The Scribes and Pharisees after all this, continuing still incorrigible, although he will have the doctrine of their Chair obeyed, yet against their works (and namely their ambition) he openly inveigheth, crying to them eight woes for their eightfold hypocrisy and blindness: 34. and so concluding with the most heavy reprobation of that present Generation and their mother city Jerusalem, with her Temple.The Scribes and Pharisees after al this, continuing stil incorrigible, although he wil haue the doctrine of their Chaire obeied, yet against their workes (and namely their ambition) he openly inueigheth, crying to them eight woes for their eightfold hypocrisie and blindnes: 34. and so concluding with the most heauy reprobation of that present Generation and their mother citie Ierusalem, with her Temple.
The Ghospel vpon Tuesday the 2. weeke in Lent.
Then Jesus spake to the multitudes and to his Disciples,THEN Iesvs spake to the multitudes and to his Disciples,Tunc Jesus locutus est ad turbas, et ad discipulos suos,
2saying: Upon the chair of Moyses have sitten the Scribes and the Pharisees.saying: Vpon the chaire of Moyses haue sitten the Scribes & the Pharisees.dicens : Super cathedram Moysi sederunt scribæ et pharisæi.
3All things therefore whatsoever they shall say to you, observe ye and do ye: but according to their works do ye not, for they say and do not.Al things therfore whatsoeuer they shal say to you, obserue ye and doe ye: but according to their workes doe ye not, for they say and doe not.Omnia ergo quæcumque dixerint vobis, servate, et facite : secundum opera vero eorum nolite facere : dicunt enim, et non faciunt.
4For they bind heavy burdens and importabilia: able to be imported: and put them upon men's shoulders: but with a finger of their own they will not move them.For they bind heauie burdens & importable: & put them vpon mens shoulders: but with a finger of their owne they wil not moue them.Alligant enim onera gravia, et importabilia, et imponunt in humeros hominum : digito autem suo nolunt ea movere.
5But they do all their works for to be seen of men. For they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge their fringes.But they doe al their workes for to be seen of men. For they make brode their phylacteries, and enlarge their * fringes.Omnia vero opera sua faciunt ut videantur ab hominibus : dilatant enim phylacteria sua, et magnificant fimbrias.
6And they love the first places at suppers, and the first chairs in the Synagogues,And they loue the first places at suppers, and * the first chaires in the Synagogues,Amant autem primos recubitus in cœnis, et primas cathedras in synagogis,
7and salutations in the market-place, and to be called of men, Rabbi.and salutations in the market-place, and to be called of men, Rabbi.et salutationes in foro, et vocari ab hominibus Rabbi.
8But be not you called Rabbi. For one is your Master, and all you are brethren.But be not you called Rabbi. For one is your Maister, and al you are brethren.Vos autem nolite vocari Rabbi : unus est enim magister vester, omnes autem vos fratres estis.
9And call none Father to yourself upon earth: for one is your Father, he that is in Heaven.And cal none Father to yourself vpon earth: for one is your Father, he that is in Heauen.Et patrem nolite vocare vobis super terram : unus est enim pater vester qui in cælis est.
10Neither be ye called Masters: for one is your Master, Christ.Neither * be ye called Maisters: for one is your Maister, Christ.Nec vocemini magistri : quia magister vester unus est, Christus.
11He that is the greater of you, shall be your servitor.He that is the greater of you, shal be your seruitour.Qui major est vestrum, erit minister vester.
12And he that exalteth himself, shall be humbled: and he that humbleth himself, shall be exalted.And he that exalteth himself, shal be humbled: and he that humbleth himself, shal be exalted.Qui autem se exaltaverit, humiliabitur : et qui se humiliaverit, exaltabitur.
13But woe to you Scribes and Pharisees, Hypocrites: because you shut the Kingdom of Heaven before men. For yourselves do not enter in, and those that are going in, you suffer not to enter.But wo to you Scribes & Pharisees, Hypocrites: because you shut the Kingdom of Heauen before men. For your selues do not enter in, & those that are going in, you suffer not to enter.Væ autem vobis scribæ et pharisæi hypocritæ, quia clauditis regnum cælorum ante homines ! vos enim non intratis, nec introëuntes sinitis intrare.
14Woe to you Scribes and Pharisees, Hypocrites: because you devour widows' houses, praying long prayers. For this you shall receive the greater judgment.Wo to you Scribes and Pharisees, Hypocrites: because you * deuoure widowes houses, praying long prayers. For this you shal receaue the greater iudgement.Væ vobis scribæ et pharisæi hypocritæ, quia comeditis domos viduarum, orationes longas orantes ! propter hoc amplius accipietis judicium.
