Matthew 23:17-39
Blind fools! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that sanctified the gold?Also,‘ Whoever takes an oath by the altar, it means nothing; but whoever takes an oath by the gift that is on it is bound by his oath.’Blind people! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that sanctifies the gift?Therefore, the one who takes an oath by the altar takes an oath by it and by everything on it.The one who takes an oath by the temple takes an oath by it and by him who dwells in it.And the one who takes an oath by heaven takes an oath by God’s throne and by him who sits on it.“ Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You pay a tenth of mint, dill, and cumin, and yet you have neglected the more important matters of the law— justice, mercy, and faithfulness. These things should have been done without neglecting the others.Blind guides! You strain out a gnat, but gulp down a camel!“ Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup, so that the outside of it may also become clean.“ Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which appear beautiful on the outside, but inside are full of the bones of the dead and every kind of impurity.In the same way, on the outside you seem righteous to people, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.“ Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You build the tombs of the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous,and you say,‘ If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we wouldn’t have taken part with them in shedding the prophets’ blood.’So you testify against yourselves that you are descendants of those who murdered the prophets.Fill up, then, the measure of your ancestors’ sins!“ Snakes! Brood of vipers! How can you escape being condemned to hell?This is why I am sending you prophets, sages, and scribes. Some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town.So all the righteous blood shed on the earth will be charged to you, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar.Truly I tell you, all these things will come on this generation.“ Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her. How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!See, your house is left to you desolate.For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say,‘ Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord’!”
