Matthew 23

“Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples,” Naming Jesus keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat:” Naming Moses and Pharisees keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and…” Naming All keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of…” The line’s distinctive content terms include borders, broad, enlarge. Its relationship to verses 4 and 6 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues,” The line’s distinctive content terms include chief, feasts, love. Its relationship to verses 5 and 7 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.” Naming Rabbi keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither…” Naming Pharisees keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayer…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is…” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall…” The promise, blessing, or covenant language needs its named recipient and scope. Those details prevent a personal word in the story from becoming a promise detached from context.

“Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is…” The promise, blessing, or covenant language needs its named recipient and scope. Those details prevent a personal word in the story from becoming a promise detached from context.

“Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Whoso therefore shall swear by the altar, sweareth by it, and by all things thereon.” The promise, blessing, or covenant language needs its named recipient and scope. Those details prevent a personal word in the story from becoming a promise detached from context.

“And whoso shall swear by the temple, sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth therein.” The promise, blessing, or covenant language needs its named recipient and scope. Those details prevent a personal word in the story from becoming a promise detached from context.

“And he that shall swear by heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth thereon.” The promise, blessing, or covenant language needs its named recipient and scope. Those details prevent a personal word in the story from becoming a promise detached from context.

“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the…” Naming Pharisees and Woe keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.” The line’s distinctive content terms include blind, camel, gnat. Its relationship to verses 23 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but…” Naming Pharisees and Woe keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean…” Naming Pharisee and Thou keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful…” Naming Pharisees and Woe keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.” Naming Even keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the…” Naming Pharisees and Woe keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the…” The line’s distinctive content terms include blood, days, fathers. Its relationship to verses 29 and 31 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers.” Naming Fill keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of…” Naming Abel and Barachias keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I…” Naming Jerusalem keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.” The line’s distinctive content terms include desolate, house, left. Its relationship to verses 37 and 39 shows what work it does in this passage.

“For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.