²² They were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as having authority, and not as the scribes.

²⁸ It happened, when Jesus had finished saying these things, that the multitudes were astonished at his teaching,

²⁹ for he taught them with authority, and not like the scribes.

²⁹ Isn't my word like fire? says Yahweh; and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?

¹² For the word of God is living, and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and is able to discern the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

¹³ There is no creature that is hidden from his sight, but all things are naked and laid open before the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

² But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by the manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.

²¹ All who heard him were amazed, and said, "Isn't this he who in Jerusalem made havoc of those who called on this name? And he had come here intending to bring them bound before the chief priests!"

²² But Saul increased more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived at Damascus, proving that this is the Christ.

¹⁰ They weren't able to withstand the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke.

⁴⁶ The officers answered, "No man ever spoke like this man!"

¹⁵ for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to withstand or to contradict.

³² and they were astonished at his teaching, for his word was with authority.

³ (For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, don't eat unless they wash their hands and forearms, holding to the tradition of the elders.

⁴ They don't eat when they come from the marketplace, unless they bathe themselves, and there are many other things, which they have received to hold to: washings of cups, pitchers, bronze vessels, and couches.)

⁵ The Pharisees and the scribes asked him, "Why don't your disciples walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat their bread with unwashed hands?"

⁶ He answered them, "Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, 'This people honors me with their lips, But their heart is far from me.

⁷ But in vain do they worship me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'

⁸ "For you set aside the commandment of God, and hold tightly to the tradition of men--the washing of pitchers and cups, and you do many other such things."

⁹ He said to them, "Full well do you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition.

¹⁰ For Moses said, 'Honor your father and your mother;' and, 'He who speaks evil of father or mother, let him be put to death.'

¹¹ But you say, 'If a man tells his father or his mother, "Whatever profit you might have received from me is Corban{Corban is a Hebrew word for an offering devoted to God.}, that is to say, given to God;"'

¹² then you no longer allow him to do anything for his father or his mother,

¹³ making void the word of God by your tradition, which you have handed down. You do many things like this."

¹⁶ "Woe to you, you blind guides, who say, 'Whoever swears by the temple, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple, he is obligated.'

¹⁷ You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifies the gold?

¹⁸ 'Whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gift that is on it, he is obligated.'

¹⁹ You blind fools! For which is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifies the gift?

²⁰ He therefore who swears by the altar, swears by it, and by everything on it.

²¹ He who swears by the temple, swears by it, and by him who was living in it.

²² He who swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God, and by him who sits on it.

²³ "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint, dill, and cumin,{ cumin is an aromatic seed from Cuminum cyminum, resembling caraway in flavor and appearance. It is used as a spice.} and have left undone the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faith. But you ought to have done these, and not to have left the other undone.

²⁴ You blind guides, who strain out a gnat, and swallow a camel!

⁵⁴ Coming into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished, and said, "Where did this man get this wisdom, and these mighty works?