Matthew Chapter 23 is a powerful and confrontational chapter in which Jesus delivers a series of warnings and rebukes directed at the religious leaders of His time, particularly the Pharisees and scribes.
Division of the Chapter:
1. Teaching on the Pharisees and Scribes (Verses 1-12)
2. Seven Woes to the Pharisees (Verses 13-36)
3. Lament Over Jerusalem (Verses 37-39)
Overview of Matthew Chapter 23:
1. Jesus’ Teaching on the Pharisees and Scribes (Verses 1-12):
Authority of the Pharisees:
Jesus acknowledges that the Pharisees and scribes sit in Moses' seat, implying they hold a position of authority in interpreting the Law.
Warning Against Their Hypocrisy:
He warns the people to do what they say but not to follow their example, as they do not practice what they preach. They burden others with strict laws while failing to lift a finger to help.
Desire for Recognition:
Jesus condemns their desire for titles and honor, emphasizing that greatness in God's kingdom is measured by servanthood.
A Warning Against Hypocrisy
1 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples:
2 “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat.
3 So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.
4 They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.
5 “Everything they do is done for people to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long.
6 they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues.
7 they love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and to be called ‘Rabbi’ by others.
8 “But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers.
9 And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven.
10 Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Messiah.
11 The greatest among you will be your servant.
12 For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.
Verse 1
Jesus Addresses the Crowds:
"Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples:"
Jesus begins to teach both the crowds and His disciples, indicating that His message is important for all who are listening.
Verse 2
Teaching About the Pharisees:
"'The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in - Moses’ seat."
Jesus acknowledges the authority of the Pharisees and teachers of the law, who interpret the Scriptures for the people.
Verse 3
Follow Their Teachings:
"'So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.'"
Jesus instructs the people to follow the teachings of the Pharisees but warns them not to imitate their actions, as they do not practice what they teach.
Verse 4
Heavy Burdens:
"'They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.'"
He criticizes the Pharisees for placing burdensome requirements on others while refusing to help carry those burdens themselves.
Verse 5
Desire for Recognition:
"'Everything they do is done for people to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long.'"
Jesus points out their hypocrisy, emphasizing that their actions are motivated by a desire for public recognition rather than genuine faith.
Verse 6
Seeking Honor:
"'They love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues;'"
The Pharisees seek accolades and prestigious positions, highlighting their focus on status rather than humility.
Verse 7
Desire for Titles:
"'they love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and to be called ‘Rabbi’ by others.'"
Jesus notes their desire for titles and respect from others, which reflects their pride and need for affirmation.
Verse 8
Call for Humility:
"'But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers.'"
Jesus instructs His followers to avoid titles that elevate them above others, emphasizing the equality of all believers as spiritual siblings.
Verse 9
God as Father:
"'And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven.'"
He teaches that God is the ultimate authority and Father, cautioning against giving undue reverence to earthly leaders.
Verse 10
Avoiding Titles of Authority:
"'Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Messiah.'"
Jesus reinforces the idea that Christ is the ultimate teacher, discouraging titles that could lead to pride or hierarchy among believers.
Verse 11
Greatness in Service:
"'The greatest among you will be your servant.'"
He flips the typical notion of greatness upside down, stating that true greatness comes from serving others.
Verse 12
Humility and Exaltation:
"'For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.'"
Jesus emphasizes the principle that those who seek to elevate themselves will ultimately be brought low, while those who practice humility will be honored.
2. Seven Woes to the Pharisees (Verses 13-36):
Jesus pronounces a series of “woes” (pronouncements of judgment) against the Pharisees and scribes, highlighting their hypocrisy and failure to lead the people correctly. Each woe addresses specific behaviors and attitudes:
Woe 1 (Verse 13):
They shut the kingdom of heaven in people's faces, not allowing others to enter and refusing to enter themselves.
Woe 2 (Verse 15):
They travel land and sea to make a single proselyte, but once converted, they make them twice as much a child of hell as themselves.
Woe 3 (Verses 16-22):
They focus on oaths and what is considered binding, misinterpreting the Law regarding the temple and the gold within it.
