Matthew 23

Matthew 23:1

SPECIAL MARKS OF A V. 1-12

1. “Then spake Jesus to the multitude,” (tote he lesous elalesen tois ochlois) “Then Jesus spoke to the crowds,” to the masses, Luke 12:1; Luke 20:45.
2. “And to his disciples,” (kai tois mathetais auto) “And to his disciples,” as they were together among the crowds, Luke 12:45; Mark 12:38.

Matthew 23:3

1. “All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe,” (panta oun hosa ean eiposin humin) “Therefore all things whatever they tell you to do,” as set forth in the law of Moses; Whatever they enjoin you to do, as set forth in the law to be kept or fulfilled, Matthew 5:17-18.
2. “That observe, and do;” (poiesate kai tereite) “You all observe (guardedly) and do,” respecting the law and the offices, though you may not respect the men who hold the office, Matthew 12:1-7; Nehemiah 8:4-8.
3. “But do not ye after their works:” (kata de ta erga auton me poieite) “However do not do according to their works,” as they have added the traditions of men to the law and often thereby ignored or broken the law, Matthew 15:1-14; Mark 7:1-9; Mark 7:13.
4. “For they say and do not.” (legousin gar kai ou poiousin) “Because they say and do not,” that is, they do not practice what they teach and preach, Malachi 7-9; Isaiah 8:20; Mark 7:7-9.

Matthew 23:4

1. “For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne,” (desmeuousin de phortia barea) “Then they bind heavy burdens,” in matters pertaining to both the law and traditions. They were exacting and intolerant, to the point of cruelty. Like sheaves of grain they bound heavy backloads of law regulations. See the picture as described Matthew 11:29-30; Colossians 2:16.
2. “And lay them on men’s shoulders;” (kai epititheasin epi tous omous ton anthropon) “And place (them) upon the shoulders of men,” demanding strict compliance, Acts 15:10; Mark 12:38-40.
3. “But they themselves will not move them,” (autoi de ou thelousin kinesai autai) “Yet they are not at all willing to move them,” (autoi de ou thelousin kinesai autai) “Yet they are not at all willing to move them,” Galatians 5:11, the heavy burdens to remove or relieve (help them). They would not take the least trouble to keep their own rules.
4. “With one of their fingers.” (to dakulo auton) “With even a finger of their own.” They imposed traditional burdens on others, which they were neither willing to bear themselves nor lift a finger to assist or relieve others in bearing them. Like a camel or donkey driver who burdens his animal with a merciless load, but himself walks empty handed, these scribes and Pharisees acted before the laity, the common people of Israel, Luke 20:45-47.

Matthew 23:5

1. “But all their works they do,” (panta de ta erga auton poiousin) “Yet they do all their works,” or everything that they do," with low, selfish, covetous, law-breaking motives and approval.
2. “For to be seen of men:” (pros to theathenai tois anthropois) “Is with the (view), the covetous desire to be seen of men,” Matthew 6:1-2; Matthew 6:5; Matthew 6:16, to satisfy their own proud ego. They just yearned for the “praise of men,” John 12:43.
3. “They make broad their phylacteries,” (platunousin gar ta phulakteria auton) “Because they broaden their phylacteries,” their safe-guards. They made broad, attention-grabbing phylacteries (boxes which they wore on their forehead or on the left arm near the heart) in which were parchments containing bits of Scripture they claimed to keep, yet they did it only in a mechanical way, Exodus 13:1-16; Deuteronomy 6:4-10; Deuteronomy 11:13-22.
4. “And enlarge the borders of their garments.” (kai megalunousin ta kraspeda) “And they enlarge the fringes, tassels or cuffs of their garments,” for ostentatious show, as if they were super-zealous and devout, above their fellows. It was sham piety, repeatedly referred to by our Lord as hypocrisy, which disciples of the lord should seek to avoid. The wearing of a cross, as a charm, does not today sanctify one, or protect one from danger, any more than those popular mechanical boxes and tassels and broad hems of garments those Jewish hypocrites wore sanctified them.

“Because the Lord would not have His benefits forgotten, He appointed little books to be written, and fastened to their hands; the strings fastening them were called phylacteries, that is, keepers, keeping them before their eyes continually, as some women do now-a-days, hanging some piece of the Gospel, for memory’s sake, about their necks, and as forgetful persons are want to tie a thread about their finger. The fringe was a blue silk ribbon, sewed upon the nether part of their garment, hanging down to the ankle, for a remembrance of the commandments.” Chrysostom.

