MAT 23:1-36

Woes to Scribes and Pharisees

1Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples, [23:2] saying: "The law-experts and the Pharisees sit on the seat of Moses. [23:3] So do and observe whatever they tell you, but do not do as they do — for they speak and do not act. [23:4] They bind up heavy, crushing loads and lay them on people's shoulders, but they themselves are unwilling to move them with their finger. [23:5] All their works they do to be seen by people — they broaden their phylacteries and lengthen their fringes, [23:6] and they love the place of honor at banquets and the chief seats in the synagogues [23:7] and greetings in the marketplaces and being called 'Rabbi' by people. [23:8] But you are not to be called 'Rabbi,' for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers. [23:9] And call no one your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. [23:10] Nor be called teachers, for you have one teacher, the Messiah. [23:11] The greatest among you will be your servant. [23:12] Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. [23:13] But woe to you, actors! — you law-experts and Pharisees — because you shut the kingdom of heaven in people's faces. For you yourselves do not enter, nor do you allow those entering to go in. [23:15] Woe to you, actors! — you law-experts and Pharisees — because you travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes one, you make him twice the son of Gehenna that you are. [23:16] Woe to you, blind guides, who say, 'Whoever swears by the sanctuary, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the sanctuary, he is bound.' [23:17] Fools and blind! Which is greater — the gold, or the sanctuary that makes the gold holy? [23:18] And, 'Whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gift that is on it, he is bound.' [23:19] Blind! Which is greater — the gift, or the altar that makes the gift holy? [23:20] So whoever swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. [23:21] And whoever swears by the sanctuary swears by it and by the One who dwells in it. [23:22] And whoever swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by the One who sits on it. [23:23] Woe to you, actors! — you law-experts and Pharisees — because you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and you have left aside the weightier matters of the Law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. [23:24] Blind guides, who strain out a gnat but swallow a camel! [23:25] Woe to you, actors! — you law-experts and Pharisees — because you clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. [23:26] Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup, so that the outside also may become clean. [23:27] Woe to you, actors! — you law-experts and Pharisees — because you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful but inside are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness. [23:28] So you also outwardly appear righteous to people, but inside you are full of pretense and lawlessness. [23:29] Woe to you, actors! — you law-experts and Pharisees — because you build the tombs of the prophets and decorate the monuments of the righteous, [23:30] and you say, 'If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.' [23:31] Thus you testify against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. [23:32] Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers. [23:33] Serpents, brood of vipers! How are you to escape the judgment of Gehenna? [23:34] Therefore I am sending you prophets and wise men and law-experts; some of them you will kill and crucify, and some you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town, [23:35] so that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar. [23:36] Truly I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation."

In the world it was spoken into

In 1st-century Judea, scribes and Pharisees held significant religious authority, often serving as interpreters and enforcers of the Torah. The 'seat of Moses' was a symbolic position of teaching authority within synagogues, where these leaders expounded on the Law. Their role was to guide the community in observing Torah, but Jesus critiques their hypocrisy: they impose heavy burdens on others—strict legal interpretations and purity codes—while avoiding the weightier matters of justice, mercy, and faithfulness . Their public displays, such as broadening phylacteries and enlarging fringes, were performative acts aimed at garnering honor in the honor-shame culture of the time. Jesus’ use of (hypocrite) evokes the image of actors wearing masks, emphasizing their insincerity. This critique would resonate with Galilean peasants and urban Jews alike, who often struggled under the weight of these demands while observing the leaders’ failure to embody the Torah’s ethical core.

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How other translations render this

MAT 23:1

KJV: Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples,
BSB: Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to His disciples:
Koinōnos: Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples,

MAT 23:2

KJV: Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat:
BSB: “The scribes and Pharisees sit in Mosesʼ seat.
Koinōnos: saying: "The law-experts and the Pharisees sit on the seat of Moses.

MAT 23:3

KJV: All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.
BSB: So practice and observe everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.
Koinōnos: So do and observe whatever they tell you, but do not do as they do — for they speak and do not act.

MAT 23:4

KJV: 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.
BSB: They tie up heavy, burdensome loads and lay them on menʼs shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.
Koinōnos: They bind up heavy, crushing loads and lay them on people's shoulders, but they themselves are unwilling to move them with their finger.

MAT 23:5

KJV: But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,
BSB: All their deeds are done for men to see. They broaden their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels.
Koinōnos: All their works they do to be seen by people — they broaden their phylacteries and lengthen their fringes,

MAT 23:6

KJV: And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues,
BSB: They love the places of honor at banquets, the chief seats in the synagogues,
Koinōnos: and they love the place of honor at banquets and the chief seats in the synagogues

MAT 23:7

KJV: And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.
BSB: the greetings in the marketplaces, and the title of ‘Rabbi’ by which they are addressed.
Koinōnos: and greetings in the marketplaces and being called 'Rabbi' by people.

MAT 23:8

KJV: But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.
BSB: But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers.
Koinōnos: But you are not to be called 'Rabbi,' for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers.

MAT 23:9

KJV: And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.
BSB: And do not call anyone on earth your father, for you have one Father, who is in heaven.
Koinōnos: And call no one your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven.

MAT 23:10

KJV: Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.
BSB: Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Christ.
Koinōnos: Nor be called teachers, for you have one teacher, the Messiah.

