Holman Christian Standard Bible

Matthew 23:22-30 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

22. And the one who takes an oath by heaven takes an oath by God’s throne and by Him who sits on it.

23. “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You pay a tenth of mint, dill, and cumin, yet you have neglected the more important matters of the law — justice, mercy, and faith. These things should have been done without neglecting the others.

24. Blind guides! You strain out a gnat, yet gulp down a camel!

25. “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!

26. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup, so the outside of it may also become clean.

27. “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which appear beautiful on the outside, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and every impurity.

28. In the same way, on the outside you seem righteous to people, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

29. “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You build the tombs of the prophets and decorate the monuments of the righteous,

30. and you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we wouldn’t have taken part with them in shedding the prophets’ blood.’