² “The teachers of the law^(A) and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. ³ So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. ⁴ They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.^(B)

⁵ “Everything they do is done for people to see:^(C) They make their phylacteries^[a](D) wide and the tassels on their garments^(E) long; ⁶ they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues;^{(F) 7} they love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and to be called ‘Rabbi’ by others.^(G)

⁸ “But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers. ⁹ And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father,^(H) and he is in heaven. ¹⁰ Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Messiah.

⁴⁶ “Beware of the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets.^{(A) 47} They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely.”

Warning Against the Teachers of the Law

³⁸ As he taught, Jesus said, “Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, ³⁹ and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets.^{(A) 40} They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely.”