawyers also!" said Jesus, "for you load men with irksome burdens, and you yourselves will not touch the burdens with one of your fingers. "Woe to you! for you are building the tombs of the prophets whom you ancestors killed. "So you are witnesses, and you consent to the actions of your ancestors. for they killed them, and you build their tombs. "For this reason also said the Wisdom of God. 'I will send them prophets and apostles; some of them they will kill and some they will persecute; "so that the blood of all the prophets which was shed from the foundation of the world may be required from this generation, "from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zachariah, who perished between the alter and the sanctuary; yes; I tell you, it shall be required of this generation! "Woe to you lawyers, for you have taken away the key of knowledge!' You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who are trying to enter." After he had gone away, the Scribes and the Pharisee began to set themselves vehemently against him, and to cross-question him upon many points, laying in wait for him, in order to catch a word from his lips.

Now all the tax-gatherers and sinners continued to draw near him, and to listen to him. And the Pharisees and Scribes began to complain, saying, "He is welcoming sinners and eating with them!" And he told them a parable. read more.
"Which one of you men, if he has a hundred sheep, and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety and nine in the desert and go after the lost one until he finds it? "And after he has found it, he lays it on his shoulder, rejoicing. "When he gets home he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying, "Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.' "I say to you that even so there shall be joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, more than over ninety and nine just persons who need no repentance. "Or, again, suppose a woman has ten coins. If she loses one, does she not light a lamp and sweep the house, and search anxiously until she finds it? "And when she has found it, she calls together her woman friends and neighbors and say, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin which I had lost.'

"The Scribes and Pharisees sit in Moses' seat; "therefore do and observe whatever they bid you; but do not do as they do, for they preach, but do not practise. "For they bind heavy burdens and lay them on men's shoulders, but they themselves will not lift a finger to move them. read more.
"For they do all their good deeds to be gazed on of men. They widen their phylacteries, "and lengthen the tassels, and are fond of the best places at banquets, and the front seats in the synagogues. "They enjoy salutations in the market-places, and to have men call them 'Rabbi.' "But you are not to be called 'Rabbi'; for one is your Teacher, and you are all brothers; "and call no one 'Father' on earth, for One is your Father in heaven. "And call no one 'Leader,' because One is your leader, even the Christ. "Whoever is great among you shall be your minister; "whoever exalts himself shall be humbled, and he who humbles himself shall be exalted. "But woe unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men's faces; for you do not enter, yourselves, nor do you permit those who are about to come in, to enter. OMITTED TEXT. "Woe unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you scour sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is gained, you make him twofold more a son of hell than you are, yourselves. "Woe unto you, blind guides, who say, If any one swears by the Sanctuary, it is nothing, but if any one swears by the gold of the Sanctuary, the oath is binding. "You fools and blind; for which is greater, the gold, or the Sanctuary which hallows the gold? "You say, too, that whoever swears by the offering that is upon it, his oath is binding. "You blind! Which is greater, the offering or the altar which hallows the offering? "He then, who swears by the altar, swears by it and by everything on it; "and he who swears by the Sanctuary swears by it and by Him who dwells therein; "and he who swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God and by Him who sits thereon. "Woe unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and anise and cummin, and neglect the weightier matters of the Law??ustice and mercy and good faith; these latter you ought to have done, and not to have left the former undone. "You blind guides! who strain out the gnat and swallow the camel! "Woe unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but within they are filled with extortion and excess. "You blind Pharisees, first clean the inside of the cup and of the plate, so that the outside of it may be clean also. "Woe unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You are like white-washed sepulchers. They look beautiful without, but within they are filled with dead men's bones and all rottenness. "Just so you also outwardly appear to men, just, but within you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness. "Woe unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You rebuild the tombs of the prophets, and adorn the monuments of the righteous, and say, "'If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have been their comrades in the murder of the prophets.' "So you bear witness against yourselves, that you are the descendants of those who slew the prophets! "Fill up then the measure of your fathers! "You serpents! You vipers brood! How shall you escape the judgment of hell?

