Woes to Pharisees and Experts in the Law

(Matthew 23:1–36)

37 As [Jesus] was speaking, a Pharisee invited Him to dine with him; [so] He went in [and] reclined at the table. 38 But the Pharisee was surprised to see that [Jesus] did not first wash before the meal.

39 Then the Lord said “Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. 40 [You] fools! [Did] not the [One who] made the outside make the inside as well? 41 But give [as] alms the things that are within [you], and behold, everything will be clean for you.

42 Woe to you Pharisees! For you pay tithes of mint, rue, and every herb, but you disregard justice and the love of God. You should have practiced [the latter] without neglecting [the former].

43 Woe to you Pharisees! For you love the chief seats in the synagogues and the greetings in the marketplaces. 44 Woe to you! For you are like unmarked graves, [which] men walk over without [even] noticing.”

45 One of the experts in the law told Him, “Teacher, when You say these things, You insult us as well.”

46 “Woe to you as well, experts in the law!” He replied. “For you weigh men down [with] heavy burdens but you yourselves will not lift a finger {to lighten} [their] load.

47 Woe to you! For you build tombs for the prophets, but [it was] your fathers [who] killed them. 48 So you are witnesses consenting to the deeds of your fathers: They killed [the prophets], and you build [their tombs]. 49 Because of this the wisdom of God said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles; [some] of them they will kill and [others] they will persecute.’

50 As a result, this generation will be charged with the blood of all the prophets that has been shed since [the] foundation of [the] world, 51 from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the sanctuary.[fn] Yes, I tell you, [ all of ] it will be charged to this generation.

52 Woe to you experts in the law! For you have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering.”

53 As [Jesus] went on from there, the scribes and Pharisees began to oppose [Him] bitterly and to ply Him with questions about many things, 54 waiting to catch Him in something He might say