<p> <SPAN name="C23V1"><font size=-1 color="blue">23:1</font></SPAN> Then Jesus spoke to
the multitudes and to his disciples, <SPAN name="C23V2"><font size=-1 color="blue">23:2</font></SPAN> saying, "The
scribes and the Pharisees sat on Moses' seat. <SPAN name="C23V3"><font size=-1 color="blue">23:3</font></SPAN> 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. <SPAN name="C23V4"><font size=-1 color="blue">23:4</font></SPAN> 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. <SPAN name="C23V5"><font size=-1 color="blue">23:5</font></SPAN> But all their works they do to be
seen by men. They make their <SPAN href="#N105">phylacteries</SPAN> broad,
enlarge the <SPAN href="#N106">fringes</SPAN> of their garments, <SPAN name="C23V6"><font size=-1 color="blue">23:6</font></SPAN> and love the place of honor at
feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, <SPAN name="C23V7"><font size=-1 color="blue">23:7</font></SPAN> the salutations in the
marketplaces, and to be called 'Rabbi, Rabbi' by men. <SPAN name="C23V8"><font size=-1 color="blue">23:8</font></SPAN> But don't you be called 'Rabbi,'
for one is your teacher, the Christ, and all of you are brothers. <SPAN name="C23V9"><font size=-1 color="blue">23:9</font></SPAN> Call no man on the earth your
father, for one is your Father, he who is in heaven. <SPAN name="C23V10"><font size=-1 color="blue">23:10</font></SPAN> Neither be called masters, for
one is your master, the Christ. <SPAN name="C23V11"><font size=-1 color="blue">23:11</font></SPAN> But he who is greatest among you
will be your servant. <SPAN name="C23V12"><font size=-1 color="blue">23:12</font></SPAN> Whoever exalts himself will be
humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.</p>
<p> <SPAN name="C23V13"><font size=-1 color="blue">23:13</font></SPAN> <SPAN href="#N107">"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.</SPAN></p>
<p> <SPAN name="C23V14"><font size=-1 color="blue">23:14</font></SPAN> "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. <SPAN name="C23V15"><font size=-1 color="blue">23:15</font></SPAN> 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 of a son of
<SPAN href="#N108">Gehenna</SPAN> as yourselves.</p>
<p> <SPAN name="C23V16"><font size=-1 color="blue">23:16</font></SPAN> "Woe to you, you blind
guides, who say, 'Whoever swears by the temple, it is nothing; but whoever
swears by the gold of the temple, he is obligated.' <SPAN name="C23V17"><font size=-1 color="blue">23:17</font></SPAN> You blind fools! For which is
greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifies the gold? <SPAN name="C23V18"><font size=-1 color="blue">23:18</font></SPAN> 'Whoever swears by the altar, it
is nothing; but whoever swears by the gift that is on it, he is
obligated?' <SPAN name="C23V19"><font size=-1 color="blue">23:19</font></SPAN> You blind
fools! For which is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifies the
gift? <SPAN name="C23V20"><font size=-1 color="blue">23:20</font></SPAN> He therefore who
swears by the altar, swears by it, and by everything on it. <SPAN name="C23V21"><font size=-1 color="blue">23:21</font></SPAN> He who swears by the temple,
swears by it, and by him who was living in it. <SPAN name="C23V22"><font size=-1 color="blue">23:22</font></SPAN> He who swears by heaven, swears
by the throne of God, and by him who sits on it.</p>
<p> <SPAN name="C23V23"><font size=-1 color="blue">23:23</font></SPAN> "Woe to you, scribes and
Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint, dill, and <SPAN href="#N109">cumin,</SPAN> and have left undone the weightier matters of the
law: justice, mercy, and faith. But you ought to have done these, and not
to have left the other undone. <SPAN name="C23V24"><font size=-1 color="blue">23:24</font></SPAN> You blind guides, who strain out
a gnat, and swallow a camel!</p>
<p> <SPAN name="C23V25"><font size=-1 color="blue">23:25</font></SPAN> "Woe to you, scribes and
Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the
