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Pharisaism Exposed

aThen Jesus spoke to the crowds and to His disciples, saying: aThe scribes and Pharisees have seated themselves in Moses’ chair of authority as teachers of the Law; so practice and observe everything they tell you, but do not do as they do; for they preach things, but do not practice them. aThe scribes and Pharisees tie up 1heavy loads that are hard to bear and place them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves will not lift a finger to make them lighter. They do all their deeds ato be seen by men; for they make their 1phylacteries (tefillin) bwide to make them more conspicuous and make their 2ctassels long. Ex 13:9; Num 15:38; Deut 6:8 They alove the place of distinction and honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues those on the platform near the scrolls of the Law, facing the congregation, and to be greeted with respect in the market places and public forums, and to have people call them aRabbi. But ado not be called bRabbi (Teacher) ; for One is your Teacher, and you are all equally brothers. Do not call anyone on earth who guides you spiritually your father; for aOne is your Father, He who is in heaven. 10 Do not let yourselves be called leaders or teachers; for One is your Leader (Teacher) , the Christ. 11 aBut the greatest among you will be your servant. 12 aWhoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be raised to honor.

Eight Woes

13 aBut woe (judgment is coming) to you, self-righteous scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, bbecause you shut off the kingdom of heaven in front of people; for you do not enter yourselves, nor do you allow those who are in the process of entering to do so. Luke 11:52 14 [1Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because ayou swallow up widows’ houses, and to cover it up you make long prayers; therefore you will receive the greater condemnation.]

15 Woe to you, self-righteous scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you travel over sea and land to make a single aproselyte (convert to Judaism) , and when he becomes a convert, you make him twice as much a son of bhell as you are.

16 Woe to you, ablind guides, who say, bWhoever swears an oath by the sanctuary of the temple, that is nothing (non-binding) ; but whoever swears an oath by the gold of the temple is obligated as a debtor to fulfill his vow and keep his promise.’ 17 You fools and blind men! aWhich is more important, the gold or the sanctuary of the temple that sanctified the gold? Ex 30:29 18 And you scribes and Pharisees say, Whoever swears an oath by the altar, that is nothing (non-binding) , but whoever swears an oath by the offering on it, he is obligated as a debtor to fulfill his vow and keep his promise.’ 19 You spiritually blind men, awhich is more important, the offering, or the altar that sanctifies the offering? 20 Therefore, whoever swears an oath by the altar, swears both by it and by everything offered on it. 21 And whoever swears an oath by the sanctuary of the temple, swears by it and by Him who adwells within it. 1+@Kin 8:13; Ps 26:8 22 And whoever swears an oath by heaven, aswears both by the throne of God and by Him who sits upon it.

23 aWoe to you, self-righteous scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you give a tenth (tithe) of your mint and dill and cumin focusing on minor matters, and have neglected the weightier more important moral and spiritual provisions of the Law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the primary things you ought to have done without neglecting the others. 24 You spiritually ablind guides, who strain out a gnat consuming yourselves with miniscule matters and swallow a camel ignoring and violating God’s precepts! Lev 11:24; 27:30; Mic 6:8

25 Woe to you, self-righteous scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ayou clean the outside of the cup and of the plate, but inside they are full of extortion and robbery and self-indulgence (unrestrained greed) . 26 You spiritually blind Pharisee, first aclean the inside of the cup and of the plate examine and change your inner self to conform to God’s precepts, so that the outside your public life and deeds may be clean also.

27 aWoe to you, self-righteous scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which look beautiful on the outside, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and everything unclean. 28 So you, also, outwardly seem to be just and upright to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. Ps 5:9

29 aWoe to you, self-righteous scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build tombs for the prophets and decorate and adorn the monuments of the righteous, 30 and you say, If we had been living in the days of our fathers, we would not have joined them in shedding the blood of the prophets. 31 So you testify against yourselves that you aare the descendants of those who murdered the prophets. 32 Fill up, then, the allotted measure of the guilt of your fathers’ sins. 33 You 1serpents, ayou spawn of vipers, how can you escape the bpenalty of hell?

34 aTherefore, take notice, bI am sending you prophets and wise men interpreters, teachers and scribes men educated in the Mosaic Law and the writings of the prophets; some of them you will kill and even crucify, and some you will cflog in your synagogues, and pursue and dpersecute from city to city, 35 so that on you will come the guilt of all the blood of the righteous shed on earth, from the blood of righteous 1aAbel to the blood of Zechariah the priest, the bson of Berechiah, whom cyou murdered between the temple and the altar. Gen 4:8; 2+@Chr 24:21; Luke 11:51 36 I assure you and most solemnly say to you, the judgment for all these things these vile and murderous deeds will come on athis generation. 2+@Chr 36:15, 16

