1 Then|strong="G2532" Jesus|strong="G2424" spoke|strong="G2980" to|strong="G2532" the|strong="G3588" people|strong="G3793" and|strong="G2532" to|strong="G2532" his|strong="G0846" followers. He|strong="G2532" said|strong="G2980",
2 “The|strong="G3588" teachers of|strong="G1909" the|strong="G3588" law and|strong="G2532" the|strong="G3588" Pharisees|strong="G5330" have|strong="G2532" the|strong="G3588" authority to|strong="G3004" tell|strong="G3004" you|strong="G3004" what|strong="G3588" the|strong="G3588" Law of|strong="G1909" Moses|strong="G3475" says|strong="G3004".
3 So|strong="G3767" you|strong="G5210" should|strong="G2532" obey|strong="G5083" them|strong="G0846". Do|strong="G4160" everything|strong="G3956" they|strong="G0846" tell|strong="G3004" you|strong="G5210" to|strong="G3004" do|strong="G4160". But|strong="G1161" their|strong="G0846" lives are|strong="G3956" not|strong="G3756" good examples for|strong="G1063" you|strong="G5210" to|strong="G3004" follow. They|strong="G0846" tell|strong="G3004" you|strong="G5210" to|strong="G3004" do|strong="G4160" things|strong="G3956", but|strong="G1161" they|strong="G0846" don’t|strong="G3756" do|strong="G4160" those|strong="G3588" things|strong="G3956" themselves|strong="G0846".
4 They|strong="G0846" make|strong="G3756" strict rules that|strong="G0846" are|strong="G3588" hard for|strong="G1909" people|strong="G0444" to|strong="G2309" obey. They|strong="G0846" try to|strong="G2309" force others|strong="G0444" to|strong="G2309" obey all|strong="G3588" their|strong="G0846" rules. But|strong="G1161" they|strong="G0846" themselves|strong="G0846" will|strong="G0444" not|strong="G3756" try to|strong="G2309" follow any|strong="G1909" of|strong="G1909" those|strong="G3588" rules.
5 “The|strong="G3956" only|strong="G2532" reason|strong="G0846" they|strong="G0846" do|strong="G4160" what|strong="G3588" they|strong="G0846" do|strong="G4160" is|strong="G0444" for|strong="G1063" other|strong="G1161" people|strong="G0444" to|strong="G4314" see|strong="G2300" them|strong="G0846". They|strong="G0846" make|strong="G4160" the|strong="G3956" little Scripture boxes they|strong="G0846" wear bigger and|strong="G2532" bigger. And|strong="G2532" they|strong="G0846" make|strong="G4160" the|strong="G3956" tassels|strong="G2899" on|strong="G1161" their|strong="G0846" prayer clothes long|strong="G3170" enough for|strong="G1063" people|strong="G0444" to|strong="G4314" notice them|strong="G0846".
6 These|strong="G3588" men love|strong="G5368" to|strong="G2532" have|strong="G2532" the|strong="G3588" places|strong="G4411" of|strong="G1722" honor|strong="G4411" at|strong="G1722" banquets|strong="G1173" and|strong="G2532" the|strong="G3588" most important seats|strong="G4410" in|strong="G1722" the|strong="G3588" synagogues|strong="G4864".
7 They|strong="G2532" love for|strong="G1722" people|strong="G0444" to|strong="G2532" show respect to|strong="G2532" them|strong="G1722" in|strong="G1722" the|strong="G3588" marketplaces and|strong="G2532" to|strong="G2532" call|strong="G2564" them|strong="G1722" ‘Teacher.’
8 “But|strong="G1161" you|strong="G5210" must|strong="G1510" not|strong="G3361" be|strong="G1510" called|strong="G2564" ‘Teacher|strong="G1320".’ You|strong="G5210" are|strong="G1510" all|strong="G3956" equal as|strong="G1161" brothers|strong="G0080" and|strong="G1161" sisters. You|strong="G5210" have|strong="G1510" only one|strong="G1520" Teacher|strong="G1320".
9 And|strong="G2532" don’t|strong="G3361" call|strong="G2564" anyone on|strong="G1909" earth|strong="G1093" ‘Father|strong="G3962".’ You|strong="G5210" have|strong="G1510" one|strong="G1520" Father|strong="G3962". He|strong="G2532" is|strong="G1510" in|strong="G1909" heaven|strong="G3770".
10 And|strong="G1520" you|strong="G5210" should not|strong="G1510" be|strong="G1510" called|strong="G2564" ‘Master.’ You|strong="G5210" have|strong="G1510" only one|strong="G1520" Master, the|strong="G3588" Messiah|strong="G5547".