Matthew 23:6

1. “And love the uppermost rooms at feasts,” (philousin de ten proteklisian en tois deipnois) “Then they just love (yearn for) the chief (or high ranking) place at the festive suppers,” the chief places where they were exposed to the view of all, a social vanity. They just itched for these exalted positions, Luke 18:14.
2. “And the chief seats in the synagogues,” (kai tas protokathedrias en tais sunagogais) “And the high ranking seats in the synagogues,” they love or just drool to get to occupy them, with insatiable hunger for prominence, prestige, or religious popularity, Mark 12:39.

Matthew 23:7

1. “And greetings in the Markets,” (kai tous aspasmous en tais agorais) “And they (just yearn for) greetings in the Marketplaces,” Mark 12:38, to have recognition and esteem of men, exaltation of men in the common trading places, salutations with pious reverence and homage; Such as mere courtesies were innocent in themselves, but the motives of these fellows were wrong.
2. “And to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.” (kai kaleisthai hupo ton anthropon hrabbi) “And to be called by men (where others may hear) Rabbi,” meaning, “my master,” or “my great one.” It was a title of honor conferred on those who had studied in Rabbinical Schools, held by Doctors or teachers of Jewish Law, customs, and traditions. It is the spirit of these fellows, not the letter of this practice, that our Lord condemned. The term “Rabbi” just tickled the carnal pride of these carnal, Christ-rejecting Jews, Luke 20:46.

Matthew 23:8

1. “But be not ye called Rabbi:” (humeis de me klethete hrabbi) “You all be not called rabbi,” or do not let men call you Rabbi, or “my master,” or “my great one,” 1 Corinthians 10:31; Galatians 6:14.
2. “For one Is your Master, even Christ;” (eis gar eatin humon ho didaskalos) “Because (there) is or exists one who is your teacher,” only one spiritual master, that is Jesus Christ, Lord-Superior of all, Colossians 3:17.
3. “And all ye are brethren.” (pantes de humeis adelphai este) “And you are all simply brothers,” in the Lord, Matthew 20:25-28.

Matthew 23:9

1. “And call no man your father upon the earth:” (kai patera me kalesete humon epi tes ges) “And do not call anyone a father, meaning authoritative teacher, (in religious matters) upon the earth.” The word “pope” means “papa” or “father” and its usage in religious matters to direct attention to any human being, as a spiritual father or caretaker, is in absolute disregard for this mandate of Jesus Christ.
2. “For one is your Father, which is in heaven.” (eis gar estin humon ho pater ho ouranois) “Because there is (or exists) only one who is your heavenly Father,” by whom you are brethren, not by following teachings, forms, ceremonies, traditions, and rituals of pious Jewish Pharisee teachers or Rabbis, See? “Our Father which art in heaven,” is always a proper prayer for saints of God, Matthew 6:9. To pray or say, “Our Father which art in Rome,” is always wrong, and a violation of our Lord’s command.

Matthew 23:10

1. “Neither be ye called masters:” (mede klethete kathegetai) “Neither be ye called leaders,” or do not aim at or covet the title master. Such should not be the motive for one’s leadership oversight, just to wear the title. The desire for Ecclesiastical superiority, without honorable conduct, is a bane to the testimony of Jesus Christ.
2. “For one is your Master, even Christ.” (hoti kathegetes humon estin eis ho Christos) “Because there is only one leader of you all, that one is (exists as) the Christ.” This is not meant to be a condemnation of titles that identify one in Divine service, but to condemn the carnal covetous pursuit of just itching for prominence in title, Without meriting such, then living up to it, Luke 9:23; Matthew 20:25-26.

Matthew 23:11

1. “But he that is greatest against you,” (ho al merzon humon) “And the greatest (superlative ones) of you all,” of you church brethren, must show it by the services he renders, not merely by a title he itches to wear, as the Scribes and Pharisees did, Matthew 23:1-6; Mark 10:43.
2. “Shall be your servant.” (estai humon diakonos) “They shall be your common ministers,” or helpers, in the most servile of matters, not merely a title for the ego it may carnally tickle. Our Lord was a priority example of service and a servant that merits the following of His disciples, Philippians 2:5-8; 1 Corinthians 9:19-22; Matthew 20:27-28; Mark 10:44-45.