Lament over Jerusalem

37 1aO Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who bmurders the prophets and stones to death those messengers who are sent to her by God! How often I wanted to gather your children together around Me, cas a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling. Luke 13:34, 35 38 Listen carefully: ayour house is being left to you desolate completely abandoned by God and destitute of His protection! 1+@Kin 9:6, 7; Jer 22:5 39 For I say to you, you will not see Me again ministering to you publicly until you say, aBLESSED to be celebrated with praise IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD! Ps 118:26

The Scribes and Pharisees Denounced

aThen Jesus spoke to the crowds and to His disciples, saying: aThe scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses; therefore all that they tell you, do and keep, but do not do according to their deeds; for they say things and do not do them. aAnd they tie up heavy burdens and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as a finger. But they do all their deeds ato be noticed by men; for they bbroaden their 1phylacteries and lengthen cthe tassels of their garments. And they alove the place of honor at banquets and the best seats in the synagogues, and respectful greetings in the marketplaces, and being called aRabbi by men. But ado not be called bRabbi; for One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone on earth your father; for aOne is your Father, He who is in heaven. 10 Do not be called instructors; for One is your Instructor, that is, Christ. 11 aBut the greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 aAnd whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.

Woes to the Scribes and Pharisees

13 aBut woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, bbecause you shut off the kingdom of heaven 1from 2people; for you do not enter in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in. 14 1[Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because ayou devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense you make long prayers; therefore you will receive greater condemnation.]

15 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you travel around on sea and land to make one 1aproselyte; and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of 2bhell as yourselves.

16 Woe to you, ablind guides, who say, bWhoever swears by the 1sanctuary, that is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the 2sanctuary is obligated. 17 You fools and blind men! For awhich is 1more important, the gold or the sanctuary that sanctified the gold? 18 And, Whoever swears by the altar, that is nothing, but whoever swears by the 1offering on it, he is obligated. 19 You blind men, awhich is 1more important, the 2offering, or the altar that sanctifies the 3offering? 20 Therefore, 1whoever swears by the altar, swears both by 2the altar and by everything on it. 21 And 1whoever swears by the sanctuary, swears both by the 2sanctuary and by Him who adwells within it. 22 And 1whoever swears by heaven, aswears both by the throne of God and by Him who sits upon it.

23 aWoe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and 1cumin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the Law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others. 24 You ablind guides, who strain out a gnat but swallow a camel!

25 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ayou clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full 1of robbery and self-indulgence. 26 You blind Pharisee, first aclean the inside of the cup and of the dish, so that the outside of it may become clean also.

27 aWoe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. 28 In this way, you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

29 aWoe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the monuments of the righteous, 30 and say, If we had been living in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partners with them in shedding the blood of the prophets. 31 So you bear witness against yourselves, that you aare 1sons of those who murdered the prophets. 32 Fill up, then, the measure of the guilt of your fathers. 33 You serpents, ayou brood of vipers, how 1will you escape the 2sentence of 3bhell?

34 aOn account of this, behold, bI am sending you prophets and wise men and scribes; some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will cflog in your synagogues, and dpersecute from city to city, 35 so that upon you may fall the guilt of all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous aAbel to the blood of Zechariah, the bson of Berechiah, whom cyou murdered between the sanctuary and the altar. 36 Truly I say to you, all these things will come upon athis generation.

Lament over Jerusalem

37 aJerusalem, Jerusalem, who bkills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, cthe way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you did not want it. 38 Behold, ayour house is being left to you desolate! 39 For I say to you, from now on you will not see Me until you say, aBLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE 1LORD!

Hypocrisy Exposed

aThen Jesus spoke to the crowds and to His disciples, saying: aThe scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses. Therefore, whatever they tell you, do and 1comply with it all, but do not do 2as they do; for they say things and do not do them. And athey tie up heavy burdens and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as their finger. And they do all their deeds ato be noticed by other people; for they bbroaden their 1phylacteries and lengthen cthe tassels of their garments. And they alove the place of honor at banquets, and the seats of honor in the synagogues, and personal greetings in the marketplaces, and being called 1aRabbi by the people. But as for you, ado not be called 1bRabbi; for only One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers and sisters. And do not call anyone on earth your father; for only aOne is your Father, He who is in heaven. 10 And do not be called 1leaders; for only One is your Leader, that is, Christ. 11 aBut the greatest of you shall be your servant. 12 aWhoever exalts himself shall be humbled, and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.

Seven Woes

13 aBut woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, bbecause you shut the kingdom of heaven in front of people; for you do not enter it yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in.1

15 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you travel around on sea and land to make one 1aproselyte; and when he becomes one, you 2make him twice as much a son of 3bhell as yourselves.