platter, but within they are full of extortion and <SPAN href="#N110">unrighteousness.</SPAN> <SPAN name="C23V26"><font size=-1 color="blue">23:26</font></SPAN> You blind Pharisee, first clean
the inside of the cup and of the platter, that its outside may become
clean also.</p>
<p> <SPAN name="C23V27"><font size=-1 color="blue">23:27</font></SPAN> "Woe to you, scribes and
Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitened tombs, which outwardly
appear beautiful, but inwardly are full of dead men's bones, and of all
uncleanness. <SPAN name="C23V28"><font size=-1 color="blue">23:28</font></SPAN> Even so you
also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of
hypocrisy and iniquity.</p>
<p> <SPAN name="C23V29"><font size=-1 color="blue">23:29</font></SPAN> "Woe to you, scribes and
Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets, and
decorate the tombs of the righteous, <SPAN name="C23V30"><font size=-1 color="blue">23:30</font></SPAN> and say, 'If we had lived in the
days of our fathers, we wouldn't have been partakers with them in the
blood of the prophets.' <SPAN name="C23V31"><font size=-1 color="blue">23:31</font></SPAN> Therefore you testify to
yourselves that you are children of those who killed the prophets. <SPAN name="C23V32"><font size=-1 color="blue">23:32</font></SPAN> Fill up, then, the measure of
your fathers. <SPAN name="C23V33"><font size=-1 color="blue">23:33</font></SPAN> You
serpents, you offspring of vipers, how will you escape the judgment of <SPAN href="#N111">Gehenna</SPAN>? <SPAN name="C23V34"><font size=-1 color="blue">23:34</font></SPAN> Therefore, behold, I send to you
prophets, wise men, and scribes. Some of them you will kill and crucify;
and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues, and persecute from
city to city; <SPAN name="C23V35"><font size=-1 color="blue">23:35</font></SPAN> that on
you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of
righteous Abel to the blood of Zachariah son of Barachiah, whom you killed
between the sanctuary and the altar. <SPAN name="C23V36"><font size=-1 color="blue">23:36</font></SPAN> Most certainly I tell you, all
these things will come upon this generation.</p>
<p> <SPAN name="C23V37"><font size=-1 color="blue">23:37</font></SPAN> "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who
kills the prophets, and stones those who are sent to her! How often I
would have gathered your children together, even as a hen gathers her
chicks under her wings, and you would not! <SPAN name="C23V38"><font size=-1 color="blue">23:38</font></SPAN> Behold, your house is left to
you desolate. <SPAN name="C23V39"><font size=-1 color="blue">23:39</font></SPAN> For I tell
you, you will not see me from now on, until you say, 'Blessed is he who
comes in the name of the Lord!'"<font color="#0000ff" size=-1><sup><SPAN href="#N112">*</SPAN></sup></font></p>
<p> <SPAN name="C24V1"><font size=-1 color="blue">24:1</font></SPAN> Jesus went out from
the temple, and was going on his way. His disciples came to him to show
him the buildings of the temple. <SPAN name="C24V2"><font size=-1 color="blue">24:2</font></SPAN> But he answered them, "Don't you see all of these things? Most certainly I tell
you, there will not be left here one stone on another, that will not be
thrown down."</p>
<p> <SPAN name="C24V3"><font size=-1 color="blue">24:3</font></SPAN> As he sat on the Mount
of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, "Tell us,
when will these things be? What is the sign of your coming, and of the end
of the age?"</p>
<p> <SPAN name="C24V4"><font size=-1 color="blue">24:4</font></SPAN> Jesus answered them,
"Be careful that no one leads you astray. <SPAN name="C24V5"><font size=-1 color="blue">24:5</font></SPAN> For many will come in my name,
saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will lead many astray. <SPAN name="C24V6"><font size=-1 color="blue">24:6</font></SPAN> You will hear of wars and rumors
