Thematic Bible: Satire
Thematic Bible
Satire » Of jesus against hypocrites
said, the Scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses's chair. therefore whatever moral precepts they bid you observe, those observe and practise; but don't follow their example: for they preach one thing, and practise another. for they load men with intolerable impositions, and will not take the least pains to ease them of the burthen: they do nothing but out of ostentation, read more.
their phylacterys are broader, and the fringes of their garments are larger than those of others: they affect the uppermost place at feasts, the principal chair in the synagogues, to be saluted in publick places, and to have men address to them with the title of Doctor Doctor. But don't you assume that title, for you have but one doctor, who is the Christ; as for you, you are all brethren alike. don't stile any one among you, Father upon earth; for he alone is your father, who is in heaven. neither take the title of masters, for you have but one master, who is the Messias. he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. for whosoever exalts himself, shall be abased; and he that humbles himself, shall be exalted. Wo unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, who prey upon the estates of widows, under the pretext of making long prayers; therefore ye shall be punish'd with the greater severity. wo unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, who shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye not only refuse to go in your selves, but hinder those that would. wo unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, who ransack sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is gain'd, ye make him deserve Gehenna much more than your selves. wo unto you, ye blind guides, who say, if any man swear by the temple he is under no obligation: but if he swear by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath. ye blind fools, which is most sacred, the treasure of the temple, or the temple that makes the treasure sacred? again, if any one swear by the altar he is under no engagement but if he swear by the gift that is upon it, he is bound thereby. ye blind fools, which is most sacred, the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred? whoever swears by the altar, swears not only by the altar, but by every thing upon it. and whoever swears by the temple, swears by it, and by him that dwelleth therein. and he that swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth thereon. wo unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, who pay tithe of mint, anise, and cummin, but neglect those more important matters of the law, justice, mercy, and fidelity: these were the things ye ought to have practis'd, without neglecting however the other matters. ye blind guides, who strain your liquor for a gnat, and swallow a beetle. wo unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites; for ye clean the outside of the cup, and of the plate, but within they are full of rapine and impurity. thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first the inside of the cup and plate, that the outside may be likewise clean. wo unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites; for ye are like whited sepulchres, which to outward appearance are fine. but within are full of dead mens bones, and all sort of filth. just so ye put on an air of probity in the sight of men, but within are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. wo unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites; because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the just, and say, if we had liv'd in the time of our forefathers, we would not have been accessory with them in shedding the blood of the prophets. whereby you yourselves own that ye are indeed the children of those who killed the prophets, children that can't fail to fill up the measure of your fathers iniquities. ye serpents, ye brood of vipers, how can ye escape the punishment of Gehenna?
their phylacterys are broader, and the fringes of their garments are larger than those of others: they affect the uppermost place at feasts, the principal chair in the synagogues, to be saluted in publick places, and to have men address to them with the title of Doctor Doctor. But don't you assume that title, for you have but one doctor, who is the Christ; as for you, you are all brethren alike. don't stile any one among you, Father upon earth; for he alone is your father, who is in heaven. neither take the title of masters, for you have but one master, who is the Messias. he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. for whosoever exalts himself, shall be abased; and he that humbles himself, shall be exalted. Wo unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, who prey upon the estates of widows, under the pretext of making long prayers; therefore ye shall be punish'd with the greater severity. wo unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, who shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye not only refuse to go in your selves, but hinder those that would. wo unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, who ransack sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is gain'd, ye make him deserve Gehenna much more than your selves. wo unto you, ye blind guides, who say, if any man swear by the temple he is under no obligation: but if he swear by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath. ye blind fools, which is most sacred, the treasure of the temple, or the temple that makes the treasure sacred? again, if any one swear by the altar he is under no engagement but if he swear by the gift that is upon it, he is bound thereby. ye blind fools, which is most sacred, the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred? whoever swears by the altar, swears not only by the altar, but by every thing upon it. and whoever swears by the temple, swears by it, and by him that dwelleth therein. and he that swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth thereon. wo unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, who pay tithe of mint, anise, and cummin, but neglect those more important matters of the law, justice, mercy, and fidelity: these were the things ye ought to have practis'd, without neglecting however the other matters. ye blind guides, who strain your liquor for a gnat, and swallow a beetle. wo unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites; for ye clean the outside of the cup, and of the plate, but within they are full of rapine and impurity. thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first the inside of the cup and plate, that the outside may be likewise clean. wo unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites; for ye are like whited sepulchres, which to outward appearance are fine. but within are full of dead mens bones, and all sort of filth. just so ye put on an air of probity in the sight of men, but within are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. wo unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites; because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the just, and say, if we had liv'd in the time of our forefathers, we would not have been accessory with them in shedding the blood of the prophets. whereby you yourselves own that ye are indeed the children of those who killed the prophets, children that can't fail to fill up the measure of your fathers iniquities. ye serpents, ye brood of vipers, how can ye escape the punishment of Gehenna?
