# Matthew 23 đ: Woes to the Scribes and Pharisees
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> [!info] Table of Contents
> [[#đ Scripture Text (NET)]]
> [[#đ¤ Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights]]
> [[#đ§ Chapter Summary]]
> [[#âď¸ Christ in This Chapter]]
> [[#đ Key Observations / đ Life Application]]
> [[#đŹ Discussion Questions]]
> [[#âď¸ Key Verses to Remember]]
> [[#đ Related Passages]]
> [[#đ Devotional Reflection]]
> [[#đ Internal Notes]]
## đ Scripture Text (NET)
(The NET Bible: New English Translation. Biblical Studies Press, 2005)
### Seven Woes
**Principle**: Honor but donât follow leaders who donât do the right things for the right reasons.
[[#Verse 01]]Â Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples,Â
[[#Verse 02]] âThe experts in the law and the Pharisees sit on Mosesâ seat.Â
[[#Verse 03]]Â Therefore pay attention to what they tell you and do it. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they teach.Â
[[#Verse 04]] They tie up heavy loads, hard to carry, and put them on menâs shoulders, but they themselves are not willing even to lift a finger to move them.Â
[[#Verse 05]] They do all their deeds to be seen by people, for they make their phylacteries wide and their tassels long.Â
[[#Verse 06]] They love the place of honor at banquets and the best seats in the synagoguesÂ
[[#Verse 07]] and elaborate greetings in the marketplaces, and to have people call them âRabbi.âÂ
[[#Verse 08]]Â But you are not to be called âRabbi,â for you have one Teacher and you are all brothers.Â
[[#Verse 09]]Â And call no one your âfatherâ on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven.Â
[[#Verse 10]]Â Nor are you to be called âteacher,â for you have one teacher, the Christ.
[[#Verse 11]] The greatest among you will be your servant.Â
[[#Verse 12]]Â And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
[[#Verse 13]] âBut woe to you, experts in the law and you Pharisees, hypocrites! You keep locking people out of the kingdom of heaven! For you neither enter nor permit those trying to enter to go in.
[[#Verse 15]] âWoe to you, experts in the law and you Pharisees, hypocrites! You cross land and sea to make one convert, and when you get one, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves!
[[#Verse 16]] âWoe to you, blind guides, who say, âWhoever swears by the temple is bound by nothing. But whoever swears by the gold of the temple is bound by the oath.âÂ
[[#Verse 17]]Â Blind fools! Which is greater, the gold or the temple that makes the gold sacred?Â
[[#Verse 18]] And, âWhoever swears by the altar is bound by nothing.But if anyone swears by the gift on it he is bound by the oath.âÂ
[[#Verse 19]]Â You are blind! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that makes the gift sacred?Â
[[#Verse 20]]Â So whoever swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it.
[[#Verse 21]]Â And whoever swears by the temple swears by it and the one who dwells in it.Â
[[#Verse 22]]Â And whoever swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and the one who sits on it.
[[#Verse 23]] âWoe to you, experts in the law and you Pharisees, hypocrites! You give a tenth of mint, dill, and cumin, yet you neglect what is more important in the lawâjustice, mercy, and faithfulness! You should have done these things without neglecting the others.Â
[[# Verse 24]] Blind guides! You strain out a gnat yet swallow a camel!
[[#Verse 25]] âWoe to you, experts in the law and you Pharisees, hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.Â
[[#Verse 26]] Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup, so that the outside may become clean too!
[[#Verse 27]] âWoe to you, experts in the law and you Pharisees, hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs that look beautiful on the outside but inside are full of the bones of the dead and of everything unclean.Â
[[#Verse 28]]Â In the same way, on the outside you look righteous to people, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
[[#Verse 29]] âWoe to you, experts in the law and you Pharisees, hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous.Â
[[#Verse 30]] And you say, âIf we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would not have participated with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.âÂ
[[#Verse 31]]Â By saying this you testify against yourselves that you are descendants of those who murdered the prophets.Â
[[#Verse 32]]Â Fill up then the measure of your ancestors!Â
[[#Verse 33]]Â You snakes, you offspring of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell?
[[#Verse 34]] âFor this reason I am sending you prophets and wise men and experts in the law, some of whom you will kill and crucify, and some you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town,Â
[[#Verse 35]] so that on you will come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.Â
[[2 Chronicles 24|2 Chronicles 24:20-21]] | [[Luke 11|Luke 11:51]]
[[#Verse 36]] I tell you the truth, this generation will be held responsible for all these things!
