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Verse
Matthew - ch 23 v 1 - 20
- Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to his disciples,
- saying, "The scribes and the Pharisees sat on Moses' seat.
- All things therefore whatever they tell you to observe, observe and do, but don't do their works; for they say, and don't do.
- For they bind heavy burdens that are grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not lift a finger to help them.
- But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries1 broad, enlarge the fringes2 of their garments,
- and love the place of honor at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues,
- the salutations in the marketplaces, and to be called 'Rabbi, Rabbi' by men.
- But don't you be called 'Rabbi,' for one is your teacher, the Christ, and all of you are brothers.
- Call no man on the earth your father, for one is your Father, he who is in heaven.
- Neither be called masters, for one is your master, the Christ.
- But he who is greatest among you will be your servant.
- Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
- "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows' houses, and as a pretense you make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation.
- "But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you shut up the Kingdom of Heaven against men; for you don't enter in yourselves, neither do you allow those who are entering in to enter.3
- Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel around by sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much of a son of Gehenna4 as yourselves.
- "Woe to you, you blind guides, who say, 'Whoever swears by the temple, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple, he is obligated.'
- You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifies the gold?
- 'Whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gift that is on it, he is obligated?'
- You blind fools! For which is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifies the gift?
- He therefore who swears by the altar, swears by it, and by everything on it.
- phylacteries (tefillin in Hebrew) are small leather pouches that some Jewish men wear on their forehead and arm in prayer. They are used to carry a small scroll with some Scripture in it. See Deuteronomy 6:8.
- or, tassels
- Some Greek manuscripts reverse the order of verses 13 and 14, and some omit verse 13, numbering verse 14 as 13.
- or, Hell
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