Key Verse Spotlight
Matthew 23:13 - Meaning and Application
Understand how this verse speaks to what you're facing and how to apply it today
Translation: World English Bible — Catholic Edition
" “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses, and as a pretense you make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation. "
Matthew 23:13
Verse in Context
Understanding the surrounding verses prevents misinterpretation:
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, scribes and Pharisees, 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, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you shut up the Kingdom of Heaven against men; for you don’t enter in yourselves, neither do you allow those who are entering in to enter.
15 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel around by sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of Gehenna as yourselves.
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Matthew 23:1
"Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to his disciples,"
Matthew 23:2
"saying, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat."
Matthew 23:3
"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."
Matthew 23:4
"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."
Matthew 23:5
"But they do all their works to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the fringes of their garments,"
Matthew 23:6
"and love the place of honor at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues,"
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