Woe 4 (Verses 23-24):
They meticulously tithe even the smallest herbs while neglecting the weightier matters of the Law: justice, mercy, and faithfulness.
Woe 5 (Verses 25-26):
They clean the outside of the cup and dish but are full of greed and self-indulgence inside.
Woe 6 (Verses 27-28):
They are like whitewashed tombs, beautiful on the outside but full of dead bones and uncleanness inside.
Woe 7 (Verses 29-36):
They build tombs for the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous, yet they are the descendants of those who murdered the prophets, thus sealing their guilt.
13 But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in.
14 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore, you will receive greater condemnation.
15 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.
16 Woe to you, blind guides, who say, 'Whoever swears by the temple, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple, he is obliged to perform it.'
17 Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that sanctifies the gold?
18 And, 'Whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gift that is on it, he is obliged to perform it.'
19 Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that sanctifies the gift
20 Therefore he who swears by the altar, swears by it and by all things on it.
21 He who swears by the temple, swears by it and by Him who dwells in it
22 And 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 pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone.
24 Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!
25 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence.
26 Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also.
27 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly but inside are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness.
28 Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
29 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the monuments of the righteous,
30 and say, 'If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.'
31 Therefore you are witnesses against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets.
32 Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers' guilt.
33 Serpents, brood of vipers! How can you escape the condemnation of hell?
34 Therefore, indeed, I send you prophets, wise men, and scribes: some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from city to city,
35 that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.
36 Assuredly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation
Verse 13
Woe to the Pharisees:
"'Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces.'"
Jesus pronounces a series of woes against the Pharisees, accusing them of hindering others from entering the kingdom of heaven.
Verse 14
Devouring Widows' Houses:
"'Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. Therefore you will be punished more severely.'"
He criticizes them for exploiting vulnerable individuals like widows while pretending to be devout through their lengthy prayers.
Verse 15
Making Proselytes:
"'Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when you have succeeded, you make them twice as much a child of hell as you are.'"
Jesus condemns their zealous efforts to convert others, claiming that they lead their converts further away from true faith.
Verse 16
Blind Guides:
"'Woe to you, blind guides! You say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but anyone who swears by the gold of the temple is bound by that oath.’"
He labels them as blind guides for their misguided teachings about oaths and their misplaced values regarding the temple.
Verse 17
Misplaced Value:
"'You blind fools! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes the gold sacred?'"
Jesus challenges their logic, emphasizing that the temple holds greater significance than the gold used in it.
Verse 18
Swearing by the Altar:
"'You also say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it means nothing, but anyone who swears by the gift on the altar is bound by that oath.’"
He continues to address their faulty reasoning regarding oaths, pointing out their inconsistency.
Verse 19
Greater Significance:
"'You blind men! Which is greater: the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred?'"
Jesus reiterates that the altar is more important than the offerings placed upon it, emphasizing the need for proper understanding of sacredness.
Verse 20
Binding Oaths:
"'Therefore, anyone who swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it.'"
He clarifies that swearing by the altar implicates the entire sacrificial system, reinforcing the seriousness of their words.
Verse 21
Swearing by the Temple:
"'And anyone who swears by the temple swears by it and by the one who dwells in it.'"
Jesus asserts that swearing by the temple is equivalent to swearing by God Himself, highlighting the divine presence within the temple.
Verse 22
Swearing by Heaven:
"'And anyone who swears by heaven swears by God’s throne and by the one who sits on it.'"
He underscores the sacredness of heaven and the authority of God, reaffirming the weight of their oaths.
Verse 23
Woe to the Pharisees Again:
"'Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness.'"
Jesus condemns them for their meticulous tithing of minor herbs while neglecting the fundamental principles of justice, mercy, and faithfulness.
Verse 24
Straining at a Gnat:
"'You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.'"
He uses a metaphor to illustrate their hypocrisy, indicating that they focus on trivial matters while ignoring significant moral issues.
Verse 25
Woe to the Pharisees:
"'Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.'"
