Matthew 23

Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples,

Jesus then passionately addressed the crowd and his disciples, saying,

Saying The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat:

The scholars and religious leaders hold the authority of Moses.

All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.

Listen and follow the guidance given to you, but don't mimic their actions. They preach but don't practice.

For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.

They place unbearable burdens on others, yet refuse to lift a finger to help.

But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,

They do everything for show, to impress others. They flaunt their faith and dress extravagantly.

And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues,

Cherish the honored places at celebrations, and the prominent seats in places of worship.

And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.

Feeling joy in public recognition, relishing the title 'Teacher' bestowed by others.

But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.

Don't let others call you Rabbi, for you have only one true Guide, Christ himself. Remember, we are all equal, all brothers and sisters.

And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.

Don't call anyone on earth your father, because you have one Father, your Heavenly Father.

Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.

Don't let anyone label you as a master, for you have only one true Guide, Christ himself.

But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.

The one who is most powerful among you should humbly serve others.

And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

Anyone who puffs themselves up will be brought low; but those who lower themselves will rise high.

But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.

Woe to you, scholars and religious leaders, such pretenders! You block the path to heaven's kingdom. You won't enter, and you won't let others in either.

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.

Shame on you, religious leaders and scholars, for your hypocrisy! You exploit the vulnerable, swallowing up widows' homes, and hide behind lengthy prayers. Because of this, you will receive a far greater condemnation.

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.

Shame on you, religious scholars and Pharisees, for your hypocrisy! You travel far and wide to convert one person, only to make them twice as fit for hell as you are yourselves.

Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor!

Shame on you, misguided leaders, who claim that swearing by the temple means nothing, yet swearing by its gold binds one to keep the oath!

Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold?

You're missing the point, blinded by ignorance. What's more important, the gold itself, or the sacred place that gives the gold its value?

And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty.

You also say, 'If you make a promise on the altar, it means nothing. But if you make a promise based on the gift on the altar, you're bound by it.'

Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift?

You're missing the point, blinded by ignorance. What's more important - the gift itself, or the sacred altar that gives the gift its significance?

Whoso therefore shall swear by the altar, sweareth by it, and by all things thereon.

Whoever takes an oath by the altar, pledges not just to the altar, but to everything it represents.

And whoso shall swear by the temple, sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth therein.

Whoever makes a promise in the name of the temple, is not just promising on its behalf, but also on behalf of the divine presence living within it.

And he that shall swear by heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth thereon.

When you make a promise under heaven, you're pledging on God's throne and the One who sits on it.

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

Shame on you, scholars and religious leaders, for being so fake! You're so focused on giving a small part of your spices as a religious duty, but you've completely missed the more important aspects of your faith like fairness, compassion, and trust in God. You should be doing these things without neglecting your other responsibilities.

Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.

You misguided leaders, fussing over minor issues while ignoring major ones.

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.

Shame on you, scholars and religious leaders, for being hypocrites! You focus on appearing pure and righteous, but inside, you're filled with greed and self-indulgence.

Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.

You misguided soul, first purify your inner self, then only can your outer self truly shine.

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.

Shame on you, scribes and Pharisees, pretenders! You're like polished tombs, stunning on the outside, but inside, you're filled with death and filth.

Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

Though you may seem virtuous to others, inside you're filled with deceit and wrongdoing.

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous,

Shame on you, scholars and religious leaders, for your hypocrisy! You honor the tombs of prophets and adorn the graves of the righteous, yet you don't live by their teachings.

And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.

If we had lived in our ancestors' time, we wouldn't have joined them in harming the prophets.

Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets.

You testify against yourselves, acknowledging that you are descendants of those who murdered the prophets.

Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers.

Go ahead, then, and finish the sin your ancestors started.

Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?

You snakes, you brood of vipers, how will you avoid the terrifying punishment of hell?

Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city:

So, I'm sending you messengers, wise people, and scholars. Some of them you'll kill and crucify; others you'll flog in your places of worship and chase from town to town.

That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.

May you bear the weight of all innocent lives lost, from Abel's first unjust death to Zacharias, whom you killed between the sacred temple and altar.

Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation.

I assure you, this generation will indeed experience all these events.

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!

Oh Jerusalem, my beloved city, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you. How I longed to gather your children together, like a mother hen shelters her chicks under her wings. But you refused my love and care!

Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.

Look, your home is now empty and abandoned.

For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.

I tell you this, you won't see me again until you declare, "Welcome is the one who arrives in the Lord's name."