A surgical instrument with a clamping device for holding and/or clamping tissue, a severing device for severing tissue and a handling device for actuating the clamping device and/or the severing device is provided. The clamping device is provided with at least one clamping member having a clamping surface and a clamping member opening. The severing device is provided with a severing member movable at least partially into the clamping member opening. In order to reliably prevent short circuits between the at least one clamping member and the severing member, a severing member guide device is provided for guiding the severing member in the clamping member opening and for maintaining a spacing from inner side surfaces of the clamping member opening.
