Matthew 23:4 - Easy To Read Version They make strict rules that are hard for people to obey. They try to force other people to obey all those rules. But they themselves will not try to follow any of those rules. Tuilleadh leaganachaKing James Version (Oxford) 1769 For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. Amplified Bible - Classic Edition They tie up heavy loads, hard to bear, and place them on men's shoulders, but they themselves will not lift a finger to help bear them. American Standard Version (1901) 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. Common English Bible For they tie together heavy packs that are impossible to carry. They put them on the shoulders of others, but are unwilling to lift a finger to move them. Catholic Public Domain Version For they bind up heavy and unbearable burdens, and they impose them on men's shoulders. But they are not willing to move them with even a finger of their own. Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version For they bind heavy and insupportable burdens, and lay them on men's shoulders; but with a finger of their own they will not move them. |
Bel {\cf2\super [407]} and Nebo, {\cf2\super [408]} will bow down before me. \{Those false gods are only statues.\} Men put those statues on the backs of animals—those statues are only heavy burdens that must be carried. The false gods do nothing but make people tired.
“It will be bad for you teachers of the law and Pharisees. {\cf2\super [341]} You are hypocrites. {\cf2\super [342]} You give God one tenth of everything you own—even your mint, dill, and cummin. {\cf2\super [343]} But you don’t obey the really important teachings of the law—being fair, showing mercy, and being faithful. These are the things you should do. And you should also continue to do those other things.
So you should obey the things they say. You should do all the things they tell you to do. But their lives are not good examples for you to follow. They tell you to do things, but they don’t do those things themselves.
Jesus answered, “It will be bad for you, you teachers of the law! You make strict rules that are very hard for people to obey. {\cf2\super [212]} You try to force other people to obey those rules. But you yourselves don’t even try to follow any of those rules.
So now, why are you putting a heavy burden {\cf2\super [307]} around the necks of the non-Jewish brothers? Are you trying to make God angry? We and our fathers {\cf2\super [308]} were not able to carry that burden!
The Holy Spirit {\cf2\super [319]} thinks that you should have no more burdens, and we agree. You need to do only these things:
Those men are circumcised, but they don’t obey the law {\cf2\super [79]} themselves. They want you to be circumcised. Then they can boast about what they forced you to do.
Grace (kindness), mercy, and peace will be with us from God the Father and from his Son, Jesus Christ. We receive these blessings through truth and love.
“But you other people in Thyatira have not followed her teaching. You have not learned the things that they call Satan’s (the devil’s) deep secrets. This is what I say to you: I will not put any other burden on you.