Matthew 23:12

1. “And whosoever shall exalt himself,” (hostis de hupsosei heauton) “Then he who will exalt himself,” among you all, like the Pharisees do, or have done, do practice or by any other unrighteous mode may itch just to exalt himself, as the Pharisees did, Luke 18:11-12.
2. “Shall be abased:” (tapeinothesetai) “He shall be humbled,” or brought low; That is, do not give to a proud, self-promoting person any elevated place of honor or responsibility among you. This abasement is Divinely appointed to the proud and self-exalting one. He shall be abased as fallen angels, as Nebuchadnezzar, and as King Herod was, Jude 1:6; Daniel 5:18-23; Acts 12:1-2; Acts 12:21-23.
3. “And he that shall humble himself,” (kai hostis tapeninosei heauton) “And the one who will humble himself,” in a position of humble, willing service, which is necessary to merit real honor from God or men, Proverbs 15:33; Proverbs 16:18-19. To humble ones self, as the Prodigal son did, Luke 15:11-32; as the Publican did, Luke 18:13-14; and as Paul did, Acts 9:5-6; 1 Corinthians 9:19-27.
4. “Shall be exalted.” (hupsothesetai) “He shall be exalted,” by you, in positions of trust, and by the Lord, Proverbs 29:23; 1 Peter 5:5-6; James 4:10.

Matthew 23:13

JESUS WOES UPON THE V. 13-36

1. “But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!” (ouai de humin grammateis kai Pharisaioi hupokritai) “Yet woe (be) to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites,” who feign piety and Divine Superiority.
2. “For ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men:” (hoti kleiete ten basileian ton ouranon emprostehn ton anthropon) “Because you all close (shut) the kingdom of heaven against men,” by threatening to exclude from the synagogue any and all who confess that I am the Christ and who become disciples of my New Covenant company, the church; You obstruct them both in being saved and entering obedient service to me John 9:22-23; John 9:34-35; Luke 6:22.
3. “For ye neither go in yourselves,” (humeis gar ouk eiserchesthe) “For you all do not enter (the kingdom of heaven, or the church) yourselves, of your own accord or voluntary choice,” and are not even preparing to enter heaven, Matthew 5:20; John 3:3.
4. “Neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.” (oude tous eiserchomenous aphiete eiselthein) “Nor do you allow, sanction, or approve those who are entering it of their own choice, will, volition, or accord to enter,” without your recrimination threats against them, to throw them out of the synagogue, to smear their name, John 9:22; John 9:34-35; Matthew 6:22. What is more the method of salvation they posed was one of ceremonies and good works, not of regeneration Through faith in Jesus Christ.

Matthew 23:14

1. “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, Hypocrites!” (though omitted by the R.V. this is recounted by authentic texts in both Mark and Luke ) Mark 12:38-39; Luke 20:46. Some preach and witness so well in the church it is a pity they ever leave it, while upon leaving it they live so poorly that it becomes a reflection on the church, for them to even enter it, James 1:22.
2. “For ye devour widows’ houses,” (Found in authentic manuscripts, recorded by Mark 12:40; Luke 20:47.) They seized or secured title deeds, like the Roman clergy, from widows by covetous, cruel, defrauding, unscrupulous, avaricious means, for filthy lucre. This was specifically forbidden in the very law they were supposed to espouse, or exemplify, Exodus 22:22. Pure and undefiled religion is to visit and care for widows, not defraud them.
3. “And for a pretence make long prayer:” (For covert ulterior motives, defrauding purposes, they engaged in long prayers.) They used emotional prayer appeals as means of deluding widows into assigning even their homes to them, Mark 10:40; Luke 20:47.
4. “Therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.” (As a result of such fraud, deceit, and dishonesty in the name of Israel’s God they are asserted to be coming recipients of the greater severity of God’s condemnation) Mark 12:40; Luke 20:47. Condemnation’s degree of judgment appear to be based on the measure of truth, light, and knowledge against which men sin. If this be true the religious deceivers of the Scribe and Pharisee caliber are in for the severest degree of Divine judgement, Ecclesiastes 12:13-14; Luke 10:12-14.

Matthew 23:15

1. “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!” (ouai humin grammaties kai Pharisaioi hupokritai) “Woe (be) to you all, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!” A second woe falls from the lips of our Lord against these Super-pious Jewish religionists who went about to kill their Lord, 1 Thessalonians 2:14-16; John 9:22.
2. “For ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte,” (hoti priagete ten thalassan kai ten kseran poiesai hena proseluton) “Because you all circumnavigate (run all about)’the dry land and the sea to make just one proselyte,” using all means fair or foul to make a convert or pervert to your own program of hypocricy.
3. “And when he is made,” (kai hotan genetai) “And when he becomes one,” a proselyte, or comes to be a proselyte from heathenism to your teachings and practice, to your perversion of the Law of the Lord, Mark 7:1-12.
4. “Ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.” (poieite auton huion geennes diploteron humon) “You all make him two times more an heir of the eternal (Gehenna) hell than he was,” for the religious lost person, mistaught and deceived is more likely to go on to hell than the irreligious heathen and lost one when truth is taught. This convert from heathenism to the following of the Pharisees and Scribes made him more fraudulent than before. They made converts, not from heathenism to Christ, but to their sect, Matthew 5:20; John 3:3; John 3:5.