15Woe to you Scribes and Pharisees, Hypocrites: because you go round about the sea and the land to make one Proselyte: and when he is made, you make him the child of Hell double more than yourselves.Wo to you Scribes and Pharisees, Hypocrites: because you go round about the sea and the land to make one Proselyte: and when he is made, you make him the child of Hel double more then your selues.Væ vobis scribæ et pharisæi hypocritæ, quia circuitis mare, et aridam, ut faciatis unum proselytum, et cum fuerit factus, facitis eum filium gehennæ duplo quam vos.
16Woe to you blind guides, that say, whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing: but he that shall swear by the gold of the temple, is bound.Wo to you blind guides, that say, whosoeuer shal sweare by the temple, it is nothing: but he that shal sweare by the gold of the temple, is bound.Væ vobis duces cæci, qui dicitis : Quicumque juraverit per templum, nihil est : qui autem juraverit in auro templi, debet.
17Ye foolish and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold?Ye foolish and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold?Stulti et cæci : quid enim majus est ? aurum, an templum, quod sanctificat aurum ?
18And whosoever shall swear by the Altar, it is nothing: but whosoever shall swear by the gift that is upon it, is bound.And whosoeuer shal sweare by the Altar, it is nothing: but whosoeuer shal sweare by the guift that is vpon it, is bound.Et quicumque juraverit in altari, nihil est : quicumque autem juraverit in dono, quod est super illud, debet.
19Ye blind: for whether is greater, the gift, or the Altar that sanctifieth the gift?Ye blind: for whether is greater, the guift, or the Altar that sanctifieth the guift?Cæci : quid enim majus est, donum, an altare, quod sanctificat donum ?
20He therefore that sweareth by the Altar, sweareth by it, and by all things that are upon it:He therfore that sweareth by the Altar, sweareth by it, and by al things that are vpon it:Qui ergo jurat in altari, jurat in eo, et in omnibus quæ super illud sunt.
21And whosoever shall swear by the temple, sweareth by it and by him that dwelleth in it:And whosoeuer shal sweare by the temple, sweareth by it and by him that dwelleth in it:Et quicumque juraverit in templo, jurat in illo, et in eo qui habitat in ipso :
22And he that sweareth by Heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth thereon.And he that sweareth by Heauen, sweareth by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth theron.et qui jurat in cælo, jurat in throno Dei, et in eo qui sedet super eum.
23Woe to you Scribes and Pharisees, Hypocrites: because you tithe the mint, and anise, and cummin, and have left the weightier things of the law, judgment, and mercy, and faith. These things you ought to have done, and not to have omitted those.Wo to you Scribes and Pharisees, Hypocrites: because you tithe the mint, and anise, and cummin, and haue left the weightier things of the law, iudgement, and mercie, and faith. These things you ought to haue done, & not to haue omitted those.Væ vobis scribæ et pharisæi hypocritæ, qui decimatis mentham, et anethum, et cyminum, et reliquistis quæ graviora sunt legis, judicium, et misericordiam, et fidem ! hæc oportuit facere, et illa non omittere.
24Blind guides, that strain a gnat, and swallow a camel.Blind guides, that straine a gnat, and swallow a camel.Duces cæci, excolantes culicem, camelum autem glutientes.
25Woe to you Scribes and Pharisees, Hypocrites: because you make clean that on the outside of the cup and dish, but within you are full of rapina: plunder, extortion and uncleanness.Wo to you Scribes and Pharisees, Hypocrites: because you make cleane that on the outside of the cup and dish, but within you are ful of rapine and vncleannes.Væ vobis scribæ et pharisæi hypocritæ, quia mundatis quod deforis est calicis et paropsidis ; intus autem pleni estis rapina et immunditia !
26Thou blind Pharisee, first make clean the inside of the cup and the dish, that the outside may become clean.Thou blind Pharisee, first make cleane the inside of the cup and the dish, that the outside may become cleane.Pharisæe cæce, munda prius quod intus est calicis, et paropsidis, ut fiat id, quod deforis est, mundum.
