Matthew 23 – read and compare multiple versions of the Bible

World English Bible

Matthew 23 (WEBP)

[1] Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to his disciples,
[2] saying, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat.
[3] All things therefore whatever they tell you to observe, observe and do, but don’t do their works; for they say, and don’t do.
[4] For they bind heavy burdens that are grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not lift a finger to help them.
[5] But they do all their works to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the fringes of their garments,
[6] and love the place of honor at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues,
[7] the salutations in the marketplaces, and to be called ‘Rabbi, Rabbi’ by men.
[8] But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi’, for one is your teacher, the Christ, and all of you are brothers.
[9] Call no man on the earth your father, for one is your Father, he who is in heaven.
[10] Neither be called masters, for one is your master, the Christ.
[11] But he who is greatest among you will be your servant.
[12] Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
[13] “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses, and as a pretense you make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation.
[14] “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you shut up the Kingdom of Heaven against men; for you don’t enter in yourselves, neither do you allow those who are entering in to enter.
[15] Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel around by sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of Gehenna as yourselves.
[16] “Woe to you, you blind guides, who say, ‘Whoever swears by the temple, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple, he is obligated.’
[17] You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that sanctifies the gold?
[18] And, ‘Whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gift that is on it, he is obligated.’
[19] You blind fools! For which is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifies the gift?
[20] He therefore who swears by the altar, swears by it and by everything on it.
[21] He who swears by the temple, swears by it and by him who has been living in it.
[22] He who swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God and by him who sits on it.
[23] “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint, dill, and cumin, and have left undone the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faith. But you ought to have done these, and not to have left the other undone.
[24] You blind guides, who strain out a gnat, and swallow a camel!
[25] “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and unrighteousness.
[26] You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the platter, that its outside may become clean also.
[27] “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitened tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but inwardly are full of dead men’s bones and of all uncleanness.
[28] Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
[29] “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and decorate the tombs of the righteous,
[30] and say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we wouldn’t have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.’
[31] Therefore you testify to yourselves that you are children of those who killed the prophets.
[32] Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers.
[33] You serpents, you offspring of vipers, how will you escape the judgment of Gehenna?
[34] Therefore, behold, I send to you prophets, wise men, and scribes. Some of them you will kill and crucify; and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from city to city,
[35] that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zachariah son of Barachiah, whom you killed between the sanctuary and the altar.
[36] Most certainly I tell you, all these things will come upon this generation.
[37] “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I would have gathered your children together, even as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you would not!
[38] Behold, your house is left to you desolate.
[39] For I tell you, you will not see me from now on, until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ”

Matthew 23:5a phylacteries (tefillin in Hebrew) are small leather pouches that some Jewish men wear on their forehead and arm in prayer. They are used to carry a small scroll with some Scripture in it. See Deuteronomy 6:8.
Matthew 23:5b or, tassels
Matthew 23:7 NU omits the second “Rabbi”.
Matthew 23:14 Some Greek texts reverse the order of verses 13 and 14, and some omit verse 13, numbering verse 14 as 13. NU omits verse 14.
Matthew 23:15 or, Hell
Matthew 23:21 NU reads “lives”
Matthew 23:23 cumin is an aromatic seed from Cuminum cyminum, resembling caraway in flavor and appearance. It is used as a spice.
Matthew 23:25 TR reads “self-indulgence” instead of “unrighteousness”
Matthew 23:33 or, Hell
Matthew 23:39 Psalm 118:26

Scripture quotations are taken from The World English Bible™ of eBible.org, 2020 stable text edition. It is in the public domain.

King James w/Strong’s #s

Matthew 23 (KJVS)

[1] Then spake () Jesus to the multitude , and to his disciples ,
[2] Saying (), The scribes and the Pharisees sit () in Moses ’ seat :
[3] All therefore whatsoever they bid () you observe (), [that] observe () and do (); but do () not ye after their works : for they say (), and do () not .
[4] 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 .
[5] But all their works they do () for to be seen () of men : they make broad () their phylacteries , and enlarge () the borders of their garments ,
[6] And love () the uppermost rooms at feasts , and the chief seats in the synagogues ,
[7] And greetings in the markets , and to be called () of men , Rabbi , Rabbi .
[8] But be not ye called () Rabbi : for one is () your Master , [even] Christ ; and all ye are () brethren .
[9] And call () no [man] your father upon the earth : for one is () your Father , which is in heaven .
[10] Neither be ye called () masters : for one is () your Master , [even] Christ .
[11] But he that is greatest among you shall be () your servant .
[12] And whosoever shall exalt () himself shall be abased (); and he that shall humble () himself shall be exalted ().
[13] 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 ().
[14] Woe unto you , scribes and Pharisees , hypocrites ! for ye devour () widows ’ houses , and for a pretence make long prayer (): therefore ye shall receive () the greater damnation .
[15] 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 .
[16] 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 ()!
[17] [Ye] fools and blind : for whether is () greater , the gold , or the temple that sanctifieth () the gold ?
[18] And , Whosoever shall swear () by the altar , it is () nothing ; but whosoever sweareth () by the gift that is upon it , he is guilty ().
[19] [Ye] fools and blind : for whether [is] greater , the gift , or the altar that sanctifieth () the gift ?
[20] Whoso therefore shall swear () by the altar , sweareth () by it , and by all things thereon .
[21] And whoso shall swear () by the temple , sweareth () by it , and by him that dwelleth () therein .
[22] And he that shall swear () by heaven , sweareth () by the throne of God , and by him that sitteth () thereon .
[23] 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 ().
[24] [Ye] blind guides , which strain at () a gnat , and swallow () a camel .
[25] 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 .
[26] [Thou] blind Pharisee , cleanse () first that [which is] within the cup and platter , that the outside of them may be () clean also .
[27] 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 .
[28] Even so ye also outwardly appear () righteous unto men , but within ye are () full of hypocrisy and iniquity .
[29] Woe unto you , scribes and Pharisees , hypocrites ! because ye build () the tombs of the prophets , and garnish () the sepulchres of the righteous ,
[30] 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 .
[31] Wherefore ye be witnesses () unto yourselves , that ye are () the children of them which killed () the prophets .
[32] Fill ye up () then the measure of your fathers .
[33] [Ye] serpents , [ye] generation of vipers , how can ye () escape the damnation of hell ?
[34] 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 :
[35] 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 .
[36] Verily I say () unto you , All these things shall come () upon this generation .
[37] O Jerusalem , Jerusalem , [thou] that killest () the prophets , and stonest () them which are sent () unto thee , how often would I () have gathered thy children together (), even as a hen gathereth () her chickens under [her] wings , and ye would () not !
[38] Behold (), your house is left () unto you desolate .
[39] For I say () unto you , Ye shall not see () me henceforth , till ye shall say (), Blessed () [is] he that cometh () in the name of the Lord .