11 Whoever|strong="G3588" serves you|strong="G5210" like a|strong="G1510" servant|strong="G1249" is|strong="G1510" the|strong="G3588" greatest|strong="G3173" among you|strong="G5210".
12 People who|strong="G3748" think they|strong="G2532" are|strong="G2532" better than|strong="G2532" others will|strong="G3748" be|strong="G2532" made|strong="G5312" humble|strong="G5013". But|strong="G1161" people who|strong="G3748" humble|strong="G5013" themselves|strong="G1438" will|strong="G3748" be|strong="G2532" made|strong="G5312" great|strong="G5312".
13 “It|strong="G1161" will|strong="G0444" be|strong="G2532" bad for|strong="G1063" you|strong="G5210" teachers of|strong="G0932" the|strong="G3588" law and|strong="G2532" you|strong="G5210" Pharisees|strong="G5330"! You|strong="G5210" are|strong="G3588" hypocrites|strong="G5273"! You|strong="G5210" close|strong="G2808" the|strong="G3588" way for|strong="G1063" people|strong="G0444" to|strong="G2532" enter|strong="G1525" God’s kingdom|strong="G0932". You|strong="G5210" yourselves|strong="G4771" don’t|strong="G3756" enter|strong="G1525", and|strong="G2532" you|strong="G5210" stop those|strong="G3588" who|strong="G3588" are|strong="G3588" trying to|strong="G2532" enter|strong="G1525".
15 “It|strong="G0846" will|strong="G3748" be|strong="G1096" bad for|strong="G3754" you|strong="G5210" teachers of|strong="G5207" the|strong="G3588" law and|strong="G2532" you|strong="G5210" Pharisees|strong="G5330"! You|strong="G5210" are|strong="G3588" hypocrites|strong="G5273". You|strong="G5210" travel|strong="G4013" across the|strong="G3588" seas and|strong="G2532" across different countries to|strong="G2532" find one|strong="G1520" person|strong="G5207" who|strong="G3588" will|strong="G3748" follow your|strong="G4160" ways. When|strong="G3752" you|strong="G5210" find that|strong="G3754" person|strong="G5207", you|strong="G5210" make|strong="G4160" him|strong="G0846" worse than|strong="G2532" you|strong="G5210" are|strong="G3588". And|strong="G2532" you|strong="G5210" are|strong="G3588" so|strong="G2532" bad that|strong="G3754" you|strong="G5210" belong in|strong="G2532" hell|strong="G1067"!
16 “It|strong="G1161" will|strong="G1510" be|strong="G1510" bad for|strong="G1722" you|strong="G5210" teachers of|strong="G1722" the|strong="G3588" law and|strong="G1161" you|strong="G5210" Pharisees! You|strong="G5210" guide|strong="G3595" the|strong="G3588" people|strong="G1510", but|strong="G1161" you|strong="G5210" are|strong="G1510" blind|strong="G5185". You|strong="G5210" say|strong="G3004", ‘If|strong="G0302" anyone|strong="G3762" uses the|strong="G3588" name of|strong="G1722" the|strong="G3588" Temple|strong="G3485" to|strong="G3004" make|strong="G3660" a|strong="G1510" promise, that|strong="G3739" means|strong="G1510" nothing|strong="G3762". But|strong="G1161" anyone|strong="G3762" who|strong="G3739" uses the|strong="G3588" gold|strong="G5557" that|strong="G3739" is|strong="G1510" in|strong="G1722" the|strong="G3588" Temple|strong="G3485" to|strong="G3004" make|strong="G3660" a|strong="G1510" promise must|strong="G1510" keep that|strong="G3739" promise.’
17 You|strong="G1510" are|strong="G1510" blind|strong="G5185" fools|strong="G3474"! Can’t you|strong="G1510" see that|strong="G1510" the|strong="G3588" Temple|strong="G3485" is|strong="G1510" greater|strong="G3173" than|strong="G2228" the|strong="G3588" gold|strong="G5557" on|strong="G2228" it|strong="G1510"? It’s the|strong="G3588" Temple|strong="G3485" that|strong="G1510" makes the|strong="G3588" gold|strong="G5557" holy|strong="G0037"!
18 “And|strong="G2532" you|strong="G3739" say, ‘If|strong="G0302" anyone|strong="G3762" uses the|strong="G3588" altar|strong="G2379" to|strong="G2532" make|strong="G3660" a|strong="G1510" promise, that|strong="G3739" means|strong="G1510" nothing|strong="G3762". But|strong="G1161" anyone|strong="G3762" who|strong="G3739" uses the|strong="G3588" gift|strong="G1435" on|strong="G1722" the|strong="G3588" altar|strong="G2379" to|strong="G2532" make|strong="G3660" a|strong="G1510" promise must|strong="G1510" keep that|strong="G3739" promise.’
19 You|strong="G5101" are|strong="G3588" blind|strong="G5185"! Can’t you|strong="G5101" see that|strong="G1435" the|strong="G3588" altar|strong="G2379" is|strong="G5101" greater|strong="G3173" than|strong="G2228" any gift|strong="G1435" on|strong="G2228" it? It’s the|strong="G3588" altar|strong="G2379" that|strong="G1435" makes the|strong="G3588" gift|strong="G1435" holy|strong="G0037"!
20 Whoever|strong="G3588" uses the|strong="G3956" altar|strong="G2379" to|strong="G2532" make|strong="G3660" a|strong="G2532" promise is|strong="G3588" really using the|strong="G3956" altar|strong="G2379" and|strong="G2532" everything|strong="G3956" on|strong="G1722" the|strong="G3956" altar|strong="G2379".
21 And|strong="G2532" anyone|strong="G0846" who|strong="G3588" uses the|strong="G3588" Temple|strong="G3485" to|strong="G2532" make|strong="G3660" a|strong="G2532" promise is|strong="G3588" really using the|strong="G3588" Temple|strong="G3485" and|strong="G2532" God|strong="G0846", who|strong="G3588" lives|strong="G2730" in|strong="G1722" it|strong="G0846".
22 Whoever|strong="G3588" uses heaven|strong="G3772" to|strong="G2532" make|strong="G3660" a|strong="G2532" promise is|strong="G2316" using God’s|strong="G2316" throne|strong="G2362" and|strong="G2532" the|strong="G3588" one|strong="G3588" who|strong="G3588" is|strong="G2316" seated|strong="G2521" on|strong="G1722" it|strong="G0846".
23 “It|strong="G4160" will|strong="G3778" be|strong="G1163" bad for|strong="G3754" you|strong="G5210" teachers of|strong="G3551" the|strong="G3588" law|strong="G3551" and|strong="G2532" you|strong="G5210" Pharisees|strong="G5330"! You|strong="G5210" are|strong="G3778" hypocrites|strong="G5273"! You|strong="G5210" give|strong="G4160" God|strong="G4160" a|strong="G4160" tenth of|strong="G3551" the|strong="G3588" food you|strong="G5210" get, even|strong="G2532" your|strong="G0863" mint|strong="G2238", dill|strong="G0432", and|strong="G2532" cumin. But|strong="G2532" you|strong="G5210" don’t|strong="G3361" obey|strong="G4160" the|strong="G3588" really important teachings of|strong="G3551" the|strong="G3588" law|strong="G3551"—being|strong="G4771" fair, showing mercy|strong="G1656", and|strong="G2532" being|strong="G4771" faithful. These|strong="G3778" are|strong="G3778" the|strong="G3588" things|strong="G3778" you|strong="G5210" should|strong="G1163" do|strong="G4160". And|strong="G2532" you|strong="G5210" should|strong="G1163" also|strong="G2532" continue|strong="G2532" to|strong="G2532" do|strong="G4160" those|strong="G3588" other things|strong="G3778".
24 You|strong="G5185" guide|strong="G3595" the|strong="G3588" people|strong="G3588", but|strong="G1161" you|strong="G5185" are|strong="G3588" blind|strong="G5185"! Think about|strong="G3588" a|strong="G1161" man|strong="G5185" picking a|strong="G1161" little fly out of|strong="G3588" his|strong="G1161" drink and|strong="G1161" then|strong="G1161" swallowing a|strong="G1161" camel|strong="G2574"! You|strong="G5185" are|strong="G3588" like that|strong="G1161".
25 “It|strong="G1161" will|strong="G3748" be|strong="G2532" bad for|strong="G3754" you|strong="G5210" teachers of|strong="G1537" the|strong="G3588" law and|strong="G2532" you|strong="G5210" Pharisees|strong="G5330"! You|strong="G5210" are|strong="G3588" hypocrites|strong="G5273"! You|strong="G5210" wash clean|strong="G2511" the|strong="G3588" outside|strong="G1855" of|strong="G1537" your|strong="G2532" cups|strong="G4221" and|strong="G2532" dishes. But|strong="G1161" inside|strong="G2081" they|strong="G2532" are|strong="G3588" full|strong="G1073" of|strong="G1537" what|strong="G3588" you|strong="G5210" got by|strong="G1537" cheating others|strong="G3588" and|strong="G2532" pleasing yourselves|strong="G4771".
26 Pharisees|strong="G5330", you|strong="G2532" are|strong="G3588" blind|strong="G5185"! First|strong="G4413" make|strong="G2511" the|strong="G3588" inside|strong="G1787" of|strong="G3588" the|strong="G3588" cup|strong="G4221" clean|strong="G2513" and|strong="G2532" good. Then|strong="G2532" the|strong="G3588" outside|strong="G1622" of|strong="G3588" the|strong="G3588" cup|strong="G4221" will|strong="G2532" also|strong="G2532" be|strong="G1096" clean|strong="G2513".
27 “It|strong="G1161" will|strong="G3956" be|strong="G2532" bad for|strong="G3754" you|strong="G5210" teachers of|strong="G3956" the|strong="G3956" law and|strong="G2532" you|strong="G5210" Pharisees|strong="G5330"! You|strong="G5210" are|strong="G3956" hypocrites|strong="G5273"! You|strong="G5210" are|strong="G3956" like|strong="G3945" tombs|strong="G5028" that|strong="G3754" are|strong="G3956" painted white. Outside|strong="G1855" they|strong="G2532" look|strong="G5316" fine, but|strong="G1161" inside|strong="G2081" they|strong="G2532" are|strong="G3956" full|strong="G1073" of|strong="G3956" dead|strong="G3498" people’s bones|strong="G3747" and|strong="G2532" all|strong="G3956" kinds|strong="G3956" of|strong="G3956" filth.
28 It|strong="G1161" is|strong="G1510" the|strong="G3588" same|strong="G3779" with|strong="G2532" you|strong="G5210". People|strong="G0444" look|strong="G5316" at|strong="G1161" you|strong="G5210" and|strong="G2532" think you|strong="G5210" are|strong="G1510" godly. But|strong="G1161" on|strong="G1161" the|strong="G3588" inside|strong="G2081" you|strong="G5210" are|strong="G1510" full|strong="G3324" of|strong="G0444" hypocrisy|strong="G5272" and|strong="G2532" evil.
29 “It|strong="G2532" will|strong="G3748" be|strong="G2532" bad for|strong="G3754" you|strong="G5210" teachers of|strong="G3588" the|strong="G3588" law and|strong="G2532" you|strong="G5210" Pharisees|strong="G5330"! You|strong="G5210" are|strong="G3588" hypocrites|strong="G5273"! You|strong="G5210" build|strong="G3618" tombs|strong="G3419" for|strong="G3754" the|strong="G3588" prophets|strong="G4396". And|strong="G2532" you|strong="G5210" show honor to|strong="G2532" the|strong="G3588" graves|strong="G3419" of|strong="G3588" the|strong="G3588" godly people|strong="G3588" who|strong="G3588" were|strong="G5330" killed.
30 And|strong="G2532" you|strong="G1487" say|strong="G3004", ‘If|strong="G1487" we|strong="G2249" had|strong="G1510" lived|strong="G1510" during|strong="G1722" the|strong="G3588" time|strong="G2250" of|strong="G2250" our|strong="G2532" ancestors|strong="G3962", we|strong="G2249" would|strong="G0302" not|strong="G3756" have|strong="G1510" helped them|strong="G0846" kill these|strong="G3588" prophets|strong="G4396".’
31 So|strong="G5620" you|strong="G3754" give proof that|strong="G3754" you|strong="G3754" are|strong="G1510" descendants|strong="G5207" of|strong="G5207" those|strong="G3588" who|strong="G3588" killed the|strong="G3588" prophets|strong="G4396".
32 And|strong="G2532" you|strong="G5210" will|strong="G2532" finish the|strong="G3588" sin that your|strong="G2532" ancestors|strong="G3962" started!
33 “You|strong="G4459" are|strong="G3588" snakes|strong="G3789"! You|strong="G4459" are|strong="G3588" from|strong="G0575" a family of|strong="G0575" poisonous snakes|strong="G3789"! You|strong="G4459" will|strong="G4459" not escape|strong="G5343" God. You|strong="G4459" will|strong="G4459" all|strong="G3588" be judged guilty and|strong="G2920" go to|strong="G4459" hell|strong="G1067"!