But they sent some of the Pharisees to Jesus afterward, and some of the Herodians to entrap him in conversation. So when they came, they said: "Teacher, we know that you are sincere and are not afraid of any one, for you do not regard the face of men; nay, but you reach the way of God in truth. Is it right to pay poll-tax to Caesar or not? Shall we pay, or not pay?" But he, knowing well their hypocrisy, said to them. "Why are you testing me? Bring me a dollar for me to look at." read more.
And they brought it. "Whose likeness and inscription is this?" "Caesar's," they answered. And Jesus said, "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God, the things that are God's." They were amazed at him. Then came up some Sadducees, men who say there is no resurrection. They too questioned him, saying. "Teacher, Moses taught us that if a man's brother die, and leave a wife behind him, but no child, that his brother is to marry the widow and to raise up a family for his brother. There were once seven brothers, the eldest of whom married a wife, and died leaving no family. The second married her, and died without offspring; the third likewise; and the seven had her, and died without issue. And last of all the woman too died. In the resurrection whose wife shall she be? For the seven had her as wife." "Is not this the reason for your error," Jesus answered them, "that you know not the Scripture nor the power of God? When they rise from the dead men do not marry, and women are not given in marriage, but they are as the angels are in heaven. But in regard to the rising again of the dead, have you never read in the Book of Moses, in the passage about the Bush, how God spoke to him, saying, "I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living. You are in grave error." Just then up came one of the Scribes who had heard them arguing, and realized that Jesus had answered them admirably. "What commandment," he asked, "is the first of all?" Jesus replied. "The first is. 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord; and thou shalt love the Lord thy God, with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength.'" "The second is this, "Thou shall love thy neighbor as thyself. Other command greater than these there is none." "Admirably said, O Teacher," exclaimed the Scribe. "You have truthfully said that He is one, and that beside him there is none other, and to love him with all one's heart and with all one's understanding and with all one's might, and to love one's neighbor as oneself is far beyond all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices." Jesus saw that he had answered with discrimination, and said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." After that no one ventured to question him. While he was teaching in the Temple courts, Jesus in his turn asked. "How is it that the Scribes say that the Christ is the son of David? David himself said in the Holy Spirit, "The Lord said to my Lord, 'Sit at my right hand until I make thy foes the footstool of thy feet.' "David himself then calls him Lord; so how can he be his son?" Now the great mass of the people were wont to listen to him with delight; and in his teaching he said: "Look out for the Scribes who like to walk about in long robes, and to receive salutations in the street, and to have prominent places in the synagogues, and seats of honor at dinner-parties; they who consume the property of widows and make long, pretentious prayers. The greater shall their condemnation be."

but the Lord said to him. "You Pharisee do cleanse the outside of your cup or plate, but your secret heart is full of extortion and wickedness. "Foolish men! Did not He who made the outside make the inside also? "Better cleanse what is within, and nothing will be unclean for you. read more.
"But woe unto you Pharisee! for you tithe mint and rue and every herb, and disregard justice and the love of God; but these you ought to have done, and not leave the other undone. "Woe unto you Pharisee! for you delight in the best seats in the synagogue, and in the salutation in the market-places. "Woe unto you! for you are like the tombs which are hidden, and men walk over them unsuspecting." Hereupon one of the lawyers exclaimed, "But teacher, in saying such things you are also reproaching us also." "Woe unto you lawyers also!" said Jesus, "for you load men with irksome burdens, and you yourselves will not touch the burdens with one of your fingers. "Woe to you! for you are building the tombs of the prophets whom you ancestors killed. "So you are witnesses, and you consent to the actions of your ancestors. for they killed them, and you build their tombs. "For this reason also said the Wisdom of God. 'I will send them prophets and apostles; some of them they will kill and some they will persecute; "so that the blood of all the prophets which was shed from the foundation of the world may be required from this generation, "from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zachariah, who perished between the alter and the sanctuary; yes; I tell you, it shall be required of this generation! "Woe to you lawyers, for you have taken away the key of knowledge!' You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who are trying to enter." After he had gone away, the Scribes and the Pharisee began to set themselves vehemently against him, and to cross-question him upon many points, laying in wait for him, in order to catch a word from his lips.

for he was teaching them as one having authority, and not as their scribes taught them. Verse Conceptsethics, basis ofTeachersJesus As Our TeacherAuthority Of Christempowermentliberationpharisees

"The Scribes and Pharisees sit in Moses' seat; "therefore do and observe whatever they bid you; but do not do as they do, for they preach, but do not practise.

