23:23 “Woe to you, experts in the law 4 and you Pharisees, hypocrites! You give a tenth 5 of mint, dill, and cumin, 6 yet you neglect what is more important in the law – justice, mercy, and faithfulness! You 7 should have done these things without neglecting the others. 23:24 Blind guides! You strain out a gnat yet swallow a camel! 8
23:29 “Woe to you, experts in the law 9 and you Pharisees, hypocrites! You 10 build tombs for the prophets and decorate the graves 11 of the righteous.
1 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.
2 sn Phylacteries were small leather cases containing OT scripture verses, worn on the arm and forehead by Jews, especially when praying. The custom was derived from such OT passages as Exod 13:9; 16; Deut 6:8; 11:18.
3 tn The term κράσπεδον (kraspedon) in some contexts could refer to the outer fringe of the garment (possibly in Mark 6:56). This edge could have been plain or decorated. L&N 6.180 states, “In Mt 23:5 κράσπεδον denotes the tassels worn at the four corners of the outer garment (see 6.194).”
sn Tassels refer to the tassels that a male Israelite was obligated to wear on the four corners of his outer garment according to the Mosaic law (Num 15:38; Deut 22:12).
4 tn Or “scribes.” See the note on the phrase “experts in the law” in 2:4.
5 tn Or “you tithe mint.”
6 sn Cumin (alternately spelled cummin) was an aromatic herb native to the Mediterranean region. Its seeds were used for seasoning.
7 tc ‡ Many witnesses (B C K L W Δ 0102 33 565 892 pm) have δέ (de, “but”) after ταῦτα (tauta, “these things”), while many others lack it (א D Γ Θ Ë1,13 579 700 1241 1424 pm). Since asyndeton was relatively rare in Koine Greek, the conjunction may be an intentional alteration, and is thus omitted from the present translation. NA27 includes the word in brackets, indicating doubts as to its authenticity.
8 tn Grk “Blind guides who strain out a gnat yet who swallow a camel!”
9 tn Or “scribes.” See the note on the phrase “experts in the law” in 2:4.
10 tn Grk “Because you.” Here ὅτι (Joti) has not been translated.
11 tn Or perhaps “the monuments” (see L&N 7.75-76).