New Century Version

Matthew 23:20-25 New Century Version (NCV)

20. The person who swears by the altar is really using the altar and also everything on the altar.

21. And the person who swears by the Temple is really using the Temple and also everything in the Temple.

22. The person who swears by heaven is also using God’s throne and the One who sits on that throne.

23. “How terrible for you, teachers of the law and Pharisees! You are hypocrites! You give to God one-tenth of everything you earn—even your mint, dill, and cumin. But you don’t obey the really important teachings of the law—justice, mercy, and being loyal. These are the things you should do, as well as those other things.

24. You guide the people, but you are blind! You are like a person who picks a fly out of a drink and then swallows a camel!

25. “How terrible for you, teachers of the law and Pharisees! You are hypocrites! You wash the outside of your cups and dishes, but inside they are full of things you got by cheating others and by pleasing only yourselves.