October 3, 2021

Seven Woes to the Scribes and Pharisees

23 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, ² “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat, ³ so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice. ⁴ They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear,^[a] and lay them on people's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. ⁵ They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, ⁶ and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues ⁷ and greetings in the marketplaces and being called rabbi^[b] by others. ⁸ But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers.^{[c] 9} And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. ¹⁰ Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ. ¹¹ The greatest among you shall be your servant. ¹² Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

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Footnotes

Matthew 23:4 Some manuscripts omit hard to bear Matthew 23:7 Rabbi means my teacher, or my master; also verse 8 Matthew 23:8 Or brothers and sisters

Cross references

Matthew 23:1 : For ver. 1, 2, 5-7, see Mark 12:38, 39; Luke 20:45, 46; [Luke 11:43] Matthew 23:2 : [Ezra 7:6, 10, 25; Neh. 8:4] Matthew 23:2 : [Deut. 17:10, 11; John 9:28, 29] Matthew 23:3 : [ch. 5:20; 15:3-13] Matthew 23:3 : Rom. 2:17-23 Matthew 23:4 : Luke 11:46; [ch. 11:28-30; Acts 15:10] Matthew 23:5 : [See ver. 1 above]; For ver. 1, 2, 5-7, see Mark 12:38, 39; Luke 20:45, 46; [Luke 11:43] Matthew 23:5 : ch. 6:1, 16; [John 5:44] Matthew 23:5 : Ex. 13:9; Deut. 6:8; 11:18 Matthew 23:5 : See ch. 9:20 Matthew 23:6 : Luke 14:7, 8 Matthew 23:6 : Luke 11:43 Matthew 23:7 : [See ver. 6 above]; Luke 11:43 Matthew 23:7 : ch. 11:16; 20:3 Matthew 23:7 : See John 1:38 Matthew 23:8 : James 3:1 Matthew 23:8 : Luke 22:32; John 21:23; See Philem. 16 Matthew 23:9 : [1 Cor. 1:12; 3:4] Matthew 23:9 : ch. 6:9; Mal. 1:6; See ch. 7:11 Matthew 23:10 : See ch. 1:17 Matthew 23:11 : ch. 20:26 Matthew 23:12 : Luke 14:11; 18:14; [ch. 18:4; Prov. 29:23; Ezek. 21:26; James 4:6, 10; 1 Pet. 5:5, 6]

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