MAT 23:11

KJV: But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.
BSB: The greatest among you shall be your servant.
Koinōnos: The greatest among you will be your servant.

MAT 23:12

KJV: And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.
BSB: For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
Koinōnos: Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

MAT 23:13

KJV: 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.
BSB: Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in menʼs faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let in those who wish to enter.
Koinōnos: But woe to you, actors! — you law-experts and Pharisees — because you shut the kingdom of heaven in people's faces. For you yourselves do not enter, nor do you allow those entering to go in.

MAT 23:15

KJV: 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.
BSB: Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You traverse land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are.
Koinōnos: Woe to you, actors! — you law-experts and Pharisees — because you travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes one, you make him twice the son of Gehenna that you are.

MAT 23:16

KJV: 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!
BSB: Woe to you, blind guides! You say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.’
Koinōnos: Woe to you, blind guides, who say, 'Whoever swears by the sanctuary, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the sanctuary, he is bound.

MAT 23:17

KJV: Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold?
BSB: You blind fools! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes it sacred?
Koinōnos: Fools and blind! Which is greater — the gold, or the sanctuary that makes the gold holy?

MAT 23:18

KJV: And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty.
BSB: And you say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gift on it, he is bound by his oath.’
Koinōnos: And, 'Whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gift that is on it, he is bound.

MAT 23:19

KJV: Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift?
BSB: You blind men! Which is greater: the gift, or the altar that makes it sacred?
Koinōnos: Blind! Which is greater — the gift, or the altar that makes the gift holy?

MAT 23:20

KJV: Whoso therefore shall swear by the altar, sweareth by it, and by all things thereon.
BSB: So then, he who swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it.
Koinōnos: So whoever swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it.

MAT 23:21

KJV: And whoso shall swear by the temple, sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth therein.
BSB: And he who swears by the temple swears by it and by the One who dwells in it.
Koinōnos: And whoever swears by the sanctuary swears by it and by the One who dwells in it.

MAT 23:22

KJV: And he that shall swear by heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth thereon.
BSB: And he who swears by heaven swears by Godʼs throne and by the One who sits on it.
Koinōnos: And whoever swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by the One who sits on it.

MAT 23:23

KJV: 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.
BSB: Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You pay tithes of mint, dill, and cumin. But you have disregarded the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.
Koinōnos: Woe to you, actors! — you law-experts and Pharisees — because you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and you have left aside the weightier matters of the Law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.

MAT 23:24

KJV: Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.
BSB: You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.
Koinōnos: Blind guides, who strain out a gnat but swallow a camel!

MAT 23:25

KJV: 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.
BSB: Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.
Koinōnos: Woe to you, actors! — you law-experts and Pharisees — because you clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.

MAT 23:26

KJV: Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.
BSB: Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, so that the outside may become clean as well.
Koinōnos: Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup, so that the outside also may become clean.

MAT 23:27

KJV: 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.
BSB: Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside, but on the inside are full of dead menʼs bones and every kind of impurity.
Koinōnos: Woe to you, actors! — you law-experts and Pharisees — because you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful but inside are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness.

MAT 23:28

KJV: Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
BSB: In the same way, on the outside you appear to be righteous, but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.
Koinōnos: So you also outwardly appear righteous to people, but inside you are full of pretense and lawlessness.

MAT 23:29

KJV: Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous,
BSB: Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the monuments of the righteous.
Koinōnos: Woe to you, actors! — you law-experts and Pharisees — because you build the tombs of the prophets and decorate the monuments of the righteous,

MAT 23:30

KJV: 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.
BSB: And you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partners with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’
Koinōnos: and you say, 'If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.

MAT 23:31

KJV: Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets.
BSB: So you testify against yourselves that you are the sons of those who murdered the prophets.
Koinōnos: Thus you testify against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets.

MAT 23:32

KJV: Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers.
BSB: Fill up, then, the measure of the sin of your fathers.
Koinōnos: Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers.

MAT 23:33

KJV: Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?
BSB: You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape the sentence of hell?
Koinōnos: Serpents, brood of vipers! How are you to escape the judgment of Gehenna?

MAT 23:34

KJV: 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:
BSB: Because of this, I am sending you prophets and wise men and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify, and others you will flog in your synagogues and persecute from town to town.
Koinōnos: Therefore I am sending you prophets and wise men and law-experts; some of them you will kill and crucify, and some you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town,

MAT 23:35

KJV: 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.
BSB: And so upon you will come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.
Koinōnos: so that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar.

MAT 23:36

KJV: Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation.
BSB: Truly I tell you, all these things will come upon this generation.
Koinōnos: Truly I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation.

Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.

Translator's notes

MAT 23:2

scribes:The word translated 'scribes' referred to a professional class of educated men who were experts in the Law, serving as interpreters and teachers, often holding significant social and religious authority.

MAT 23:13

hypocrites!:The term 'hypocrites' originally referred to an actor or stage player, someone who wore a mask and played a part, suggesting a pretense or a performance rather than genuine character.

MAT 23:15

convert,:The word translated 'convert' specifically denotes someone who has come over to Judaism, a 'proselyte,' indicating a change in religious affiliation and practice.

MAT 23:23

weightier [matters]:The word translated 'weightier' literally means heavy, implying something of significant importance, gravity, or burden, not just a comparative degree of importance.