Mark 12:38-40; Luke 11:37-52

38 As he taught them, he said, "Watch out for the kind of Torah-teachers who like to walk around in robes and be greeted deferen tially in the marketplaces,

39 who like to have the best seats in the synagogues and take the places of honor at banquets,

40 who like to swallow up widows' houses while making a show of davvening at great length. Their punishment will be all the worse!"

37 As Yeshua spoke, a Parush asked him to eat dinner with him; so he went in and took his place at the table;

38 and the Parush was surprised that he didn't begin by doing n'tilat yadayim before the meal.

39 However, the Lord said to him, "Now then, you P'rushim, you clean the outside of the cup and plate; but inside, you are full of robbery and wickedness.

40 Fools! Didn't the One who made the outside make the inside too?

41 Rather, give as alms what is inside, and then everything will be clean for you!

42 "But woe to you P'rushim! You pay your tithes of mint and rue and every garden herb, but you ignore justice and the love of God. You have an obligation to do these things -- but without disregarding the others!

43 "Woe to you P'rushim, because you love the best seat in the synagogues and being greeted deferentially in the marketplaces!

44 "Woe to you, because you are like unmarked graves, which people walk over without knowing it."

45 One of the experts in Torah answered him, "Rabbi, by saying these things you are insulting us also."

46 Yeshua said, "Woe to you Torah experts too! You load people down with burdens they can hardly bear, and you won't lift a finger to help them!

47 "Woe to you! You build tombs in memory of the prophets, but your fathers murdered them!

48 Thus you testify that you completely approve of what your fathers did -- they did the killing, you do the building!

49 Therefore the Wisdom of God said, `I will send them prophets and emissaries; they will kill some and persecute others';

50 so that on this generation will fall the responsibility for all the prophets' blood that has been shed since the world was established,

51 from the blood of Hevel to the blood of Z'kharyah, who was killed between the altar and the Holy Place. Yes, I tell you, the responsibility for it will fall on this generation!

52 "Woe to you Torah experts! For you have taken away the key of knowledge! Not only did you yourselves not go in, you also have stopped those who were trying to enter!"