In an eye-opening address, Jesus confronts the religious leaders of His time, exposing their hypocrisy and calling for genuine faith. The tension is palpable as He guides His followers toward a deeper understanding of true righteousness.
The Reading: Matthew 23
World English Bible1 Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to his disciples,
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2 saying, “The scribes and the Pharisees sat on Moses’ seat.
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3 All things therefore whatever they tell you to observe, observe and do, but don’t do their works; for they say, and don’t do.
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4 For they bind heavy burdens that are grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not lift a finger to help them.
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5 But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad, enlarge the fringes of their garments,
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6 and love the place of honor at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues,
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7 the salutations in the marketplaces, and to be called ‘Rabbi, Rabbi’ by men.
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8 But don’t you be called ‘Rabbi,’ for one is your teacher, the Christ, and all of you are brothers.
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9 Call no man on the earth your father, for one is your Father, he who is in heaven.
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10 Neither be called masters, for one is your master, the Christ.
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11 But he who is greatest among you will be your servant.
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12 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
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13 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses, and as a pretense you make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation.
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14 “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you shut up the Kingdom of Heaven against men; for you don’t enter in yourselves, neither do you allow those who are entering in to enter.
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15 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel around by sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of Gehenna as yourselves.
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16 “Woe to you, you blind guides, who say, ‘Whoever swears by the temple, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple, he is obligated.’
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17 You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifies the gold?
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18 ‘Whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gift that is on it, he is obligated?’
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19 You blind fools! For which is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifies the gift?
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20 He therefore who swears by the altar, swears by it, and by everything on it.
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21 He who swears by the temple, swears by it, and by him who has been living in it.
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22 He who swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God, and by him who sits on it.
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23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint, dill, and cumin, and have left undone the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faith. But you ought to have done these, and not to have left the other undone.
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24 You blind guides, who strain out a gnat, and swallow a camel!
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25 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and unrighteousness.
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26 You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the platter, that its outside may become clean also.
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27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitened tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but inwardly are full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.
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28 Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
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29 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets, and decorate the tombs of the righteous,
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30 and say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we wouldn’t have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.’
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31 Therefore you testify to yourselves that you are children of those who killed the prophets.
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32 Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers.
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33 You serpents, you offspring of vipers, how will you escape the judgment of Gehenna?
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34 Therefore behold, I send to 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;
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35 that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zachariah son of Barachiah, whom you killed between the sanctuary and the altar.
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36 Most certainly I tell you, all these things will come upon this generation.
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37 “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets, and stones those who are sent to her! How often I would have gathered your children together, even as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you would not!
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38 Behold, your house is left to you desolate.
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39 For I tell you, you will not see me from now on, until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’”
What This Chapter Is Really Saying
The Setting
In Matthew 23, Jesus speaks directly to the crowds and His disciples about the religious leaders - scribes and Pharisees - who held positions of authority. He acknowledges that they sit in a position of teaching, but His message quickly shifts to calling out their contradictory behavior.
The Critique
- Do as They Say, Not as They Do: Jesus advises the people to follow the teachings of the Pharisees but warns them not to imitate their actions, as they are hypocrites who impose heavy burdens on others without lifting a finger to help.
- Showy Piety: The religious leaders love to flaunt their status - wearing broad phylacteries (tiny scrolls of scripture) and seeking the best seats at gatherings. This outward display of piety masks their true nature.
- A Call to Humility: Jesus emphasizes that true greatness comes from serving others, not from seeking titles or status. He teaches that the greatest among them should be a servant, flipping the script on what it means to be a leader.
The Woes
Jesus unleashes a series of "woes" against the scribes and Pharisees, condemning their actions:
- They exploit the vulnerable, like widows, while pretending to be righteous.
- They hinder others from entering the Kingdom of Heaven, focusing on trivial matters while neglecting justice, mercy, and faith.
- They are like beautiful tombs filled with decay, appearing righteous on the outside but corrupt within.
A Heartbroken Appeal
Towards the end of the chapter, Jesus expresses His sorrow over Jerusalem. He yearns to gather its people and protect them like a hen gathers her chicks, but they refuse His loving call. He warns that their house will be left desolate, prophesying a future separation from Him until they recognize Him as the true messenger from God.
Why It Matters
Authentic Faith Matters
Matthew 23 reminds us that the essence of faith lies not in outward appearances but in the condition of our hearts. The Pharisees may have followed the rules, but their heart wasn't in the right place. For us, this means striving for authenticity in our spiritual lives.
Serve Others
Jesus flips the idea of leadership on its head. Instead of seeking recognition and status, we're called to serve others. True leadership and greatness come from humility and service, challenging us to consider how we treat those around us.
Compassion Over Judgment
The chapter closes with Jesus' heartfelt lament for Jerusalem, reinforcing that compassion should guide our actions. How often do we miss opportunities to help or support those in need? As we reflect on these lessons, you might feel inspired to join a community of faith. If you're looking to connect with others and learn more, find a church near you.
Coming Up Next: Matthew 24
As we turn to Matthew 24, Jesus shifts His focus to the end times, offering warnings about future events and the signs of His return. This next part of the journey promises to unveil profound insights into what lies ahead for the faithful.