Gospel Parallels: Woe To the Scribes and Pharisees
Mark 12.37–40 || Matt 23.1–36 || Luke 20.45–47; 11.46, 52; 6.39; 11.39–42, 44, 47–51, 43 || John 13.4–5, 12–17
Parallel is from Aland’s Synopsis of the Four Gospels, parallel #284
Mark
[12.37] If David himself calls him ‘Lord,’ how can he be his son?” And the large crowd was listening to him with delight.
[12.38] In his teaching Jesus also said, “Watch out for the experts in the law. They like walking around in long robes and elaborate greetings in the marketplaces, [12.39] and the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. [12.40] They devour widows’ property, and as a show make long prayers. These men will receive a more severe punishment.” (Mark 12.37–40 NET)
Matthew
[23.1] Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, [23.2] “The experts in the law and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat. [23.3] Therefore pay attention to what they tell you and do it. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they teach. [23.4] They tie up heavy loads, hard to carry, and put them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing even to lift a finger to move them. [23.5] They do all their deeds to be seen by people, for they make their phylacteries wide and their tassels long. [23.6] They love the place of honor at banquets and the best seats in the synagogues [23.7] and elaborate greetings in the marketplaces, and to have people call them ‘Rabbi.’ [23.8] But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher and you are all brothers. [23.9] And call no one your ‘father’ on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. [23.10] Nor are you to be called ‘teacher,’ for you have one teacher, the Christ. [23.11] The greatest among you will be your servant. [23.12] And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
[23.13] “But woe to you, experts in the law and you Pharisees, hypocrites! You keep locking people out of the kingdom of heaven! For you neither enter nor permit those trying to enter to go in.
[23.15] “Woe to you, experts in the law and you Pharisees, hypocrites! You cross land and sea to make one convert, and when you get one, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves!
[23.16] “Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘Whoever swears by the temple is bound by nothing. But whoever swears by the gold of the temple is bound by the oath.’ [23.17] Blind fools! Which is greater, the gold or the temple that makes the gold sacred? [23.18] And, ‘Whoever swears by the altar is bound by nothing. But if anyone swears by the gift on it he is bound by the oath.’ [23.19] You are blind! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that makes the gift sacred? [23.20] So whoever swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. [23.21] And whoever swears by the temple swears by it and the one who dwells in it. [23.22] And whoever swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and the one who sits on it.
[23.23] “Woe to you, experts in the law and you Pharisees, hypocrites! You give a tenth of mint, dill, and cumin, yet you neglect what is more important in the law—justice, mercy, and faithfulness! You should have done these things without neglecting the others. [23.24] Blind guides! You strain out a gnat yet swallow a camel!
[23.25] “Woe to you, experts in the law and you Pharisees, hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. [23.26] Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup, so that the outside may become clean too!
[23.27] “Woe to you, experts in the law and you Pharisees, hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs that look beautiful on the outside but inside are full of the bones of the dead and of everything unclean. [23.28] In the same way, on the outside you look righteous to people, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
[23.29] “Woe to you, experts in the law and you Pharisees, hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous. [23.30] And you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would not have participated with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ [23.31] By saying this you testify against yourselves that you are descendants of those who murdered the prophets. [23.32] Fill up then the measure of your ancestors! [23.33] You snakes, you offspring of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell?
[23.34] “For this reason I am sending you prophets and wise men and experts in the law, some of whom you will kill and crucify, and some you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town, [23.35] so that on you will come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. [23.36] I tell you the truth, this generation will be held responsible for all these things! (Matthew 23.1–36 NET)
Luke
[20.45] As all the people were listening, Jesus said to his disciples, [20.46] “Beware of the experts in the law. They like walking around in long robes, and they love elaborate greetings in the marketplaces and the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. [20.47] They devour widows’ property, and as a show make long prayers. They will receive a more severe punishment.” (Luke 20.45–47 NET)
But Jesus replied, “Woe to you experts in religious law as well! You load people down with burdens difficult to bear, yet you yourselves refuse to touch the burdens with even one of your fingers! (Luke 11.46 NET)
Woe to you experts in religious law! You have taken away the key to knowledge! You did not go in yourselves, and you hindered those who were going in.” (Luke 11.52 NET)
He also told them a parable: “Someone who is blind cannot lead another who is blind, can he? Won’t they both fall into a pit? (Luke 6.39 NET)
[11.39] But the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. [11.40] You fools! Didn’t the one who made the outside make the inside as well? [11.41] But give from your heart to those in need, and then everything will be clean for you.
[11.42] “But woe to you Pharisees! You give a tenth of your mint, rue, and every herb, yet you neglect justice and love for God! But you should have done these things without neglecting the others. (Luke 11.39–42 NET)
Woe to you! You are like unmarked graves, and people walk over them without realizing it!” (Luke 11.44 NET)
[11.47] Woe to you! You build the tombs of the prophets whom your ancestors killed. [11.48] So you testify that you approve of the deeds of your ancestors, because they killed the prophets and you build their tombs! [11.49] For this reason also the wisdom of God said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and persecute,’ [11.50] so that this generation may be held accountable for the blood of all the prophets that has been shed since the beginning of the world, [11.51] from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, it will be charged against this generation. (Luke 11.47–51 NET)
Woe to you Pharisees! You love the best seats in the synagogues and elaborate greetings in the marketplaces! (Luke 11.43 NET)
John
[13.4] he got up from the meal, removed his outer clothes, took a towel and tied it around himself. [13.5] He poured water into the washbasin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to dry them with the towel he had wrapped around himself. (John 13.4–5 NET)
[13.12] So when Jesus had washed their feet and put his outer clothing back on, he took his place at the table again and said to them, “Do you understand what I have done for you? [13.13] You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and do so correctly, for that is what I am. [13.14] If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you too ought to wash one another’s feet. [13.15] For I have given you an example —you should do just as I have done for you. [13.16] I tell you the solemn truth, the slave is not greater than his master, nor is the one who is sent as a messenger greater than the one who sent him. [13.17] If you understand these things, you will be blessed if you do them. (John 13.12–17 NET)
The previous translation is from the NET Bible translation. Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NET) are from the NET Bible® copyright ©1996, 2019 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. All rights reserved.