Thematic Bible
Matthew 23:1 (show verse)
Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to His disciples,
No Themes for this verse.
Matthew 23:2 (show verse)
saying, "The experts in the law of Moses and the Pharisees teach by the authority of Moses.
Matthew 23:3 (show verse)
Therefore, observe and practice everything they urge upon you, but do not follow their example [of living] because they say [the right things] but do not do them.
Matthew 23:4 (show verse)
Yes, they require people to bear heavy and difficult responsibilities, and place them on people's shoulders [to carry out], but they themselves will not lift a finger to do them.
Matthew 23:5 (show verse)
But they do all their deeds just to be seen by people. They wear elaborate Scripture texts displayed on their clothing and enlarge [conspicuously] the fringes of their robes.
Matthew 23:6 (show verse)
They love to recline at the head place at dinner tables [Note: This referred to the practice of lying down on their left side on a couch next to the dinner table, and leaning on their left elbow, while eating with their right hand], and to occupy the principal seats in the synagogues.
Matthew 23:7 (show verse)
They love the [special] greetings they receive at the open shopping markets and to be addressed as 'Rabbi' [Note: This word signified 'great' or 'master'].
Matthew 23:8 (show verse)
But you should not assume the title 'Rabbi,' for [only] one is your teacher [i.e., Jesus Himself] and all of you are [simply] brothers.
Matthew 23:9 (show verse)
And do not call any man on earth 'father,' [i.e., in a religious sense], for the [only] one who is your Father is in heaven.
Matthew 23:10 (show verse)
Neither assume the title 'Master' [i.e., teacher], for [only] one is your Master, the Christ [i.e., God's specially chosen one].
Matthew 23:11 (show verse)
But the greatest person among you will be your servant.
Matthew 23:12 (show verse)
And whoever exalts himself [as important] will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted [as important].
Matthew 23:13 (show verse)
"But it is too bad for you hypocritical experts in the law of Moses and [you] Pharisees! [It is] because you withhold the kingdom of heaven from people, for you do not enter it yourselves, nor [do you] allow those who are trying to enter it to get in. {[{[Verse
Matthew 23:14 (show verse)
is absent from the oldest manuscripts]}]}
Matthew 23:15 (show verse)
"It is too bad for you hypocritical experts in the law of Moses and [you] Pharisees! For you travel over land and sea [in hope of] making one person a proselyte [i.e., a convert to the Jewish religion]. And when you do convert one, you make him twice as deserving of hell as yourselves.
Matthew 23:16 (show verse)
"It is too bad for you blind leaders who say that whoever takes an oath 'by the Temple,' it does not [really] mean anything, but whoever takes an oath 'by the gold of the Temple,' he is obligated to [fulfill] the oath.
Matthew 23:17 (show verse)
You foolish, blind people! Which is greater, the gold or the Temple that makes its gold sacred?
Matthew 23:18 (show verse)
And [you say], whoever takes an oath 'by the Altar,' it does not [really] mean anything, but whoever takes an oath 'by the gift on the Altar,' he is obligated to [fulfill] the oath.
Matthew 23:19 (show verse)
You blind people! Which is more important, the gift or the Altar that makes the gift sacred?
Matthew 23:20 (show verse)
The person, therefore, who takes an oath 'by the Altar,' [not only] swears by it, but [also] by everything on it.
Matthew 23:21 (show verse)
And the person who takes an oath 'by the Temple,' [not only] swears by it, but [also] by Him [i.e., God] who lives there.
Matthew 23:22 (show verse)
And the person who takes an oath 'by heaven,' swears 'by the throne of God,' and [also] by Him [i.e., God] who sits on it.
Matthew 23:23 (show verse)
"It is too bad for you hypocritical experts in the law of Moses and [you] Pharisees! For you give a tenth of your mint, dill and cumin [i.e., small garden herbs used for seasoning or fragrance], and [yet] neglect the heavier responsibilities required by the law, [such as] justice, mercy and faith. You should have done these ["lighter"] things and not neglected to do the other ["heavier"] things [as well].
Matthew 23:24 (show verse)
You blind leaders, who strain out a [tiny] gnat [i.e., from your drinking water] and [yet] swallow a [whole] camel.
Matthew 23:25 (show verse)
"It is too bad for you hypocritical experts in the law of Moses and [you] Pharisees! For you [carefully] wash the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they [i.e., such evil people] are full of greed and uncontrolled desire.
Matthew 23:26 (show verse)
You blind Pharisees! First wash the inside of the cup and dish, so [then] the outside will be clean also.
Matthew 23:27 (show verse)
"It is too bad for you hypocritical experts in the law of Moses and [you] Pharisees! For you are like white-washed tombs, used for burial [sites], which appear beautiful on the outside, but on the inside are full of the bones and decaying flesh of dead people.
Matthew 23:28 (show verse)
Even so, you also appear on the outside to be doing right in front of people, but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and sin.
Matthew 23:29 (show verse)
"It is too bad for you hypocritical experts in the law of Moses and [you] Pharisees! For you construct burial sites for the prophets and decorate the tombs of people who were righteous.
Matthew 23:30 (show verse)
And you say, 'If [only] we had lived in the days of our forefathers, we [certainly] would not have participated with them in [shedding] the blood of the prophets.'
Matthew 23:31 (show verse)
[But by saying this] you are witnesses [against] yourselves, that you are the sons of those who murdered the prophets [i.e., indicating your approval of their actions].
Matthew 23:32 (show verse)
So [then], fulfill the pattern of behavior begun by your forefathers.
Matthew 23:33 (show verse)
You snakes! You children of snakes! How do you expect to escape being judged [and condemned] in hell?
Matthew 23:34 (show verse)
Therefore look, I am sending to you prophets, wise men and scholarly teachers. You will murder and crucify some of them; you will whip some of them in your synagogues and pursue them from town to town.
Matthew 23:35 (show verse)
[This will be done] so that on you may fall the guilt for shedding on the ground the blood of all those innocent people, from the blood of righteous Abel to that of Barachiah's son Zachariah, whom you murdered between the Sanctuary and the Altar [i.e., in the Temple area].
Matthew 23:36 (show verse)
Truly I tell you, this generation will bear [the guilt for] all these things.
Matthew 23:37 (show verse)
"O, Jerusalem, Jerusalem, [you people] who murdered the prophets and stoned those who were sent to you! How often I have wanted to gather you people together, even as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!
Matthew 23:38 (show verse)
Look, your house [i.e., the Jewish Temple] is being abandoned [by me?].
Matthew 23:39 (show verse)
For I tell you, you will not see me from now on until [the time when] you will be saying, 'Praise the one who is coming in the name of the Lord!'"