Thematic Bible

Matthew 23:1

Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples,
No Themes for this verse.

Matthew 23:2

saying, "The scribes and the Pharisees sit on the seat of Moses.

Matthew 23:3

Therefore do and observe everything that they tell you, but do not do as {they do}, for they tell [others to do something] and do not do [it themselves].

Matthew 23:4

And they tie up heavy burdens and put [them] on people's shoulders, but [they] themselves are not willing with their finger to move them

Matthew 23:5

And they do all their deeds in order to be seen by people, for they make their phylacteries broad and make their tassels long.

Matthew 23:6

And they love the place of honor at banquets and the best seats in the synagogues

Matthew 23:7

and the greetings in the marketplaces and to be called 'Rabbi' by people.

Matthew 23:8

But you are not to be called 'Rabbi,' because one is your teacher, and you are all brothers,

Matthew 23:9

And do not call [anyone] your father on earth, for one is your heavenly Father.

Matthew 23:10

And do not be called teachers, because one is your teacher, the Christ.

Matthew 23:11

And the greatest among you will be your servant.

Matthew 23:12

And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

Matthew 23:13

"But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees--hypocrites!--because you shut the kingdom of heaven before people! For you do not enter, nor permit those wanting to go in to enter.

Matthew 23:14

Matthew 23:15

"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees--hypocrites!--because you travel around the sea and the dry [land] to make one convert, and when he becomes [one], you make him twice as much a son of hell [as] you [are]!

Matthew 23:16

"Woe to you, blind guides, who say, 'Whoever swears by the temple, it is nothing! But whoever swears by the gold of the temple is bound [by his oath].'

Matthew 23:17

Fools and blind [people]! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that makes the gold holy?

Matthew 23:18

And, 'Whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing! But whoever swears by the gift [that is] on it is bound [by his oath].'

Matthew 23:19

Blind [people]! For which [is] greater, the gift or the altar that makes the gift holy

Matthew 23:20

Therefore the one who swears by the altar swears by it and by everything [that is] on it.

Matthew 23:21

And the one who swears by the temple swears by it and by the one who dwells [in] it

Matthew 23:22

And the one who swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by the one who sits on it.

Matthew 23:23

"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees--hypocrites!--because you pay a tenth of mint and dill and cumin, and neglect the more important [matters] of the law--justice and mercy and faithfulness! It was necessary to do these [things] {while not neglecting those}.

Matthew 23:24

Blind guides who filter out a gnat and swallow a camel!

Matthew 23:25

"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees--hypocrites!--because you cleanse the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence!

Matthew 23:26

Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the dish, so that the outside of it may become clean also.

Matthew 23:27

"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees--hypocrites!--because you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and of everything unclean!

Matthew 23:28

In the [same] way, on the outside you also appear righteous to people, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

Matthew 23:29

"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees--hypocrites!--because you build the tombs of the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous,

Matthew 23:30

and you say, 'If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partners with them in the blood of the prophets!'

Matthew 23:31

Thus you testify against yourselves that you are descendants of those who murdered the prophets!

Matthew 23:32

And you--fill up the measure of your fathers!

Matthew 23:33

Serpents! Offspring of vipers! How will you escape from the condemnation to hell?

Matthew 23:34

For this [reason], behold, I am sending to you prophets and wise men and scribes. [Some] of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will flog in your synagogues and will pursue from town to town,

Matthew 23:35

so that upon you will come all the righteous blood shed on the earth from the blood of righteous Abel up to the blood of Zechariah son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.

Matthew 23:36

Truly I say to you, all these [things] will come upon this generation!

Matthew 23:37

"Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How many times I wanted to gather your children together {the way} a hen gathers her young together under [her] wings, and you were not willing!

Matthew 23:38

Behold, your house has been left to you desolate

Matthew 23:39

For I tell you, you will never see me from now [on] until you say, 'Blessed [is] the one who comes in the name of the Lord!'"