Read the Bible
KING JAMES BIBLE · PCE

Matthew 23:3

TEXT EDITION
Pure Cambridge Edition selected
All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.
Share
Email linkOpen a new message in your email app
Read chapterReport issue
More

PASSAGE SELECTION

Build from either side

1 selected · 38 available

Add or remove verses within this chapter. The study tools update with the selected passage.

SCRIPTURE WITH SCRIPTURE

Cross References

All 14 ranked passages are available for comparison.

From verse 3

  1. 2 Timothy 3:5Rank 1 from verse 3
    Open

    5Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

  2. Romans 2:19–24Rank 2 from verse 3
    Open

    19And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness,

    20An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law.

    21Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?

    22Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege?

    23Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God?

    24For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written.

  3. Titus 1:16Rank 3 from verse 3
    Open

    16They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

  4. Acts 5:29Rank 4 from verse 3
    Open

    29¶ Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.

  5. Romans 13:1Rank 5 from verse 3
    Open

    1LET every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.

  6. 2 Chronicles 30:12Rank 6 from verse 3
    Open

    12Also in Judah the hand of God was to give them one heart to do the commandment of the king and of the princes, by the word of the Lord.

  7. Deuteronomy 17:9–12Rank 7 from verse 3
    Open

    9And thou shalt come unto the priests the Levites, and unto the judge that shall be in those days, and inquire; and they shall shew thee the sentence of judgment:

    10And thou shalt do according to the sentence, which they of that place which the Lord shall choose shall shew thee; and thou shalt observe to do according to all that they inform thee:

    11According to the sentence of the law which they shall teach thee, and according to the judgment which they shall tell thee, thou shalt do: thou shalt not decline from the sentence which they shall shew thee, to the right hand, nor to the left.

    12And the man that will do presumptuously, and will not hearken unto the priest that standeth to minister there before the Lord thy God, or unto the judge, even that man shall die: and thou shalt put away the evil from Israel.

  8. Matthew 21:30Rank 8 from verse 3
    Open

    30And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not.

  9. Psalms 50:16–20Rank 9 from verse 3
    Open

    16But unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth?

    17Seeing thou hatest instruction, and castest my words behind thee.

    18When thou sawest a thief, then thou consentedst with him, and hast been partaker with adulterers.

    19Thou givest thy mouth to evil, and thy tongue frameth deceit.

    20Thou sittest and speakest against thy brother; thou slanderest thine own mother’s son.

  10. Deuteronomy 4:5Rank 10 from verse 3
    Open

    5Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgments, even as the Lord my God commanded me, that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it.

  11. Exodus 18:19–20Rank 11 from verse 3
    Open

    19Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee: Be thou for the people to God-ward, that thou mayest bring the causes unto God:

    20And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws, and shalt shew them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do.

  12. Exodus 18:23Rank 12 from verse 3
    Open

    23If thou shalt do this thing, and God command thee so, then thou shalt be able to endure, and all this people shall also go to their place in peace.

  13. Matthew 15:2–9Rank 13 from verse 3
    Open

    2Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.

    3But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?

    4For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death.

    5But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me;

    6And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.

    7Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,

    8This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.

    9But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

  14. Deuteronomy 5:27Rank 14 from verse 3
    Open

    27Go thou near, and hear all that the Lord our God shall say: and speak thou unto us all that the Lord our God shall speak unto thee; and we will hear it, and do it.

WORDS IN THIS PASSAGE

Definitions

Open a word for its full definition and concordance.

DEFINED WORDS

Matthew 23:3

COMBINED MEANING

whatsoever

↗

Whatever, anything that, or every thing of the kind or within the condition and scope stated.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

bid

↗

Sense 1: To command, direct, or request. Sense 2: To invite or call. Sense 3: To speak or pronounce a greeting, as in bid farewell or bid God speed.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

you

↗

The second-person plural pronoun referring to those being addressed.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

observe

↗

Sense 1: To watch, notice, behold, or take heed of. Sense 2: To keep, carefully perform, or comply with.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

but

↗

Sense 1: However; marking contrast or qualification. Sense 2: Except or unless; excluding all others or alternatives. Sense 3: Only; no more than what follows.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893 · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

ye

↗

The second-person plural subject pronoun, referring to the persons being addressed as those who are, do, or receive the stated predicate.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

after

↗

1. Later than or following in time or order. 2. Behind. 3. In pursuit of.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

works

↗

Plural of work: acts, deeds, labours, operations, products, or things made.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

for

↗

1. In behalf of or in the place of. 2. With respect to, concerning, or toward. 3. Because of or on account of. 4. During or throughout. 5. In order to obtain or reach. 6. As a conjunction, because or seeing that.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

say

↗

Sense 1: To speak, declare, tell, or express. Sense 2: What is said.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

READ THE PASSAGE

View in context

Suggested context · Matthew 23:1–12

The selected passage is highlighted. Context is a study aid.

23:1THEN spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples,

23:2Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat:

23:3All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.

Selected passage

23:4For 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.

23:5But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,

23:6And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues,

23:7And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.

23:8But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.

23:9And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.

23:10Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.

23:11But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.

23:12And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

LOCAL PASTOR DIRECTORY

Ask a Pastor Near You

Enter a U.S. ZIP code to find nearby pastors committed to holding fast the faithful word.

Your ZIP is processed in this browser from local data. It is not sent to a ZIP lookup service or to a church. ZIP coordinates from GeoNames, licensed under CC BY 4.0.