27Woe to you Scribes and Pharisees, Hypocrites: because you are like to whited sepulchres, which outwardly appear unto men beautiful, but within are full of dead men's bones, and all filthiness.Wo to you Scribes and Pharisees, Hypocrites: because you are like to whited sepulchres, which outwardly appeare vnto men beautiful, but within are ful of dead mens bones, and al filthines.Væ vobis scribæ et pharisæi hypocritæ, quia similes estis sepulchris dealbatis, quæ a foris parent hominibus speciosa, intus vero pleni sunt ossibus mortuorum, et omni spurcitia !
28So you also outwardly indeed appear to men just, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.So you also outwardly indeed appeare to men iust, but inwardly you are ful of hypocrisie and iniquitie.Sic et vos a foris quidem paretis hominibus justi : intus autem pleni estis hypocrisi et iniquitate.
29Woe to you Scribes and Pharisees, Hypocrites: because you build the Prophets' sepulchres, and garnish the monuments of just men,Wo to you Scribes and Pharisees, Hypocrites: because you build the Prophets sepulchres, and garnish the monuments of iust men,Væ vobis scribæ et pharisæi hypocritæ, qui ædificatis sepulchra prophetarum, et ornatis monumenta justorum,
30and say: If we had been in our Fathers' days, we had not been their fellows in the blood of the Prophets.and say: If we had been in our Fathers dayes, we had not been their felowes in the bloud of the Prophets.et dicitis : Si fuissemus in diebus patrum nostrorum, non essemus socii eorum in sanguine prophetarum !
31Therefore you are a testimony to your own selves, that you are the sons of them that killed the Prophets.Therfore you are a testimonie to your owne selues, that you are the sonnes of them that killed the Prophets.itaque testimonio estis vobismetipsis, quia filii estis eorum, qui prophetas occiderunt.
32And fill you up the measure of your Fathers.And fil you vp the measure of your Fathers.Et vos implete mensuram patrum vestrorum.
33You serpents, vipers' broods, how will you flee from the judgment of Hell?You serpents, vipers broods, how wil you flee from the iudgement of Hel?Serpentes, genimina viperarum, quomodo fugietis a judicio gehennæ ?
34Therefore behold I send unto you Prophets, and wise men, and Scribes, and of them you shall kill and crucify, and of them you shall scourge in your Synagogues, and persecute from city into city:Therfore behold I send vnto you Prophets, and wisemen, and Scribes, and of them you shal kil & crucifie, and of them you shal scourge in your Synagogues, and persecute from citie into citie:Ideo ecce ego mitto ad vos prophetas, et sapientes, et scribas, et ex illis occidetis, et crucifigetis, et ex eis flagellabitis in synagogis vestris, et persequemini de civitate in civitatem :
35that upon you may come all the just blood that was shed upon the earth, from the blood of Abel the just, even unto the blood of Zacharias the son of Barachias, whom you murdered between the temple and the Altar.that vpon you may come al the iust bloud that was shed vpon the earth, from the bloud of * Abel the iust, euen vnto the bloud of * Zacharias the sonne of Barachias, whom you murdered betwene the temple & the Altar.ut veniat super vos omnis sanguis justus, qui effusus est super terram, a sanguine Abel justi usque ad sanguinem Zachariæ, filii Barachiæ, quem occidistis inter templum et altare.
36Amen I say to you, all these things shall come upon this Generation.Amen I say to you, al these things shal come vpon this Generation.Amen dico vobis, venient hæc omnia super generationem istam.
37Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the Prophets, and stonest them that were sent to thee, how often would I gather together thy children as the hen doth gather together her chickens under her wings, and thou wouldest not?* Hierusalem, Hierusalem, which killest the Prophets, and stonest them that were sent to thee, how often would I gather togeather thy children as the henne doth gather togeather her chickens vnder her wings, and thou wouldest not?Jerusalem, Jerusalem, quæ occidis prophetas, et lapidas eos, qui ad te missi sunt, quoties volui congregare filios tuos, quemadmodum gallina congregat pullos suos sub alas, et noluisti ?
38Behold, your house shall be left deserta: arid sandy region to you.Behold, your house shal be left desert to you.Ecce relinquetur vobis domus vestra deserta.
39For I say to you, you shall not see me from hence forth till you say: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of our Lord.For I say to you, you shal not see me from hence forth til you say: Blessed is he that commeth in the name of our Lord.Dico enim vobis, non me videbitis amodo, donec dicatis : Benedictus, qui venit in nomine Domini.
Annotations
2Chair of Moyses. God preserveth the truth of Christian Religion in the Apostolic See of Rome, which is in the new Law answerable to the chair of Moyses, notwithstanding the Bishops of the same were never so wicked of life: yea though some traitor and as ill as Judas, were Bishop thereof, it should not be prejudicial to the Church and innocent Christians, for whom our Lord providing said: Do that which they say, but do not as they do. Aug. Epist. 165.