16 Woe to you, ablind guides, who say, bWhoever swears by the 1temple, that is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the 2temple is obligated. 17 You fools and blind men! aWhich is 1more important, the gold or the 2temple that sanctified the gold? 18 And you say, Whoever swears by the altar, that is nothing; but whoever swears by the 1offering that is on it is obligated. 19 You blind men, awhich is 1more important, the 2offering or the altar that sanctifies the 3offering? 20 Therefore, the one who swears by the altar, swears both by 1the altar and by everything on it. 21 And the one who swears by the 1temple, swears both by 2the temple and by Him who adwells in it. 22 And the one who swears by 1heaven, aswears both by the throne of God and by Him who sits upon it.

23 aWoe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and 1cumin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the Law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others. 24 You ablind guides, who 1strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!

25 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ayou clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full 1of robbery and self-indulgence. 26 You blind Pharisee, first aclean the inside of the cup and of the dish, so that the 1outside of it may also become clean.

27 aWoe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. 28 So you too, outwardly appear righteous to people, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

29 aWoe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs for the prophets and decorate the monuments of the righteous, 30 and you say, If we had been living in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partners with them in shedding the blood of the prophets. 31 So you testify against yourselves, that you aare 1sons of those who murdered the prophets. 32 1Fill up, then, the measure of the guilt of your fathers. 33 You snakes, ayou 1offspring of vipers, how 2will you escape the 3sentence of 4bhell?

34 aTherefore, behold, bI am sending you prophets and wise men and scribes; some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will cflog in your synagogues, and dpersecute from city to city, 35 so that upon you will fall the guilt of all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous aAbel to the blood of Zechariah, the bson of Berechiah, whom cyou murdered between the 1temple and the altar. 36 Truly I say to you, all these things will come upon athis generation.

Grieving over Jerusalem

37 aJerusalem, Jerusalem, who bkills the prophets and stones those who have been sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, cthe way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling. 38 Behold, ayour house is being left to you desolate! 39 For I say to you, from now on you will not see Me until you say, aBLESSED IS THE ONE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD!

Pharisaism Exposed

aThen Jesus spoke to the crowds and to His disciples, saying: aThe scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses; therefore all that they tell you, do and observe, but do not do according to their deeds; for they say things and do not do them. aThey tie up heavy burdens and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as a finger. But they do all their deeds ato be noticed by men; for they bbroaden their 1phylacteries and lengthen cthe tassels of their garments. They alove the place of honor at banquets and the chief seats in the synagogues, and respectful greetings in the market places, and being called aRabbi by men. But ado not be called bRabbi; for One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers. Do not call anyone on earth your father; for aOne is your Father, He who is in heaven. 10 Do not be called 1leaders; for One is your Leader, that is, Christ. 11 aBut the greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 aWhoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.

Eight Woes

13 aBut woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, bbecause you shut off the kingdom of heaven 1from 2people; for you do not enter in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in. 14 [1Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because ayou devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense you make long prayers; therefore you will receive greater condemnation.]

15 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you travel around on sea and land to make one 1aproselyte; and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of 2bhell as yourselves.

16 Woe to you, ablind guides, who say, bWhoever swears by the 1temple, that is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the 2temple is obligated. 17 You fools and blind men! aWhich is 1more important, the gold or the 2temple that sanctified the gold? 18 And, Whoever swears by the altar, that is nothing, but whoever swears by the 1offering on it, he is obligated. 19 You blind men, awhich is 1more important, the 2offering, or the altar that sanctifies the 3offering? 20 Therefore, 1whoever swears by the altar, swears both by 2the altar and by everything on it. 21 And 1whoever swears by the 2temple, swears both by 3the temple and by Him who adwells within it. 22 And 1whoever swears by heaven, aswears both by the throne of God and by Him who sits upon it.

23 aWoe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and 1cummin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others. 24 You ablind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!

25 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ayou clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full 1of robbery and self-indulgence. 26 You blind Pharisee, first aclean the inside of the cup and of the dish, so that the outside of it may become clean also.

27 aWoe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. 28 So you, too, outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

29 aWoe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the monuments of the righteous, 30 and say, If we had been living in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partners with them in shedding the blood of the prophets. 31 So you testify against yourselves, that you aare 1sons of those who murdered the prophets. 32 Fill up, then, the measure of the guilt of your fathers. 33 You serpents, ayou brood of vipers, how 1will you escape the 2sentence of 3bhell?

34 aTherefore, behold, bI am sending you prophets and wise men and scribes; some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will cscourge in your synagogues, and dpersecute from city to city, 35 so that upon you may fall the guilt of all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous aAbel to the blood of Zechariah, the bson of Berechiah, whom cyou murdered between the 1temple and the altar. 36 Truly I say to you, all these things will come upon athis generation.

Lament over Jerusalem

37 aJerusalem, Jerusalem, who bkills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, cthe way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling. 38 Behold, ayour house is being left to you desolate! 39 For I say to you, from now on you will not see Me until you say, aBLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD!