23
1 *†Then Yeshua [Salvation] spoke to the multitudes and to his disciples, 2 saying, “The Torah-Teachers and the Pharisees [Separated] sat on Moses [Drawn out]’ 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 all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad, enlarge the tzitziyot ·tassles· of their garments, 6 and phileo ·affectionately love, have high regard for· the place of honor at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, 7 the salutations in the marketplaces, and to be called ‘Rabbi ·Teacher·' by men. 8 But don’t you be called ‘Rabbi ·Teacher·,’ for one is your Rabbi ·Teacher·, the Messiah [Anointed one], and all of you are brothers. 9 Call no man on the earth 'Avikah ·your Father·, for one is 'Avikah ·your Father·, he who is in heaven. 10 Neither be called masters, for one is your master, the Messiah [Anointed one]. 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, Torah-Teachers and Pharisees [Separated], 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, Torah-Teachers and Pharisees [Separated], hypocrites! Because you shut up the Kingdom of Heaven (God) against men; for you don’t enter in yourselves, neither do you allow those who are entering in to enter. 15 Woe to you, Torah-Teachers and Pharisees [Separated], hypocrites! For you travel around by sea and land to make one convert; and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much of a son of Gehenna (Place of fiery torment for the dead) 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 ‘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 was 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, Torah-Teachers and Pharisees [Separated], hypocrites! For you tithe mint, dill, and cumin, and have left undone the weightier matters of the Torah ·Teaching·: justice, eleos ·merciful compassion in action·, and faithfulness. These are the things you should have attended to, without neglecting the others! 24 You blind guides, who strain out a gnat, and swallow a camel!
25 “Woe to you, Torah-Teachers and Pharisees [Separated], 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 [Separated], first clean the inside of the cup and of the platter, that its outside may become clean also.
27 “Woe to you, Torah-Teachers and Pharisees [Separated], 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 upright to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and illegally ·to be without Torah ·Teaching· (ignorant or intentional violation of law)·.
29 “Woe to you, Torah-Teachers and Pharisees [Separated], hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets, and decorate the tombs of the upright, 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 (Place of fiery torment for the dead)? 34 *Therefore behold, I send to you prophets, wise men, and Torah-Teachers. 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 upright blood shed on the earth, from the blood of upright Abel [Vanity, Mourning] † to the blood of Zachariah son of Barachiah, ‡ § whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar. 36 Most certainly I tell you, all these things will come upon this generation.
37 *“Jerusalem [City of peace], Jerusalem [City of peace], 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 MarYah [Master Yahweh]!’ ” *
* 23:1 (1-5) MP: At the time of Messiah’s coming, Israel will have unfit leaders. (Zech 11:4-6) † 23:1 (1-5) MP: The unbelief of Israel’s leaders will force the Messiah to reject them. (Zech 11:8a) ‡ 23:13 . MP: At the time of Messiah’s coming, Israel will have unfit leaders. (Zech 11:4-6) § 23:31 (31-39) MPr: The expression, “Spirit of God,” (Gen 1:2) is explained as “the Spirit of the King Messiah” (Is 11:2). In the phrase “moving on the face of the deep,” the deep waters represent repentance (Lam 2:19). (Mishnah 2, Mishnah 8, and Midrash Leviticus 14). (Gen 1:2 with Is 11:2, Lam 2:19) * 23:34 (34-39) MP: The Messiah’s rejection will cause God to remove His protection of Israel. (Zech 13:7d) † 23:35 . Quoted from Gen 4:9-11 ‡ 23:35 . Quoted from 2 Chr 24:20-22 § 23:35 By referencing Genesis to 2 Chronicles, He calls to witness the entire recorded history of righteous people murdered from “A to Z”. (Chronicles is the last book of the Hebrew Bible) * 23:37 . MP: Messiah will pray for his enemies. (Ps 109:4) † 23:38 (38-39) MP: National Israel will be without the Temple sacrifice, without Levites ministering, and without foreign deities for a period of time. At the end of this age, Israel will repent, return, and seek Yahweh and King Messiah descendant of David. (Hos 3:4-5) ‡ 23:38 . Quoted from Ps 69:25; Jer 12:7, 22:5 § 23:39 . MPr: The Rabbis teach if Israel kept just one Sabbath according to the commandment, the Messiah would immediately come (Ex 19:25 in Jerusalem Targum 64). (Ex 19:25) * 23:39 . Quoted from Ps 118:26