THE UNANSWERABLE QUESTION OF JESUS.

Now while the Pharisees were gathered together Jesus asked them a question, saying, “What think ye of the Christ? whose son is he?”

They say unto him, “The son of David.”

He saith unto them, “How then doth David in the Spirit call him Lord, saying,

    ’The Lord said unto my Lord,
    Sit thou on my right hand,
    Till I put thine enemies underneath thy feet’?

If David then calleth him Lord, how is he his son?”

And no one was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions.

And the common people heard him gladly.

DISCOURSE OF JESUS AGAINST THE SCRIBES AND PHARISEES.

Then spake Jesus to the multitudes and to his disciples, saying, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat:  all things therefore whatsoever they bid you, these do and observe:  but do not ye after their works; for they say, and do not.  Yea, 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.  But all their works they do to be seen of men:  for they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, and love the chief place at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, and the salutations in the marketplaces, and to be called of men, ‘Rabbi.’  But be not ye called ‘Rabbi,’ for one is your teacher, and all ye are brethren.  And call no man your father on the earth:  for one is your Father, even he who is in heaven.  Neither be ye called masters:  for one is your master, even the Christ.  But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.  And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be humbled:  and whosoever shall humble himself shall be exalted.

“But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye shut the kingdom of heaven against men:  for ye enter not in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering in to enter.

“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he is become so, ye make him twofold more a son of hell than yourselves.

“Woe unto you, ye blind guides, that say, ’Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor.’  Ye fools and blind:  for which is greater, the gold, or the temple that hath sanctified the gold?  And, ’Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gift that is upon it, he is a debtor.’  Ye blind:  for which is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift?  He therefore that sweareth by the altar, sweareth by it, and by all things thereon.  And he that sweareth by the temple, sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth therein.  And he that sweareth by the heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth thereon.