### Judgment on Israel
**Principle**: Jesus doesnât force Himself on us.
[[#Verse 37]] âO Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those who are sent to you! How often I have longed to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you would have none of it!
[[#Verse 38]]Â Look, your house is left to you desolate!Â
[[#Verse 39]]Â For I tell you, you will not see me from now until you say, â**_Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!_**ââ
# ==đ Verse-by-Verse Commentary==
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##### Verse 39
## đ¤ Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights
1. "Moses' seat" (23:2) refers to the authority to teach the Law. A carved stone seat found in the synagogue at Chorazin is often called a "seat of Moses."
2. Phylacteries (23:5) were small leather boxes containing Scripture verses, worn on the forehead and arm (Deuteronomy 6:8).
3. The title "Rabbi" (23:7) literally means "my great one" and was used for a teacher.
4. "Woe" is a cry of grief and warning used by the prophets (Isaiah 5:8-22). Jesus pronounces seven woes in this chapter.
5. Mint, dill, and cumin (23:23) were small kitchen herbs. Some were so careful that they tithed even these.
6. Gnats and camels (23:24) were both unclean animals. Strict Pharisees strained their drinks through cloth to avoid swallowing a tiny insect.
7. Tombs were whitewashed (23:27) so pilgrims would notice them and avoid becoming unclean by touching them.
8. Abel's murder is in Genesis, and Zechariah's (2 Chronicles 24:20-22) is near the end of the Hebrew Bible, which ends with Chronicles. Jesus' phrase spans the whole Old Testament (23:35).
9. This chapter is Jesus' final public teaching in Matthew before His private teaching on the Mount of Olives (chapters 24 and 25).
10. The image of a hen gathering chicks (23:37) echoes Old Testament pictures of refuge under God's wings (Psalm 91:4; Ruth 2:12).
## đ§ Chapter Summary
> [!note] đą Still growing. This section is on its way.
## âď¸ Christ in This Chapter
Christ is the one Teacher and Master of His people (23:8, 10) and the Lord who longs to gather Jerusalem as a hen gathers her chicks (23:37). His tears over the city show the heart of God (Luke 19:41).
## đ Key Observations / đ Life Application
> [!note] đą Still growing. This section is on its way.
## đŹ Discussion Questions
1. Jesus warns against doing things to be seen and loving honored titles (23:5-7). Where are we tempted to seek honor from people?
2. Jesus says they tithed spices but neglected justice, mercy, and faithfulness (23:23). How can we keep the small things without missing the weightier matters?
3. Jesus longed to gather Jerusalem, but they were not willing (23:37). What does this reveal about Jesus' heart toward those who resist Him?
## âď¸ Key Verses to Remember
- đ verses 11-12: The greatest among you will be your servant, and whoever exalts himself will be humbled.
- đ verse 23: The more important matters of the Law are justice, mercy, and faithfulness.
- đ verse 28: Outwardly they look righteous, but inside they are full of hypocrisy.
- đ verse 37: Jesus longs to gather Jerusalem's children as a hen gathers her chicks.
## đ Related Passages
- đ [[Deuteronomy 06#Verse 08.|Deuteronomy 6:8]] and [[Numbers 15#Verse 38.|Numbers 15:38]] - Phylacteries and tassels.
- đ [[James 03#Verse 01.|James 3:1]] - Not many should become teachers.
- đ [[Proverbs 29#Verse 23.|Proverbs 29:23]] and [[Luke 14#Verse 11.|Luke 14:11]] - Pride brings a person low.
- đ [[Micah 06#Verse 08.|Micah 6:8]] - Do justice, love mercy, walk humbly with God.
- đ [[Leviticus 27#Verse 30.|Leviticus 27:30]] - The tithe belongs to the Lord.
- đ [[Luke 11#Verse 39.|Luke 11:39-41]] - Clean the inside of the cup.
- đ [[Genesis 04#Verse 08.|Genesis 4:8]] and [[2 Chronicles 24#Verse 20.|2 Chronicles 24:20-22]] - From the blood of Abel to Zechariah.
- đ [[Psalm 91#Verse 04.|Psalm 91:4]] and [[Ruth 02#Verse 12.|Ruth 2:12]] - Refuge under God's wings.
- đ [[Jeremiah 22#Verse 05.|Jeremiah 22:5]] - This house will become desolate.
- đ [[Psalm 118#Verse 26.|Psalm 118:26]] - Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.
## đ Devotional Reflection
đ SOAP: [[Matthew 23 - SOAP|Let Him In]]
## đ Internal Notes