Read the Modern Pastor’s Version

Jesus spoke to the crowds and his disciples, saying, "The scribes and Pharisees sit on Moses' seat. All that they teach you, observe and do; but don't follow their example, for they say one thing but do another.

They burden people with heavy loads, but refuse to lift a finger to help them. But all their actions are done to impress others, widening their phylacteries and lengthening the fringes of their garments. They love to occupy the most prominent seats at banquets and the chief positions in the synagogues.

When greeting one another in public places, don't insist on being called "Rabbi." But do not let anyone call you "Rabbi," for you have one Master, even Christ, and all of you are brothers. And call no one your father on earth, for you have one Father who is in heaven.

Neither be you called masters, for one is your Master, even Christ. But he who is greatest among you will be your servant. <span class="jesus-words">Whoever exalts themselves will be humbled, and whoever humbles themselves will be exalted.</span>

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men, neither entering yourselves nor allowing those who are entering to go in. You devour widows' houses and make long prayers as a pretense, so you will receive greater condemnation.

You go to great lengths to recruit converts, but when they join your ranks, you make them twice as much children of hell as yourselves. You blind guides, saying that swearing by the temple is nothing, but whoever swears by its gold is in debt! You are blind fools: for which is greater, the gold or the temple that sanctifies it?

Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty. You fools and blind guides: for which is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifies the gift? Whoever swears by the altar, swears by it and by all that is on it.

And whoever swears by the temple, swears by it and by him who dwells within. He who swears by heaven, swears by God's throne and by him who sits on it. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You pay tithe on mint and anise and cummin, but have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faithfulness.

You blind guides, who strain at gnats but swallow camels. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of cups and platters, but inside they are full of extortion and excess. You blind Pharisee, first purify what is inside your cup and platter.

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You appear outwardly beautiful, but are inwardly full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness. Even so, you outwardly appear righteous to people, but within you are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you build tombs for the prophets and adorn the graves of the righteous. If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have participated with them in shedding the blood of God's prophets. You are witnesses to yourselves that you are children of those who murdered the prophets.

Fill up then the measure of your fathers. You are a brood of vipers, how can you escape the judgment that is coming? I send you prophets, wise men, and scribes; some of them you will kill and crucify, while others you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from city to city.

That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from Abel to Zacharias son of Barachias, whom you killed between the temple and the altar. All these things shall come upon this generation. O Jerusalem, you who have murdered the prophets and stoned those sent to you, how often I longed to gather your children under my wings like a hen gathers her chickens, but you refused.

Your house is left desolate, and I will send prophets, wise men, and scribes to you. You will not see me again until you say, "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord."