Matthew 23: A Call to Authentic Faith and a Warning Against Hypocrisy
Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples,
Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat:
All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.
For 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.
But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,
And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues,
And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.
But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.
And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.
Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.
But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.
And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.
But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.
Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor!
Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold?
And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty.
Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift?
Whoso therefore shall swear by the altar, sweareth by it, and by all things thereon.
And whoso shall swear by the temple, sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth therein.
And he that shall swear by heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth thereon.
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.
Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.
Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous,
And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.
Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets.
Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers.
Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?
Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city:
That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.
Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation.
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!
Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.
For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.
Matthew 23 stands as a powerful and poignant chapter, capturing Jesus's final public denouncement of the scribes and Pharisees before His crucifixion. Situated within the last week of Jesus's earthly ministry, following His compelling teachings and skillful rebuttals to religious leaders in the temple (Matthew 21-22), this chapter is a pivotal moment. Here, Jesus doesn’t just debate; He pronounces God’s judgment, offering a series of seven "woe to you" statements directed at the hypocrisy of the religious leaders. His heart, however, breaks for Jerusalem, lamenting the judgment that will befall the city for rejecting God's loving embrace. This sets the stage for His departure from the temple and the extended teachings on the end times in Matthew 24.
The Authority and Hypocrisy (Matthew 23:1-3)
Jesus begins by addressing the crowds and His disciples, acknowledging the scribes and Pharisees' formal authority. They "sit on Moses' seat" (Matthew 23:2), holding a position of leadership and instruction. However, Jesus doesn't advocate for rebellion against their authority. Instead, He issues a crucial warning: "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" (Matthew 23:3).
The core issue isn't their position, but their hypocrisy. They are adept at instructing others but fail to live by the very standards they impose. This disconnect between word and deed forms the foundation of Jesus's critique, highlighting the importance of authentic faith that manifests in consistent action.
The Burden of Empty Religion (Matthew 23:4-12)
Jesus elaborates on the Pharisees' hypocrisy, exposing their motives. 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" (Matthew 23:4). Instead of easing the burdens of others through compassion and understanding, they add to them with rigid rules and regulations. They create barriers rather than pathways to God.
Their actions are driven by a desire for external validation, not genuine service to God. "Everything they do is done for people to see" (Matthew 23:5). They enlarge their phylacteries – small boxes containing Scripture verses worn as reminders to pray – and lengthen the tassels on their garments, transforming symbols of devotion into displays of religious pride. They crave the most important seats at banquets and synagogues, and relish being greeted with honorific titles in public (Matthew 23:6-7).
Jesus strongly condemns this pursuit of recognition. He instructs His followers to avoid such behavior, emphasizing humility and servanthood. "But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Messiah. The greatest among you will be your servant" (Matthew 23:8-11). True greatness, according to Jesus, lies not in seeking honor but in serving others. He encapsulates this principle with a profound statement: "For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted" (Matthew 23:12). This principle underscores the upside-down nature of God's kingdom, where humility is the pathway to true honor.
Seven Woes: Pronouncing Judgment on Hypocrisy (Matthew 23:13-36)
The heart of Matthew 23 consists of seven "woe" statements, each a pronouncement of judgment against the scribes and Pharisees for their specific acts of hypocrisy. The term "woe" (Greek ouai) expresses deep sorrow and impending doom, akin to saying "alas!" or "oh, this is bad."
- First Woe (Matthew 23:13): They shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces, neither entering themselves nor allowing others to enter. They block the way of salvation, hindering others from receiving Christ.
- Second Woe (Matthew 23:15): They travel great distances to win a single convert, only to make that convert "twice as much a child of hell" as themselves. Their zealous efforts lead to a distorted faith that is far from God's true intention.
- Third Woe (Matthew 23:16-22): They make absurd distinctions regarding oaths, claiming that some oaths are binding while others are not. Jesus exposes the fallacy of such distinctions, emphasizing that all oaths made in God's name are sacred.
- Fourth Woe (Matthew 23:23-24): They meticulously tithe even the smallest spices but neglect the "more important matters of the law—justice, mercy, and faithfulness." They major on the minors and minor on the majors, straining out a gnat but swallowing a camel.
- Fifth Woe (Matthew 23:25-26): They clean the outside of the cup and dish but leave the inside full of greed and self-indulgence. They prioritize external appearances over internal purity.