34 So|strong="G2532" I|strong="G1473" tell you|strong="G5210" this|strong="G3778": I|strong="G1473" send|strong="G0649" to|strong="G1519" you|strong="G5210" prophets|strong="G4396" and|strong="G2532" teachers who|strong="G3588" are|strong="G3778" wise|strong="G4680" and|strong="G2532" know the|strong="G3588" Scriptures. You|strong="G5210" will|strong="G3778" kill|strong="G0615" some|strong="G1537" of|strong="G1537" them|strong="G0846". You|strong="G5210" will|strong="G3778" hang some|strong="G1537" of|strong="G1537" them|strong="G0846" on|strong="G1722" crosses. You|strong="G5210" will|strong="G3778" beat some|strong="G1537" of|strong="G1537" them|strong="G0846" in|strong="G1722" your|strong="G3708" synagogues|strong="G4864". You|strong="G5210" will|strong="G3778" chase|strong="G1377" them|strong="G0846" from|strong="G0575" town|strong="G4172" to|strong="G1519" town|strong="G4172".
35 “So|strong="G2532" you|strong="G5210" will|strong="G3739" be|strong="G2532" guilty for|strong="G1909" the|strong="G3956" death|strong="G0129" of|strong="G5207" all|strong="G3956" the|strong="G3956" good people|strong="G3956" who|strong="G3739" have|strong="G2532" been|strong="G2532" killed on|strong="G1909" earth|strong="G1093". You|strong="G5210" will|strong="G3739" be|strong="G2532" guilty for|strong="G1909" the|strong="G3956" killing of|strong="G5207" that|strong="G3739" godly man|strong="G1342" Abel|strong="G0006". And|strong="G2532" you|strong="G5210" will|strong="G3739" be|strong="G2532" guilty for|strong="G1909" the|strong="G3956" killing of|strong="G5207" Zechariah|strong="G2197" son|strong="G5207" of|strong="G5207" Berachiah. He|strong="G2532" was|strong="G3739" killed between|strong="G3342" the|strong="G3956" Temple|strong="G3485" and|strong="G2532" the|strong="G3956" altar|strong="G2379". You|strong="G5210" will|strong="G3739" be|strong="G2532" guilty for|strong="G1909" the|strong="G3956" killing of|strong="G5207" all|strong="G3956" the|strong="G3956" good people|strong="G3956" who|strong="G3739" lived between|strong="G3342" the|strong="G3956" time|strong="G1909" of|strong="G5207" Abel|strong="G0006" and|strong="G2532" the|strong="G3956" time|strong="G1909" of|strong="G5207" Zechariah|strong="G2197".
36 Believe me|strong="G3004" when|strong="G3004" I|strong="G0281" say|strong="G3004" that|strong="G3004" all|strong="G3956" these|strong="G3778" things|strong="G3778" will|strong="G3778" happen to|strong="G3004" you|strong="G5210" people|strong="G3956" who|strong="G3588" are|strong="G3956" living now.
37 “O Jerusalem|strong="G2419", Jerusalem|strong="G2419"! You|strong="G4771" kill|strong="G0615" the|strong="G3588" prophets|strong="G4396". You|strong="G4771" stone|strong="G3036" to|strong="G4314" death|strong="G0615" those|strong="G3588" that|strong="G3739" God|strong="G0846" has|strong="G3739" sent|strong="G0649" to|strong="G4314" you|strong="G4771". Many, many times I|strong="G3739" wanted|strong="G2309" to|strong="G4314" help your|strong="G2532" people|strong="G0846". I|strong="G3739" wanted|strong="G2309" to|strong="G4314" gather|strong="G1996" them|strong="G0846" together|strong="G1996" as|strong="G1438" a|strong="G3739" hen|strong="G3733" gathers|strong="G1996" her|strong="G0846" chicks|strong="G3556" under|strong="G5259" her|strong="G0846" wings|strong="G4420". But|strong="G2532" you|strong="G4771" did|strong="G0649" not|strong="G3756" let me|strong="G0649".
38 Now|strong="G2400" your|strong="G0863" house|strong="G3624" will|strong="G0863" be left|strong="G0863" completely empty.
39 I|strong="G1473" tell|strong="G3004" you|strong="G5210", you|strong="G5210" will|strong="G2962" not|strong="G3756" see|strong="G3708" me|strong="G3004" again|strong="G2193" until|strong="G2193" that|strong="G3004" time|strong="G0737" when|strong="G1722" you|strong="G5210" will|strong="G2962" say|strong="G3004", ‘Welcome! God|strong="G3004" bless|strong="G2127" the|strong="G3588" one|strong="G3588" who|strong="G3588" comes|strong="G2064" in|strong="G1722" the|strong="G3588" name|strong="G3686" of|strong="G0575" the|strong="G3588" Lord|strong="G2962".’”