"Then," said he, "every scribe who has been instructed in the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his storehouse new things and old." Verse ConceptsHousesKeysTeachers Of The LawChristian TraditionsPeople Of The KingdomtrainingNew

And his disciples asked him, saying, "Why then do the Scribes say that Elijah must first come?" Verse ConceptsJudaismTeachers Of The LawPeople Going BeforeWhy Do Others Do This?


"Two men are going up to the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, the other a tax-gatherer. Verse ConceptsRich, TheJewish SectsTwo PeopleCharacteristics Of PhariseesPraying For OthersGoing To ChurchPrayingtaxespharisees


Presently some of the Pharisees came up to him, and made test of him by asking, "Is it right for a man to divorce his wife for every cause?" Verse Conceptsdivorce, in OTdivorce, amongst believersTestingJewish SectsSnares Laid For ChristTesting ChristDivorce PermittedPharisees Concerned About ChristWhy People Did Things

but the Pharisees and lawyers who had refused his baptism, frustrated God's purpose for themselves. Verse ConceptsAttorneyLawyersRejection Of GodJewish SectsBaptised By JohnCharacteristics Of PhariseesRejection

Then perceiving that half the Sanhedrin were Sadducees and the other half Pharisee, he cried out in the Sanhedrin. "Brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of Pharisees! It is for the hope of the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial!" Verse ConceptsHope Object OfHope, As ConfidenceResurrection, Of BelieversSanhedrinStandingJewish SectsThe Dead Are Raisedgroupszealotspharisees

but Gamaliel, a Pharisee, a teacher of the law, and held in honor by all the people, rose from his seat, and ordered the apostles to be put outside for a little while. Verse ConceptsIntelligenceStatusTeachers Of The LawJewish SectsScholarsSchools

But when John saw that many of the Pharisees and Sadducees were coming for baptism, he said: "O brood of vipers! Who has warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Verse ConceptsHell, As An ExperienceJudaismSnakesAnger Of God, ConsequencesEvil GenerationsDenunciationsName CallingJewish SectsJudgement To ComeThings Like SnakesFleeing From GodBaptised By Johnpharisees


Then some Scribes and Pharisees from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying, Verse ConceptsJewish Sectsmath

"The Scribes and Pharisees sit in Moses' seat; "therefore do and observe whatever they bid you; but do not do as they do, for they preach, but do not practise.



"So whoever breaks one of these least commandments, and teaches others to break them, will be least in the kingdom of heaven. But he who keeps them and teaches them, he will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. Verse ConceptsFalse TeachingsCommands, in NTKingdom Of God, Characteristics OfTeachingInferiorityMisteachingGreatness Of DisciplesTeaching The Way Of GodUnimportant ThingsBreaking The Ten Commandmentsrelaxingrelaxation