- Sixth Woe (Matthew 23:27-28): They are like whitewashed tombs, beautiful on the outside but full of dead men’s bones on the inside. Their outward righteousness masks inner wickedness.
- Seventh Woe (Matthew 23:29-36): They build tombs for the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous, claiming they would not have participated in their persecution. Yet, they are about to reject and murder the Messiah, proving themselves to be just like their forefathers. Jesus predicts that they will continue to persecute and kill those He sends, filling up the measure of their ancestors' sins.
These woes paint a stark picture of religious leaders obsessed with outward appearances and legalistic details while neglecting the heart of God's law: love, mercy, and justice. They are blind guides leading others astray, prioritizing their own honor above God's glory and the well-being of those they are meant to serve.
Jesus' Lament Over Jerusalem (Matthew 23:37-39)
The chapter concludes with a deeply moving lament over Jerusalem. Despite the city's role as the center of God's covenant with Israel and the location of His temple, it has consistently rejected God's messengers. Jesus cries out, "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" (Matthew 23:37).
This poignant image reveals Jesus's profound love and desire to protect His people, even in the face of their rejection. He longs to embrace them, offering safety and security, but they stubbornly refuse. As a result, Jesus declares, "your house is left to you desolate" (Matthew 23:38). This foreshadows the coming destruction of Jerusalem and the temple, a consequence of their rejection of the Messiah.
However, the lament ends with a glimmer of hope. Jesus states, "For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord'" (Matthew 23:39). This alludes to His future return, when the people of Jerusalem will finally recognize Him as the Messiah and welcome Him with open arms. This moment marks the time of his rejection and the beginning of a new era. One day, however, he will return to establish his millennial kingdom. Quoting Psalm 118:26, Jesus announced that he would depart but promised he would come back.
Matthew 23 serves as a powerful reminder of the dangers of hypocrisy and the importance of authentic faith. It challenges us to examine our own motives and actions, ensuring that our outward expressions of faith are rooted in genuine love for God and service to others. It calls us to humility, servanthood, and a relentless pursuit of justice, mercy, and faithfulness. It also offers a glimpse of hope, reminding us of God's unwavering love and His promise to return and establish His kingdom of righteousness and peace.
Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples,
Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat:
All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.
For 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.
But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,
And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues,
And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.
But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.
And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.
Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.
But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.
And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.
But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.
Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor!
Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold?
And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty.
Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift?
Whoso therefore shall swear by the altar, sweareth by it, and by all things thereon.
And whoso shall swear by the temple, sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth therein.
And he that shall swear by heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth thereon.
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.
Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.
Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous,
And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.
Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets.
Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers.
Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?
Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city:
That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.
Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation.
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!
Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.
For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.
Matthew 23 stands as a powerful and poignant chapter, capturing Jesus's final public denouncement of the scribes and Pharisees before His crucifixion. Situated within the last week of Jesus's earthly ministry, following His compelling teachings and skillful rebuttals to religious leaders in the temple (Matthew 21-22), this chapter is a pivotal moment. Here, Jesus doesn’t just debate; He pronounces God’s judgment, offering a series of seven "woe to you" statements directed at the hypocrisy of the religious leaders. His heart, however, breaks for Jerusalem, lamenting the judgment that will befall the city for rejecting God's loving embrace. This sets the stage for His departure from the temple and the extended teachings on the end times in Matthew 24.
The Authority and Hypocrisy (Matthew 23:1-3)
Jesus begins by addressing the crowds and His disciples, acknowledging the scribes and Pharisees' formal authority. They "sit on Moses' seat" (Matthew 23:2), holding a position of leadership and instruction. However, Jesus doesn't advocate for rebellion against their authority. Instead, He issues a crucial warning: "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" (Matthew 23:3).
The core issue isn't their position, but their hypocrisy. They are adept at instructing others but fail to live by the very standards they impose. This disconnect between word and deed forms the foundation of Jesus's critique, highlighting the importance of authentic faith that manifests in consistent action.
The Burden of Empty Religion (Matthew 23:4-12)
Jesus elaborates on the Pharisees' hypocrisy, exposing their motives. 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" (Matthew 23:4). Instead of easing the burdens of others through compassion and understanding, they add to them with rigid rules and regulations. They create barriers rather than pathways to God.