3Whatsoever they say. Why (saith St. Augustine) doest thou call the Apostolic Chair the Chair of pestilence? (Contra lit. Petil. l. 2. c. 51.) If for the men, Why? did our Lord Jesus Christ for the Pharisees, any wrong to the Chair wherein they sate? Did he not commend the chair of Moyses, and preserving the honour of the Chair, reprove the men? For he saith, They sit upon the Chair of Moyses, that which they say do ye: These things if you did well consider, you would not for the men whom you defame, blaspheme the See Apostolic wherein they do not communicate. And again he saith, (Contra lit. Petil. l. 2. c. 61.) Whether for the Pharisees (to whom you compare us not of wisdom but of malice) did our Lord commend the Chair of Moyses to be forsaken, in which Chair verily it figured his own, for he commended the Prophets that sate whiles they say, and not to do that which they do, and that the holiness of the Chair be in no case forsaken, nor the unity of the flock desolated, for the naughty Pastors.
6Love the first places. He condemneth not due places of Superiority given or taken of men according to their degrees, but ambitious seeking for the same, and their proud heart and wicked intention, which he saw within them, and therefore might boldly reprehend them.
8One is your Master. In the Catholic Church there is one Master, Christ our Lord, and under him our Vicar, with whom all Catholic Doctors and teachers are one, because they teach all one thing. But in Arch-heretics is reason to the contrary; where every one of them is a diverse Master, and teacheth contrary to the other, and will be called Rabbi and Master, every one, of their own Disciples: Arius a Rabbi among the Arians, Luther among the Lutherans, and among the Calvinists Calvin.
10Masters. Wycliffe, and the like Heretics of this time, do hereupon condemn degrees of School and titles of Doctors and Masters: (Doctors, Masters, and spiritual Fathers.) where they might as well reprove St. Paul for calling himself Doctor and Master of the Gentiles: and for saying, that there should be always Doctors in the Church. And whereas they bring the other words following, against Religious men who are called Fathers; as well might they by this place take away the name of carnal fathers, and chance St. Paul for calling himself the only spiritual Father of the Corinthians. (1 Cor. 4.) But indeed nothing is here forbidden but the contentious distinction and partiality of such as make themselves Ringleaders of Schisms or Sects, as Donatus, Arius, Luther, Calvin.
13Scribes and Pharisees. It is here reprehended in them, that is much to be noted, that our Saviour for the honour of Priesthood never reprehendeth Priests by their name. Cypr. ep. 65. whereas our Heretics use this name of purpose to reproach and despite.
14Praying long prayers. They are not reprehended here for the things themselves, which for the most part are good, as, long prayer, making Proselytes, garnishing the Prophets' sepulchres, etc., but for their wicked purpose and intention, as before is said of fasting, prayers, alms. Matt. 6.
15Double more. They that teach that it is enough to have only faith, do make such Christians, as the Jews did Proselytes, children of Hell far more than before. Aug. lib. de fide et oper. cap. 16.
19Sanctifieth. Note that donaries and gifts bestowed upon Churches and Altars, (The Altar is sanctified by our Lord's body thereupon.) be sanctified by dedication to God, and by touching the Altar and other holy things: as now specially the relics of the Sacrifice and Sacrament of Christ's body and blood, by touching the same, and the Altar itself whereupon it is consecrated. Whereof Theophylact writeth thus upon this place: (Theophyl. in Matt.) In the Altar (saith he) Christ promiseth not the gifts to be greater than the Altar, but with us, the Altar is sanctified by the gift: for the bodies by the divine grace are turned into our Lord's body, and therefore is the Altar also sanctified by them.
21By him that dwelleth in it. By this we see that the swearing by creatures, as by the Gospel, by Saints, is referred to the honour of God, whose Gospel it is, whose Saints they are.
28Appear to men. Christ might boldly reprehend them so often and so vehemently for hypocrisy, because he knew their hearts and intentions: but we that cannot see within men, may not presume to call men's external good doings, hypocrisy, but judge of men as we see, and know.
29Garnish. Christ blameth not the Jews for adorning the sepulchres of the Prophets, but rebuketh them of their malicious mind, and that which by their divine knowledge he foresaw, that they would accomplish the wickedness of their Fathers in shedding his blood, as their Fathers did the blood of the Prophets. Hier.