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Matthew 23

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.

What does Matthew 23:12 mean?

Explanation

Matthew 23:12 is a verse that highlights a paradoxical truth about the nature of humility and pride.

The verse states, "And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted." This means that those who seek to elevate themselves in importance or status will ultimately be brought low, while those who willingly take a lower position and practice humility will be lifted up in honor.

The literal meaning suggests a reversal of fortunes based on one's attitude towards self-importance.

On a deeper level, it speaks to the spiritual principle that God values a humble heart, and opposes pridefulness.

The verse is a caution against self-righteousness and a reminder to adopt a spirit of servitude and humility.

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Historical Context

Matthew 23:12 is part of a wider discourse where Jesus is teaching in the Temple and criticizing the religious leaders of the day, the Pharisees and scribes, for their hypocrisy.

The context of first-century Judaism included strict observance of the Law and a highly structured religious hierarchy.

The Pharisees and scribes often sought recognition and honor from the people, loved titles and respectful greetings, and expected to be treated as superior.

During this period, social status was a significant concern, and Jesus' teachings often challenged the prevailing social norms by advocating for servitude, humility, and the value of the "last" or the "least" in society.

Theological Insights

Different theological perspectives offer varying insights into this verse.

Reformation Theology: Martin Luther would emphasize the contrast between human works and divine grace. In his view, this verse might underscore the inability of humans to attain righteousness through their own efforts and the importance of God's grace.
Catholic Theology: The Catholic tradition, with its emphasis on moral theology, might appreciate this verse as a call to virtue and humility, which are essential to Christian character and the path to sanctification.
Liberation Theology: Proponents of this school would likely highlight the verse as a divine preference for the marginalized, suggesting that God's kingdom upends societal structures to elevate the lowly.

Practical Applications

The teachings of this verse can be applied in daily life by:

Practicing humility and serving others without seeking recognition.
Resisting the urge to compare oneself with others in terms of accomplishments or status.
Developing a sense of self-awareness that enables individuals to recognize and overcome pride.
Fostering a community-oriented view where the collective good is more important than individual exaltation.

Cross-References

Luke 14:11: "For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted."
James 4:6: "But he giveth more grace.

Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble."

Proverbs 29:23: "A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit."

Language Study

The key words in this verse are "exalt" (Greek: ὑψόω, hypsoō), "abased" (Greek: ταπεινόω, tapeinoō), and "humble" (Greek: ταπεινόω, tapeinoō).

The Greek word "hypsoō" carries meanings such as to lift up high, elevate, or raise to dignity.

"Tapeinoō," on the other hand, means to make low, bring down, or depress. In the context of this verse, it implies a lowering of one's social status or pride.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Comparable ideas are found in various ancient wisdom traditions and religions.

For example, in Confucianism, the virtue of humility is considered essential to social harmony and personal development.

In Buddhism, the concept of non-self (anatta) carries the idea that attachment to a self-centered ego is a cause of suffering, and thus, humility is a path to enlightenment.

Scientific Perspectives

Psychological studies often align with the spiritual value of humility, indicating that people who are considered humble tend to have better social relationships, are more forgiving, and have better overall mental health.

Social science research suggests that humility can be a key to effective leadership as it often creates a more collaborative and inclusive work environment.

Commentaries

Various Bible scholars and commentators have provided insights into this verse.

Matthew Henry's commentary emphasizes that God will reward true humility and punish pride, whether it is found among the high or the low.
The Expositor's Bible Commentary notes the contrast with the teachers of the law, indicating Jesus' condemnation of seeking status through religious piety.
The New International Commentary on the New Testament reflects upon the radical nature of Jesus' message in the cultural context of the time, as it turned the values of society on their head to promote humility over self-promotion.

Matthew 23

Matthew 23

What does Matthew 23:12 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Matthew Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Matthew 23:12 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Matthew Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?