Jesus criticizes their focus on outward appearances while their inner lives are corrupt, highlighting their hypocrisy.
Verse 26
Cleaning the Inside:
"'Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.'"
He urges them to prioritize inner purity, suggesting that a genuine transformation will naturally result in outward righteousness.
Verse 27
Woe Again:
"'Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean.'"
Jesus compares them to tombs that appear beautiful but are filled with decay, emphasizing their outward righteousness paired with internal corruption.
Verse 28
Hypocrisy Exposed:
"'In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.'"
He reiterates that their external piety masks their internal sinfulness, exposing their true nature.
Verse 29
Woe to the Pharisees:
"'Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous.'"
Jesus accuses them of honoring the prophets by building monuments while failing to acknowledge their teachings and the legacy of those they killed.
Verse 30
Claiming Righteousness:
"'And you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’"
They claim that they would not have participated in the wrongdoing of their ancestors, demonstrating a lack of self-awareness regarding their own actions.
Verse 31
Children of the Prophets' Murderers:
"'So you testify against yourselves that you are the descendants of those who murdered the prophets.'"
Jesus points out that their denial serves as proof of their identity as children of the very people who persecuted the prophets.
Verse 32
Completing the Sin:
"'Go ahead, then, and complete what your ancestors started!'"
He challenges them to follow through with their own evil intentions, foreshadowing their role in His impending crucifixion.
Verse 33
Serpents and Vipers:
"'You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell?'"
Jesus uses strong language to condemn the Pharisees, warning them of the judgment that awaits them for their hypocrisy and rejection of Him.
Verse 34
Sending Prophets:
"'Therefore I am sending you prophets and sages and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify; others you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town.'"
He foretells the future persecution of His followers, indicating that they will continue the cycle of violence against God’s messengers.
Verse 35
Righteous Blood:
"'And so upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been shed on earth, from the blood of the righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berekiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.'"
Jesus declares that the guilt for all the bloodshed of God’s prophets will fall upon them, from Abel to Zechariah, highlighting their role in the ongoing rejection of God’s messengers.
Verse 36
Judgment Declared:
"'Truly I tell you, all this will come upon this generation.'"
He warns that the judgment for these actions will be experienced by the current generation, emphasizing the seriousness of their actions.
3.Lament Over Jerusalem (Verses 37-39):
Jesus’ Heartfelt Lament:
Jesus expresses His sorrow over Jerusalem, saying that He longs to gather its children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but they were not willing.
Desolation Foretold:
He foretells the desolation of the temple, stating that they will not see Him again until they say, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord,” indicating His return and the recognition of His messianic role.
37 "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!
38 See! Your house is left to you desolate
39 for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, 'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!' "
Verse 37
Jesus’ Lament:
"'Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing.'"
Jesus expresses His deep sorrow over Jerusalem's continual rejection of God’s messengers, illustrating His desire to protect and nurture them.
Verse 38
Desolation Declared:
"'Look, your house is left to you desolate.'"
He pronounces that their rejection will lead to desolation, indicating the coming judgment and destruction of Jerusalem.
Verse 39
Future Hope:
"'For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’'"
Jesus prophesies that the people will not see Him again until they recognize Him as the Messiah, quoting Psalm 118:26, hinting at His eventual return.
Matthew Chapter 23 serves as a poignant reminder of the dangers of hypocrisy in religious leadership and the importance of genuine faith and humility in the eyes of God. It also illustrates Jesus’ deep love for His people, even in the face of their rejection.
Summary of Key Themes:
Hypocrisy and Judgment:
The chapter emphasizes Jesus’ condemnation of the religious leaders' hypocrisy and the dire consequences of their actions.
Servanthood vs. Authority:
True greatness in God's kingdom is defined by humility and service, contrasting sharply with the leaders' desire for recognition and status.
God's Compassion:
Jesus’ lament over Jerusalem showcases His deep compassion and desire for the people to turn to Him.
Fulfillment of Prophecy:
The references to the prophets and the foretelling of Jerusalem’s desolation point to the fulfillment of God’s plan and the consequences of rejecting His messengers.