Then they sent some of the Pharisees, and of the Herodians to insnare him in his discourse. when they were come, they said to him, master, we know that you are sincere, that you are not influenced by any one, for you have no regard to the person of men: but teach us the way of God according to truth. now should we pay tribute to Cesar, or no? shall we pay, or shall we not pay? but he, perceiving their hypocrisy, said to them, why do you lay snares for me? read more.
let me see a penny. and when they brought it, he asked them, whose image and inscription is this? they said, Cesar's. to which Jesus reply'd, render to Cesar what belongs to Cesar, and to God what belongs to God. and they were surprized at the answer. Then the Saducees, who deny the resurrection, came and asked him, saying, master, Moses has left it us in writing, that if a man dies, and leaves his wife without any children, his brother should marry his widow, in order to perpetuate his name. now there were seven brothers: the first married a wife and died, leaving her without any children. the second married her, and he died too without leaving her any children: the third did the same. so that all the seven married her, but left no children. last of all she died. at the time therefore of the resurrection, when they shall rise, whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all married her. Jesus answered them, don't you see you are in a mistake, by being unacquainted with the scriptures, as well as with the power of God? for when they shall rise from the dead, they neither will marry, nor be given in marriage, but be immortal like the angels in heaven. and as for the dead, that they will actually rise, have you not read in the book of Moses those words, which God pronounc'd out of the bush to him, "I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?" he is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living: and therefore you greatly mistake the meaning. One of the Scribes, that had heard their dispute, observing the propriety of his answers, propos'd this question to him, which is the principal commandment of all? Jesus answer'd him, the first of all the commandments is thus deliver'd, "hear, o Israel, the lord our God is the only lord. you shall therefore love the lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, to the utmost of your understanding, and all your faculties." this is the first commandment. and the second, which has an affinity to it, is this: "you shall love your neighbour as yourself." there is no other commandment greater than these. the Scribe replied, what you have said, master, is very true, there is one God, and no other but he. and to love him with all the heart, with all the understanding, with all the soul, with all its faculties, and to love one's neighbour as one's self is more acceptable than all the offerings and sacrifices in the world. Jesus observing he answer'd so discreetly, said to him, you are not far from the kingdom of God. and no man after that was so hardy as to ask him any question. As Jesus was teaching in the temple, he address'd himself to them, saying, why do the Scribes maintain that Christ is the son of David? for David himself, who was inspired by the holy spirit, has this expression, "the Lord said to my Lord, sit thou at my right hand till I make thy enemies thy foot-stool." now since David himself calls him Lord, how can he be David's son? and the common people heard him with pleasure. in the sequel of the discourse, he said to them, beware of the Scribes, who affect to walk about in their long robes, to be saluted in publick places, and to have the first seats in their synagogues, and at their feasts: who yet devour widows estates under the shew of making long prayers, such shall receive greater condemnation.
