Devine Scripture

Matthew 23:3

What does Matthew 23:3 mean?

A plain-English look at Matthew 23:3 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Matthew 23:3 means

Here, Jesus instructs His listeners to obey the teachings of the scribes and Pharisees when those teachings align with God's Law, distinguishing between their legitimate instruction and their personal behavior. He strongly warns against imitating their actions, because their words and deeds are contradictory. They preach one thing but practice another, demonstrating a profound hypocrisy. This verse emphasizes the importance of discerning between sound doctrine and corrupt living, urging a separation of the message from the flawed messenger's example.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

all things therefore whatsoever they bid you, these do and observe: but do not ye after their works; for they say, and do not.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

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

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

all things therefore whatsoever they bid you, these do and observe: but do not ye after their works; for they say, and do not.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

All things, then, which they give you orders to do, these do and keep: but do not take their works as your example, for they say and do not.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

all, then, as much as they may say to you to observe, observe and do, but according to their works do not, for they say, and do not;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

All things therefore whatsoever they shall say to you, observe and do: but according to their works do ye not. For they say, and do not.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

all things therefore, whatever they may tell you, do and keep. But do not after their works, for they say and do not,

Context

This verse directly follows the recognition of the scribes' and Pharisees' legitimate teaching authority. It immediately provides a crucial qualification: obey their *words* when they teach Moses' Law, but do not imitate their *deeds*. This distinction sets up the entire subsequent discourse by establishing the specific nature of their hypocrisy—a disconnect between their instruction and their practice—which is then elaborated in the following verses concerning their burdens and outward displays.

v.2saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat:

v.3This passage

v.4Yea, they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with their finger.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Exodus 18:19

    Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and God be with thee: be thou for the people to God-ward, and bring thou the causes unto God:

  • Acts 5:29

    But Peter and the apostles answered and said, We must obey God rather than men.

  • Romans 2:19

    and art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them that are in darkness,

  • Deuteronomy 17:9

    and thou shalt come unto the priests the Levites, and unto the judge that shall be in those days: and thou shalt inquire; and they shall show thee the sentence of judgment.

  • Matthew 15:2

    Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.

  • 2 Chronicles 30:12

    Also upon Judah came the hand of God to give them one heart, to do the commandment of the king and of the princes by the word of Jehovah.

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