JMNT(i)
42 "But in contrast, tragic will be the fate for you Pharisees (or: among you, the Pharisees),
because you consistently give away one tenth (or: habitually pay tithes)
from the mint and the rue, as well as every edible plant (garden herb or vegetable),
and yet you folks are consistently (or: continually)
bypassing the decisions which yield the justice (or: the judging)
and the love of God (or: which have their origin in, and express the character of, God).
Now it was continuing binding and necessary to do these things, and not to bypass [other MSS: and yet not continue to {other MSS: not at any point} send away, or to the side,]
those things.
43 "Tragic will be the fate for you Pharisees (or: among you, the Pharisees),
because you habitually love the front place of sitting (or: highly regard the prominent seat; = the most important place in a meeting)
in the synagogues, as well as the greetings (= deferential recognitions)
within the marketplaces.
44 "Tragic will be your fate, you scholars (theologians; scribes)
and Pharisees – the overly judging and critical folks (
hupokrites; or: those who put texts under close inspection to sift and separate and then give an answer, an interpretation, an opinion; or: those who live by separating things yet who under-discern; or: those who make judgments from a low view; or: those who under-estimate reality; or: perverse scholars who focus on tiny distinctions),
because you exist being as unseen (or: = are unmarked)
memorial tombs (= graves having the characteristics of Hades),
and so the people (or: mankind)
habitually walking around on top [
of them]
have not seen and so do not know (= without realizing) [
it]
!" [note: contact with a grave rendered a person ceremonially unclean]