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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 23:27 mean?

Explanation

This verse, spoken by Jesus, is part of a broader denunciation of the scribes and Pharisees in the Gospel of Matthew.

Jesus criticizes the religious leaders for their hypocrisy, focusing on their concern for outward piety and status rather than inner goodness and sincerity.

The comparison to "whited sepulchers" (or whitewashed tombs) is metaphorical, implying that the Pharisees and scribes maintain an attractive appearance but are spiritually dead and impure inside.

This condemnation points to the discrepancy between a virtuous exterior and a corrupt interior.

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Historical Context

The verse is taken from the New Testament, where Jesus often speaks critically of the religious authorities of His time, the scribes and Pharisees.

Scribes were experts in the Jewish Law, and Pharisees were a religious party known for strict adherence to the Law.

During the Second Temple period, tombs were whitewashed as a warning sign to prevent passersby from touching them and becoming ritually impure.

The metaphor Jesus uses would resonate with his audience as it draws from a common practice and illustrates the deception of seeming pure while being impure.

Theological Insights

From a theological standpoint, this verse highlights the Christian concern for authentic inner moral and spiritual life over external religious formalism. For some Christian denominations, this verse serves as a call to self-examination and integrity.

It is also seen as an illustration of the Gospel message that prioritizes transformation of the heart rather than ritualistic compliance.

Practical Applications

In everyday life, this verse suggests the importance of inward sincerity and authenticity. It cautions against leading a 'double life' and encourages individuals to reflect on whether their private life aligns with their public image.

It is a reminder to value substance over superficiality, promoting a holistic approach to spiritual and moral growth.

Cross-References

Luke 11:44 - "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are as graves which appear not, and the men that walk over them are not aware of them."
Matthew 23:25-26 - "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."
Mark 7:6 - "He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me."

Language Study

In the original Greek text, key words include:

Hypocrites (ὑποκριταί): Actors; pretenders; ones playing a role contrary to their true character.
Whited (κεκονιαμένοις): The act of whitewashing or painting with lime to make something appear clean.
Sepulchres (τάφοις): Tombs or burial places.

This phrase uses strong visual terms to condemn the surface-level righteousness of the Pharisees and scribes.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Similar to the ancient Egyptian practice of adorning the tombs with beautiful artwork and inscriptions, the Jewish practice of white-washing tombs made them stand out.

This practice may have been rooted in an understanding of outward holiness.

In many ancient cultures, emphasis was placed on external rituals and purity rather than internal morality.

The criticism Jesus provides goes against this cultural norm.

Scientific Perspectives

This verse does not lend itself easily to scientific analysis.

However, the concept of "inside" and "outside" has parallels in psychological studies of self-perception, identity, and authenticity.

Psychological research on the cognitive dissonance between one's actions and beliefs might provide a modern framework for understanding the phenomenon of hypocrisy that Jesus criticizes.

Commentaries

Commentaries on this verse generally agree that Jesus is admonishing the leaders for their focus on appearances while neglecting their inner spiritual state.

Matthew Henry's Commentary notes that true beauty comes from virtues and graces of the Holy Spirit, not just outward compliance.

The Expositor's Bible Commentary highlights the contrast that Jesus makes between external religious compliance and internal corruption.

Similarly, the New Bible Commentary underscores the teachings of Jesus on the danger of hypocrisy and the importance of inward purity.

Matthew 23

Matthew 23

What does Matthew 23:27 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 23:27 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?