Their actions are driven by a desire for external validation, not genuine service to God. "Everything they do is done for people to see" (Matthew 23:5). They enlarge their phylacteries – small boxes containing Scripture verses worn as reminders to pray – and lengthen the tassels on their garments, transforming symbols of devotion into displays of religious pride. They crave the most important seats at banquets and synagogues, and relish being greeted with honorific titles in public (Matthew 23:6-7).
Jesus strongly condemns this pursuit of recognition. He instructs His followers to avoid such behavior, emphasizing humility and servanthood. "But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Messiah. The greatest among you will be your servant" (Matthew 23:8-11). True greatness, according to Jesus, lies not in seeking honor but in serving others. He encapsulates this principle with a profound statement: "For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted" (Matthew 23:12). This principle underscores the upside-down nature of God's kingdom, where humility is the pathway to true honor.
Seven Woes: Pronouncing Judgment on Hypocrisy (Matthew 23:13-36)
The heart of Matthew 23 consists of seven "woe" statements, each a pronouncement of judgment against the scribes and Pharisees for their specific acts of hypocrisy. The term "woe" (Greek ouai) expresses deep sorrow and impending doom, akin to saying "alas!" or "oh, this is bad."
- First Woe (Matthew 23:13): They shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces, neither entering themselves nor allowing others to enter. They block the way of salvation, hindering others from receiving Christ.
- Second Woe (Matthew 23:15): They travel great distances to win a single convert, only to make that convert "twice as much a child of hell" as themselves. Their zealous efforts lead to a distorted faith that is far from God's true intention.
- Third Woe (Matthew 23:16-22): They make absurd distinctions regarding oaths, claiming that some oaths are binding while others are not. Jesus exposes the fallacy of such distinctions, emphasizing that all oaths made in God's name are sacred.
- Fourth Woe (Matthew 23:23-24): They meticulously tithe even the smallest spices but neglect the "more important matters of the law—justice, mercy, and faithfulness." They major on the minors and minor on the majors, straining out a gnat but swallowing a camel.
- Fifth Woe (Matthew 23:25-26): They clean the outside of the cup and dish but leave the inside full of greed and self-indulgence. They prioritize external appearances over internal purity.
- Sixth Woe (Matthew 23:27-28): They are like whitewashed tombs, beautiful on the outside but full of dead men’s bones on the inside. Their outward righteousness masks inner wickedness.
- Seventh Woe (Matthew 23:29-36): They build tombs for the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous, claiming they would not have participated in their persecution. Yet, they are about to reject and murder the Messiah, proving themselves to be just like their forefathers. Jesus predicts that they will continue to persecute and kill those He sends, filling up the measure of their ancestors' sins.
These woes paint a stark picture of religious leaders obsessed with outward appearances and legalistic details while neglecting the heart of God's law: love, mercy, and justice. They are blind guides leading others astray, prioritizing their own honor above God's glory and the well-being of those they are meant to serve.
Jesus' Lament Over Jerusalem (Matthew 23:37-39)
The chapter concludes with a deeply moving lament over Jerusalem. Despite the city's role as the center of God's covenant with Israel and the location of His temple, it has consistently rejected God's messengers. Jesus cries out, "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" (Matthew 23:37).
This poignant image reveals Jesus's profound love and desire to protect His people, even in the face of their rejection. He longs to embrace them, offering safety and security, but they stubbornly refuse. As a result, Jesus declares, "your house is left to you desolate" (Matthew 23:38). This foreshadows the coming destruction of Jerusalem and the temple, a consequence of their rejection of the Messiah.
However, the lament ends with a glimmer of hope. Jesus states, "For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord'" (Matthew 23:39). This alludes to His future return, when the people of Jerusalem will finally recognize Him as the Messiah and welcome Him with open arms. This moment marks the time of his rejection and the beginning of a new era. One day, however, he will return to establish his millennial kingdom. Quoting Psalm 118:26, Jesus announced that he would depart but promised he would come back.
Matthew 23 serves as a powerful reminder of the dangers of hypocrisy and the importance of authentic faith. It challenges us to examine our own motives and actions, ensuring that our outward expressions of faith are rooted in genuine love for God and service to others. It calls us to humility, servanthood, and a relentless pursuit of justice, mercy, and faithfulness. It also offers a glimpse of hope, reminding us of God's unwavering love and His promise to return and establish His kingdom of righteousness and peace.