let me see a penny. and when they brought it, he asked them, whose image and inscription is this? they said, Cesar's. to which Jesus reply'd, render to Cesar what belongs to Cesar, and to God what belongs to God. and they were surprized at the answer. Then the Saducees, who deny the resurrection, came and asked him, saying, master, Moses has left it us in writing, that if a man dies, and leaves his wife without any children, his brother should marry his widow, in order to perpetuate his name. now there were seven brothers: the first married a wife and died, leaving her without any children. the second married her, and he died too without leaving her any children: the third did the same. so that all the seven married her, but left no children. last of all she died. at the time therefore of the resurrection, when they shall rise, whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all married her. Jesus answered them, don't you see you are in a mistake, by being unacquainted with the scriptures, as well as with the power of God? for when they shall rise from the dead, they neither will marry, nor be given in marriage, but be immortal like the angels in heaven. and as for the dead, that they will actually rise, have you not read in the book of Moses those words, which God pronounc'd out of the bush to him, "I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?" he is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living: and therefore you greatly mistake the meaning. One of the Scribes, that had heard their dispute, observing the propriety of his answers, propos'd this question to him, which is the principal commandment of all? Jesus answer'd him, the first of all the commandments is thus deliver'd, "hear, o Israel, the lord our God is the only lord. you shall therefore love the lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, to the utmost of your understanding, and all your faculties." this is the first commandment. and the second, which has an affinity to it, is this: "you shall love your neighbour as yourself." there is no other commandment greater than these. the Scribe replied, what you have said, master, is very true, there is one God, and no other but he. and to love him with all the heart, with all the understanding, with all the soul, with all its faculties, and to love one's neighbour as one's self is more acceptable than all the offerings and sacrifices in the world. Jesus observing he answer'd so discreetly, said to him, you are not far from the kingdom of God. and no man after that was so hardy as to ask him any question. As Jesus was teaching in the temple, he address'd himself to them, saying, why do the Scribes maintain that Christ is the son of David? for David himself, who was inspired by the holy spirit, has this expression, "the Lord said to my Lord, sit thou at my right hand till I make thy enemies thy foot-stool." now since David himself calls him Lord, how can he be David's son? and the common people heard him with pleasure. in the sequel of the discourse, he said to them, beware of the Scribes, who affect to walk about in their long robes, to be saluted in publick places, and to have the first seats in their synagogues, and at their feasts: who yet devour widows estates under the shew of making long prayers, such shall receive greater condemnation.
upon which the Lord said to him, you Pharisees won't leave any filth upon the outside of a cup or a platter: while your consciences are abandon'd to rapine, and sensuality. do you stupidly imagine that he, who made the outward man, did not make the inward too? be but charitable to the utmost of your ability, and every thing will be pure to you. read more.
but wo unto you Pharisees: for you will pay the tythes of mint, and rue, and all sorts of herbs, but as for justice and true piety, those you neglect. these you ought to have practised, without omitting however the other. wo unto you Pharisees, for you affect to have the first rank in the synagogue, and to be complimented in publick places. wo unto you: for you resemble subterraneous monuments, which men walk over, without perceiving them. Then a doctor of the law objected to him, saying, master, your discourse is an insult upon us also. but Jesus said, wo unto you likewise, doctors of the law; for you load men with insupportable burthens, the least part of which you will not yourselves bear: wo unto you, for you rebuild the sepulchres of those prophets, whom your fathers put to death: they were guilty of slaughter, and you raise monuments to their memory. agreeably to this, in the Wisdom of God 'tis said, "I will send them prophets and apostles: some they will kill, and others they will persecute: " so that the blood of all the prophets, which has been shed since the creation of the world, may be required of this generation, from the blood of Abel to that of Zacharias, who perished between the altar and the temple: yes, I assure you, this generation shall be responsible for it all. wo unto you, doctors of the law; for after having taken the key of knowledge, you remain still in the dark, and hinder others, who desire to have light. As he was pursuing his discourse, the Scribes and Pharisees passionately urg'd him with many captious questions, in order to ensnare him, and draw something from his own mouth, that might be brought as evidence against him.
but wo unto you Pharisees: for you will pay the tythes of mint, and rue, and all sorts of herbs, but as for justice and true piety, those you neglect. these you ought to have practised, without omitting however the other. wo unto you Pharisees, for you affect to have the first rank in the synagogue, and to be complimented in publick places. wo unto you: for you resemble subterraneous monuments, which men walk over, without perceiving them. Then a doctor of the law objected to him, saying, master, your discourse is an insult upon us also. but Jesus said, wo unto you likewise, doctors of the law; for you load men with insupportable burthens, the least part of which you will not yourselves bear: wo unto you, for you rebuild the sepulchres of those prophets, whom your fathers put to death: they were guilty of slaughter, and you raise monuments to their memory. agreeably to this, in the Wisdom of God 'tis said, "I will send them prophets and apostles: some they will kill, and others they will persecute: " so that the blood of all the prophets, which has been shed since the creation of the world, may be required of this generation, from the blood of Abel to that of Zacharias, who perished between the altar and the temple: yes, I assure you, this generation shall be responsible for it all. wo unto you, doctors of the law; for after having taken the key of knowledge, you remain still in the dark, and hinder others, who desire to have light. As he was pursuing his discourse, the Scribes and Pharisees passionately urg'd him with many captious questions, in order to ensnare him, and draw something from his own mouth, that might be brought as evidence against him.