of wars. See that you aren't troubled, for all this must happen, but the
end is not yet. <SPAN name="C24V7"><font size=-1 color="blue">24:7</font></SPAN> For
nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and there
will be famines, plagues, and earthquakes in various places. <SPAN name="C24V8"><font size=-1 color="blue">24:8</font></SPAN> But all these things are the
beginning of birth pains. <SPAN name="C24V9"><font size=-1 color="blue">24:9</font></SPAN> Then they will deliver you up to
oppression, and will kill you. You will be hated by all of the nations for
my name's sake. <SPAN name="C24V10"><font size=-1 color="blue">24:10</font></SPAN> Then
many will stumble, and will deliver up one another, and will hate one
another. <SPAN name="C24V11"><font size=-1 color="blue">24:11</font></SPAN> Many false
prophets will arise, and will lead many astray. <SPAN name="C24V12"><font size=-1 color="blue">24:12</font></SPAN> Because iniquity will be
multiplied, the love of many will grow cold. <SPAN name="C24V13"><font size=-1 color="blue">24:13</font></SPAN> But he who endures to the end,
the same will be saved. <SPAN name="C24V14"><font size=-1 color="blue">24:14</font></SPAN> This Good News of the Kingdom
will be preached in the whole world for a testimony to all the nations,
and then the end will come.</p>
<p> <SPAN name="C24V15"><font size=-1 color="blue">24:15</font></SPAN> "When, therefore, you see
the abomination of desolation,<font color="#0000ff" size=-1><sup><SPAN href="#N113">*</SPAN></sup></font> which was spoken of through Daniel the
prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), <SPAN name="C24V16"><font size=-1 color="blue">24:16</font></SPAN> then let those who are in Judea
flee to the mountains. <SPAN name="C24V17"><font size=-1 color="blue">24:17</font></SPAN> Let him who is on the housetop
not go down to take out things that are in his house. <SPAN name="C24V18"><font size=-1 color="blue">24:18</font></SPAN> Let him who is in the field not
return back to get his clothes. <SPAN name="C24V19"><font size=-1 color="blue">24:19</font></SPAN> But woe to those who are with
child and to nursing mothers in those days! <SPAN name="C24V20"><font size=-1 color="blue">24:20</font></SPAN> Pray that your flight will not
be in the winter, nor on a Sabbath, <SPAN name="C24V21"><font size=-1 color="blue">24:21</font></SPAN> for then there will be great
oppression, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until
now, no, nor ever will be. <SPAN name="C24V22"><font size=-1 color="blue">24:22</font></SPAN> Unless those days had been
shortened, no flesh would have been saved. But for the sake of the chosen
ones, those days will be shortened.</p>
<p> <SPAN name="C24V23"><font size=-1 color="blue">24:23</font></SPAN> "Then if any man tells you,
'Behold, here is the Christ,' or, 'There,' don't believe it. <SPAN name="C24V24"><font size=-1 color="blue">24:24</font></SPAN> For there will arise false
christs, and false prophets, and they will show great signs and wonders,
so as to lead astray, if possible, even the chosen ones.</p>
<p> <SPAN name="C24V25"><font size=-1 color="blue">24:25</font></SPAN> "Behold, I have told you
beforehand. <SPAN name="C24V26"><font size=-1 color="blue">24:26</font></SPAN> If therefore
they tell you, 'Behold, he is in the wilderness,' don't go out; 'Behold,
he is in the inner chambers,' don't believe it. <SPAN name="C24V27"><font size=-1 color="blue">24:27</font></SPAN> For as the lightning flashes
from the east, and is seen even to the west, so will be the coming of the
Son of Man. <SPAN name="C24V28"><font size=-1 color="blue">24:28</font></SPAN> For wherever
the carcass is, there is where the <SPAN href="#N114">vultures</SPAN> gather
together. <SPAN name="C24V29"><font size=-1 color="blue">24:29</font></SPAN> But
immediately after the oppression of those days, the sun will be darkened,
the moon will not give its light, the stars will fall from the sky, and
the powers of the heavens will be shaken;<font color="#0000ff"