"The Scribes and Pharisees sit in Moses' seat; "therefore do and observe whatever they bid you; but do not do as they do, for they preach, but do not practise. "For they bind heavy burdens and lay them on men's shoulders, but they themselves will not lift a finger to move them. read more.
"For they do all their good deeds to be gazed on of men. They widen their phylacteries, "and lengthen the tassels, and are fond of the best places at banquets, and the front seats in the synagogues. "They enjoy salutations in the market-places, and to have men call them 'Rabbi.' "But you are not to be called 'Rabbi'; for one is your Teacher, and you are all brothers; "and call no one 'Father' on earth, for One is your Father in heaven. "And call no one 'Leader,' because One is your leader, even the Christ. "Whoever is great among you shall be your minister; "whoever exalts himself shall be humbled, and he who humbles himself shall be exalted. "But woe unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men's faces; for you do not enter, yourselves, nor do you permit those who are about to come in, to enter. OMITTED TEXT. "Woe unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you scour sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is gained, you make him twofold more a son of hell than you are, yourselves. "Woe unto you, blind guides, who say, If any one swears by the Sanctuary, it is nothing, but if any one swears by the gold of the Sanctuary, the oath is binding. "You fools and blind; for which is greater, the gold, or the Sanctuary which hallows the gold? "You say, too, that whoever swears by the offering that is upon it, his oath is binding. "You blind! Which is greater, the offering or the altar which hallows the offering? "He then, who swears by the altar, swears by it and by everything on it; "and he who swears by the Sanctuary swears by it and by Him who dwells therein; "and he who swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God and by Him who sits thereon. "Woe unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and anise and cummin, and neglect the weightier matters of the Law??ustice and mercy and good faith; these latter you ought to have done, and not to have left the former undone. "You blind guides! who strain out the gnat and swallow the camel! "Woe unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but within they are filled with extortion and excess. "You blind Pharisees, first clean the inside of the cup and of the plate, so that the outside of it may be clean also. "Woe unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You are like white-washed sepulchers. They look beautiful without, but within they are filled with dead men's bones and all rottenness. "Just so you also outwardly appear to men, just, but within you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness. "Woe unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You rebuild the tombs of the prophets, and adorn the monuments of the righteous, and say, "'If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have been their comrades in the murder of the prophets.' "So you bear witness against yourselves, that you are the descendants of those who slew the prophets! "Fill up then the measure of your fathers! "You serpents! You vipers brood! How shall you escape the judgment of hell?

"Why do your disciples keep transgressing the tradition of the elders by not washing their hands before eating?" "And why do you also keep transgressing the command of God by your tradition?" he asked. "For God said, Honor your father and mother, and, Let him who reviles father or mother be put to death; read more.
but you say that whoever tells his father or mother, 'Whatever of mine might have been of service to you is dedicated to God,' is in no way bound to honor his father. Thus do you make void the word of God by your tradition! Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy concerning you, saying. This is a people that honors me with their lips, But their heart is far from me. In vain do they worship me, While they teach doctrines that are the commands of men." Then Jesus called the people to him and said: "Listen, and pay attention. It is not what goes into a man's mouth that defiles him, but what comes out of it, that defiles the man." Then his disciples came to him and said, "Do you know that the Pharisees were scandalized when they heard that saying?" He replied. "Any plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. "Let them alone. They are blind men leading the blind; and if one blind man leads another, both of them will fall into a ditch." Then Peter said to Jesus, "Explain the parable to us." He answered. "Are even you still without understanding? "Do you not know how all that goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is afterward evacuated; while what comes out of the mouth comes from the heart??nd that is what defiles a man. For out of the heart come forth evil thoughts, murder, adultery, unchastity, theft, perjury, slander. These are the things that defile a man; to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man."

And the Pharisee noticed, to his amazement, that he did not wash his hands before eating, but the Lord said to him. "You Pharisee do cleanse the outside of your cup or plate, but your secret heart is full of extortion and wickedness. "Foolish men! Did not He who made the outside make the inside also? read more.
"Better cleanse what is within, and nothing will be unclean for you. "But woe unto you Pharisee! for you tithe mint and rue and every herb, and disregard justice and the love of God; but these you ought to have done, and not leave the other undone. "Woe unto you Pharisee! for you delight in the best seats in the synagogue, and in the salutation in the market-places. "Woe unto you! for you are like the tombs which are hidden, and men walk over them unsuspecting." Hereupon one of the lawyers exclaimed, "But teacher, in saying such things you are also reproaching us also." "Woe unto you lawyers also!" said Jesus, "for you load men with irksome burdens, and you yourselves will not touch the burdens with one of your fingers. "Woe to you! for you are building the tombs of the prophets whom you ancestors killed. "So you are witnesses, and you consent to the actions of your ancestors. for they killed them, and you build their tombs. "For this reason also said the Wisdom of God. 'I will send them prophets and apostles; some of them they will kill and some they will persecute; "so that the blood of all the prophets which was shed from the foundation of the world may be required from this generation, "from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zachariah, who perished between the alter and the sanctuary; yes; I tell you, it shall be required of this generation! "Woe to you lawyers, for you have taken away the key of knowledge!' You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who are trying to enter."

"The Scribes and Pharisees sit in Moses' seat; "therefore do and observe whatever they bid you; but do not do as they do, for they preach, but do not practise.