Matthew 23

Read on churchofjesuschrist.org (with footnotes)

1Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples,

2Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat:

JSTJoseph Smith Translation of v. 2

Then spake Jesus to the multitude and to his disciples, saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat.
IV v. 1 (Inspired Version, 1867)

3All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.

JSTJoseph Smith Translation of v. 3

All, therefore, whatsoever they bid you observe, they will make you observe and do; for they are ministers of the law, and they make themselves your judges. But do not ye after their works; for they say, and do not.
IV v. 2 (Inspired Version, 1867)

4For 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.

JSTJoseph Smith Translation of v. 4

For they bind heavy burdens and lay on men's shoulders, and they are grievous to be borne; but they will not move them with one of their fingers.
IV v. 3 (Inspired Version, 1867)

5But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,

JSTJoseph Smith Translation of v. 5

And all their works they do to be seen of men. They make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, and love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, and greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi (which is master).
IV v. 4 (Inspired Version, 1867)

6And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues,

7And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.

8But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.

JSTJoseph Smith Translation of v. 8

But be not ye called Rabbi; for one is your master, which is Christ; and all ye are brethren.
IV v. 5 (Inspired Version, 1867)

9And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.

JSTJoseph Smith Translation of v. 9

And call no one your creator upon the earth, or your heavenly Father; for one is your creator and heavenly Father, even he who is in heaven.
IV v. 6 (Inspired Version, 1867)

10Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.

JSTJoseph Smith Translation of v. 10

Neither be ye called Master; for one is your master, even he whom your heavenly Father sent, which is Christ; for he hath sent him among you that ye might have life.
IV v. 7 (Inspired Version, 1867)

11But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.

12And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

JSTJoseph Smith Translation of v. 12

And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased of him; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted of him.
IV v. 9 (Inspired Version, 1867)

13But 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.

14Woe 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.

JSTJoseph Smith Translation of v. 14

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees! For ye are hypocrites! Ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayers; therefore, ye shall receive the greater punishment.
IV v. 11 (Inspired Version, 1867)

15Woe 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.

JSTJoseph Smith Translation of v. 15

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he is made, you make him twofold more the child of hell than he was before, like unto yourselves.
IV v. 12 (Inspired Version, 1867)

16Woe 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!

JSTJoseph Smith Translation of v. 16

Woe unto you, blind guides, who say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he committeth sin and is a debtor.
IV v. 13 (Inspired Version, 1867)

17Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold?

JSTJoseph Smith Translation of v. 17

You are fools and blind; for which is the greater, the gold or the temple that sanctifieth the gold?
IV v. 14 (Inspired Version, 1867)

18And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty.

JSTJoseph Smith Translation of v. 18

And ye say, Whosoever sweareth by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty.
IV v. 15 (Inspired Version, 1867)

19Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift?

JSTJoseph Smith Translation of v. 19

O fools and blind! For which is the greater, the gift or the altar that sanctifieth the gift?
IV v. 16 (Inspired Version, 1867)

20Whoso therefore shall swear by the altar, sweareth by it, and by all things thereon.

JSTJoseph Smith Translation of v. 20

Verily, I say unto you, Whoso, therefore, sweareth by it, sweareth by the altar and by all things thereon.
IV v. 17 (Inspired Version, 1867)

21And whoso shall swear by the temple, sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth therein.

JSTJoseph Smith Translation of v. 21

And whoso shall swear by the temple, sweareth by it and by him who dwelleth therein.
IV v. 18 (Inspired Version, 1867)

22And he that shall swear by heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth thereon.

JSTJoseph Smith Translation of v. 22

And he that shall swear by heaven, sweareth by the throne of God and by him who sitteth thereon.
IV v. 19 (Inspired Version, 1867)

23Woe 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.

JSTJoseph Smith Translation of v. 23

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint, and anise, and cummin, and have omitted the weightier things of the law: judgment, mercy, and faith; these ought ye to have done and not to leave the other undone.
IV v. 20 (Inspired Version, 1867)

24Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.

JSTJoseph Smith Translation of v. 24

You blind guides, who strain at a gnat and swallow a camel, who make yourselves appear unto men that ye would not commit the least sin; and yet you, yourselves, transgress the whole law.
IV v. 21 (Inspired Version, 1867)

25Woe 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.

JSTJoseph Smith Translation of v. 25

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter; but within they are full of extortion and excess.
IV v. 22 (Inspired Version, 1867)

26Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.

JSTJoseph Smith Translation of v. 26

You blind Pharisees! Cleanse first the cup and platter within, that the outside of them may be clean also.
IV v. 23 (Inspired Version, 1867)

27Woe 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.

JSTJoseph Smith Translation of v. 27

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye are like unto whited sepulchers, which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but are within full of the bones of the dead and of all uncleanness.
IV v. 24 (Inspired Version, 1867)

28Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

JSTJoseph Smith Translation of v. 28

Even so, you also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within you are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
IV v. 25 (Inspired Version, 1867)

29Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous,

JSTJoseph Smith Translation of v. 29

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchers of the righteous,
IV v. 26 (Inspired Version, 1867)

30And 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.

31Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets.

JSTJoseph Smith Translation of v. 31

Wherefore, you are witnesses unto yourselves of your own wickedness; and you are the children of them who killed the prophets,
IV v. 28 (Inspired Version, 1867)

32Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers.

JSTJoseph Smith Translation of v. 32

And will fill up the measure then of your fathers; for you, yourselves, kill the prophets like unto your fathers.
IV v. 29 (Inspired Version, 1867)

33Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?

JSTJoseph Smith Translation of v. 33

You serpents and generation of vipers! How can you escape the damnation of hell?
IV v. 30 (Inspired Version, 1867)

34Wherefore, 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:

JSTJoseph Smith Translation of v. 34

Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes; and of them you shall kill and crucify; and of them you shall scourge in your synagogues and persecute from city to city;
IV v. 31 (Inspired Version, 1867)

35That 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.

36Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation.

37O 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!

JSTJoseph Smith Translation of v. 37

O Jerusalem! Jerusalem! You who will kill the prophets and will stone them who are sent unto you, how often would I have gathered your children together, even as a hen gathers her chickens under her wings; and ye would not.
IV v. 37 (Inspired Version, 1867)

38Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.

39For 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.

JSTJoseph Smith Translation of v. 39

For I say unto you that you shall not see me henceforth and know that I am he of whom it is written by the prophets, until ye shall say,
IV v. 39 (Inspired Version, 1867)

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Alma 21 — Aaron in the City of Jerusalem — The Amalekites and Amulonites, the Synagogue Disputation, and the Prison of Middoni
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Cross-references are extracted from the project’s chapter essays — every link below points back into the original prose.

Public-domain text. The modern LDS edition with footnotes and chapter summaries is available on churchofjesuschrist.org ↗.

Study

Joseph Smith Translation

v. 2
Then spake Jesus to the multitude and to his disciples, saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat.
v. 3
All, therefore, whatsoever they bid you observe, they will make you observe and do; for they are ministers of the law, and they make themselves your judges. But do not ye after their works; for they say, and do not.
v. 4
For they bind heavy burdens and lay on men's shoulders, and they are grievous to be borne; but they will not move them with one of their fingers.
v. 5
And all their works they do to be seen of men. They make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, and love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, and greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi (which is master).
v. 8
But be not ye called Rabbi; for one is your master, which is Christ; and all ye are brethren.
v. 9
And call no one your creator upon the earth, or your heavenly Father; for one is your creator and heavenly Father, even he who is in heaven.
v. 10
Neither be ye called Master; for one is your master, even he whom your heavenly Father sent, which is Christ; for he hath sent him among you that ye might have life.
v. 12
And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased of him; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted of him.
v. 14
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees! For ye are hypocrites! Ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayers; therefore, ye shall receive the greater punishment.
v. 15
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he is made, you make him twofold more the child of hell than he was before, like unto yourselves.
v. 16
Woe unto you, blind guides, who say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he committeth sin and is a debtor.
v. 17
You are fools and blind; for which is the greater, the gold or the temple that sanctifieth the gold?
v. 18
And ye say, Whosoever sweareth by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty.
v. 19
O fools and blind! For which is the greater, the gift or the altar that sanctifieth the gift?
v. 20
Verily, I say unto you, Whoso, therefore, sweareth by it, sweareth by the altar and by all things thereon.
v. 21
And whoso shall swear by the temple, sweareth by it and by him who dwelleth therein.
v. 22
And he that shall swear by heaven, sweareth by the throne of God and by him who sitteth thereon.
v. 23
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint, and anise, and cummin, and have omitted the weightier things of the law: judgment, mercy, and faith; these ought ye to have done and not to leave the other undone.
v. 24
You blind guides, who strain at a gnat and swallow a camel, who make yourselves appear unto men that ye would not commit the least sin; and yet you, yourselves, transgress the whole law.
v. 25
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter; but within they are full of extortion and excess.
v. 26
You blind Pharisees! Cleanse first the cup and platter within, that the outside of them may be clean also.
v. 27
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye are like unto whited sepulchers, which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but are within full of the bones of the dead and of all uncleanness.
v. 28
Even so, you also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within you are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
v. 29
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchers of the righteous,
v. 31
Wherefore, you are witnesses unto yourselves of your own wickedness; and you are the children of them who killed the prophets,
v. 32
And will fill up the measure then of your fathers; for you, yourselves, kill the prophets like unto your fathers.
v. 33
You serpents and generation of vipers! How can you escape the damnation of hell?
v. 34
Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes; and of them you shall kill and crucify; and of them you shall scourge in your synagogues and persecute from city to city;
v. 37
O Jerusalem! Jerusalem! You who will kill the prophets and will stone them who are sent unto you, how often would I have gathered your children together, even as a hen gathers her chickens under her wings; and ye would not.
v. 39
For I say unto you that you shall not see me henceforth and know that I am he of whom it is written by the prophets, until ye shall say,
insertion after v. 36
You bear testimony against your fathers when you, yourselves, are partakers of the same wickedness. Behold your fathers did it through ignorance, but you do not; wherefore, their sins shall be upon your heads. Then Jesus began to weep over Jerusalem, saying,
insertion after v. 39
Blessed is he who cometh in the name of the Lord, in the clouds of heaven, and all the holy angels with him. Then understood his disciples that he should come again on the earth after that he was glorified and crowned on the right hand of God.