size=-1><sup><SPAN href="#N115">*</SPAN></sup></font> <SPAN name="C24V30"><font size=-1 color="blue">24:30</font></SPAN> and then the sign of the Son of
Man will appear in the sky. Then all the tribes of the earth will mourn,
and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with
power and great glory. <SPAN name="C24V31"><font size=-1 color="blue">24:31</font></SPAN> He will send out his angels with
a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together his chosen ones
from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.</p>
<p> <SPAN name="C24V32"><font size=-1 color="blue">24:32</font></SPAN> "Now from the fig tree
learn this parable. When its branch has now become tender, and puts forth
its leaves, you know that the summer is near. <SPAN name="C24V33"><font size=-1 color="blue">24:33</font></SPAN> Even so you also, when you see
all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. <SPAN name="C24V34"><font size=-1 color="blue">24:34</font></SPAN> Most certainly I tell you, this
<SPAN href="#N116">generation</SPAN> will not pass away, until all these things
are accomplished. <SPAN name="C24V35"><font size=-1 color="blue">24:35</font></SPAN> Heaven
and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. <SPAN name="C24V36"><font size=-1 color="blue">24:36</font></SPAN> But no one knows of that day and
hour, not even the angels of heaven, but my Father only.</p>
<p> <SPAN name="C24V37"><font size=-1 color="blue">24:37</font></SPAN> "As the days of Noah were,
so will be the coming of the Son of Man. <SPAN name="C24V38"><font size=-1 color="blue">24:38</font></SPAN> For as in those days which were
before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in
marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ship, <SPAN name="C24V39"><font size=-1 color="blue">24:39</font></SPAN> and they didn't know until the
flood came, and took them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of
Man. <SPAN name="C24V40"><font size=-1 color="blue">24:40</font></SPAN> Then two men will
be in the field: one will be taken and one will be left; <SPAN name="C24V41"><font size=-1 color="blue">24:41</font></SPAN> two women grinding at the mill,
one will be taken and one will be left. <SPAN name="C24V42"><font size=-1 color="blue">24:42</font></SPAN> Watch therefore, for you don't
know in what hour your Lord comes. <SPAN name="C24V43"><font size=-1 color="blue">24:43</font></SPAN> But know this, that if the
master of the house had known in what watch of the night the thief was
coming, he would have watched, and would not have allowed his house to be
broken into. <SPAN name="C24V44"><font size=-1 color="blue">24:44</font></SPAN> Therefore
also be ready, for in an hour that you don't expect, the Son of Man will
come.</p>
<p> <SPAN name="C24V45"><font size=-1 color="blue">24:45</font></SPAN> "Who then is the faithful
and wise servant, whom his lord has set over his household, to give them
their food in due season? <SPAN name="C24V46"><font size=-1 color="blue">24:46</font></SPAN> Blessed is that servant whom his
lord finds doing so when he comes. <SPAN name="C24V47"><font size=-1 color="blue">24:47</font></SPAN> Most certainly I tell you that
he will set him over all that he has. <SPAN name="C24V48"><font size=-1 color="blue">24:48</font></SPAN> But if that evil servant should
say in his heart, 'My lord is delaying his coming,' <SPAN name="C24V49"><font size=-1 color="blue">24:49</font></SPAN> and begins to beat his fellow
servants, and eat and drink with the drunkards, <SPAN name="C24V50"><font size=-1 color="blue">24:50</font></SPAN> the lord of that servant will
come in a day when he doesn't expect it, and in an hour when he doesn't
know it, <SPAN name="C24V51"><font size=-1 color="blue">24:51</font></SPAN> and will cut
him in pieces, and appoint his portion with the hypocrites. There is where
the weeping and grinding of teeth will be.</p>
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