Young’s Literal Translation

Matthew 23 (YLT)

[1] Then Jesus spake to the multitudes, and to his disciples,
[2] saying, ‘On the seat of Moses sat down the scribes and the Pharisees;
[3] all, then, as much as they may say to you to observe, observe and do, but according to their works do not, for they say, and do not;
[4] for they bind together burdens heavy and grievous to be borne, and lay upon the shoulders of men, but with their finger they will not move them.
[5] ‘And all their works they do to be seen by men, and they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the fringes of their garments,
[6] they love also the chief couches in the supper, and the chief seats in the synagogues,
[7] and the salutations in the market-places, and to be called by men, Rabbi, Rabbi.
[8] ‘And ye-ye may not be called Rabbi, for one is your director-the Christ, and all ye are brethren;
[9] and ye may not call any your father on the earth, for one is your Father, who is in the heavens,
[10] nor may ye be called directors, for one is your director-the Christ.
[11] And the greater of you shall be your ministrant,
[12] and whoever shall exalt himself shall be humbled, and whoever shall humble himself shall be exalted.
[13] ‘Woe to you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye shut up the reign of the heavens before men, for ye do not go in, nor those going in do ye suffer to enter.
[14] ‘Woe to you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye eat up the houses of the widows, and for a pretence make long prayers, because of this ye shall receive more abundant judgment.
[15] ‘Woe to you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye go round the sea and the dry land to make one proselyte, and whenever it may happen-ye make him a son of gehenna twofold more than yourselves.
[16] ‘Woe to you, blind guides, who are saying, Whoever may swear by the sanctuary, it is nothing, but whoever may swear by the gold of the sanctuary-is debtor!
[17] Fools and blind! for which is greater, the gold, or the sanctuary that is sanctifying the gold?
[18] ‘And, whoever may swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever may swear by the gift that is upon it-is debtor!
[19] Fools and blind! for which is greater, the gift, or the altar that is sanctifying the gift?
[20] ‘He therefore who did swear by the altar, doth swear by it, and by all things on it;
[21] and he who did swear by the sanctuary, doth swear by it, and by Him who is dwelling in it;
[22] and he who did swear by the heaven, doth swear by the throne of God, and by Him who is sitting upon it.
[23] ‘Woe to you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye give tithe of the mint, and the dill, and the cumin, and did neglect the weightier things of the Law-the judgment, and the kindness, and the faith; these it behoved you to do, and those not to neglect.
[24] ‘Blind guides! who are straining out the gnat, and the camel are swallowing.
[25] ‘Woe to you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye make clean the outside of the cup and the plate, and within they are full of rapine and incontinence.
[26] ‘Blind Pharisee! cleanse first the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside of them also may become clean.
[27] ‘Woe to you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye are like to whitewashed sepulchres, which outwardly indeed do appear beautiful, and within are full of bones of dead men, and of all uncleanness;
[28] so also ye outwardly indeed do appear to men righteous, and within ye are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
[29] ‘Woe to you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the sepulchres of the prophets, and adorn the tombs of the righteous,
[30] 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.
[31] So that ye testify to yourselves, that ye are sons of them who did murder the prophets;
[32] and ye-ye fill up the measure of your fathers.
[33] ‘Serpents! brood of vipers! how may ye escape from the judgment of the gehenna?
[34] ‘Because of this, lo, I send to you prophets, and wise men, and scribes, and of them ye will kill and crucify, and of them ye will scourge in your synagogues, and will pursue from city to city;
[35] that on you may come all the righteous blood being poured out on the earth from the blood of Abel the righteous, unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the sanctuary and the altar:
[36] verily I say to you, all these things shall come upon this generation.
[37] ‘Jerusalem, Jerusalem, that art killing the prophets, and stoning those sent unto thee, how often did I will to gather thy children together, as a hen doth gather her own chickens under the wings, and ye did not will.
[38] Lo, left desolate to you is your house;
[39] for I say to you, ye may not see me henceforth, till ye may say, Blessed is he who is coming in the name of the Lord.’