Matthew 23:16

1. “Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say,” (ouai humin hodegoi tuphloi hoi legontes) “Woe be to you blind guides, to you all who repeatedly teach or say,” give erroneous directions in spiritual matters. They had caused and were causing many who followed them to stumble and to be corrupted, Malachi 2:8-9; Matthew 15:1; Matthew 15:6-14.
2. “Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing;” (hos an homose en to naio ouden estin) “That whoever swears by the shrine or temple proper it is (or exists as) nothing,” that there is nothing wrong with it; He has incurred no debt, no wrong. This condemns the subtle interpretations they gave to the law to promote their avaricious purposes.
3. “But whosoever shall swear (hos d’ an homose) “Yet, you repeatedly say, whoever swears,” or anyone who swears.
4. “By the gold of the temple, he is a debtor.” (en to chruso tou naou opheilei) “By the gold of the temple proper, he owes,” or is a debtor for it; He must observe his oath, Ecclesiastes 5:4-6, When he comes there to swear, “corban” to make a gift to the temple to trade off, be relieved of, law obligations, such as the care of aged parents, Matthew 15:5.

Matthew 23:17

1. “Ye fools and blind:” (moroi kai tuphloi) “You morons and blind ones:” The term “fool” is derived from the (Gk. moroi) which describes one whose judgement, mentality, words or actions are not developed beyond that of an eleven or twelve year old child; They were morons in wisdom and spiritually blinded, 1 Corinthians 3:18-19; 2 Corinthians 4:3-4; 1 Corinthians 2:14.
2. “For whether is greater,” (tis gar meigon estin) “For which (in your judgment) is really greater;” They should have known that no inanimate thing can witness an oath.
3. “The gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold?” (ho chrusos e ho naos ho hagiasas ton chruson) “The gold or the temple-shrine which sanctifies the gold?” because the temple is holy, or itself as a whole is sanctified, 2 Chronicles 7:16; 2 Chronicles 7:20; 2 Chronicles 30:8. Jesus simply would have it understood that if one spoke a vow by the temple or gold of the temple he was to do it with absolute sincerity, not have to call down an oath in a sanctified temple to speak truthfully and be believed. The entire temple of the Lord was sanctified, 2 Chronicles 29:17.

Matthew 23:18

1. “And, whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing:” (kai hos an omose en to thusiasterio) “And you say or teach that whoever swears by the altar,” (ouden estin) “It is or amounts to nothing,” by the altar of the burnt offering, 2 Chronicles 4:1. It is not binding, you say.
2. “But whosoever swears by the gift that is upon it,” (hos d’ an omose en to doro to epano autou) “But that whoever swears by the gift upon it,” upon the altar, by the offering sacrifice.
3. “He is guilty.” (opheilei) “He owes,” or “He is indebted;” He is a debtor to keep the oath or pledge made in that context.

Matthew 23:19

1. “Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater,” (tuphloi ti gar meizon) “You are blind ones, for which is really greater,” in relative importance in supporting an oath, for both were to be sanctified or holy, as prescribed by and in the law. What is the gift without the altar or the altar without the gift?
2. “The gift or the altar that sanctifieth the gift?” (to doron e to thusiasterion to hagiazon to doron) “The gift (itself) or the altar which sanctifies the gift,” that has been brought, Exodus 29:43; Leviticus 8:10; Leviticus 8:15.

Matthew 23:20

1. “Whoso therefore shall swear by the altar,” (ho oun omosas en to thusiasterio) “Therefore the one who swears by the altar,” the brazen altar where the sacrifice was offered up. The Lord is not sanctioning profanity, lying, or cursing, which He had already forbidden, Matthew 5:34-37; Exodus 20:7.
2. “Sweareth by it, and by all things thereon.” (omnuei en auto kai en pasi tois epano autou) “He swears by both it and all things that are upon it,” by all that pertains to it, Exodus 29:37; Hosea 4:2; Hosea 10:4; See also Deuteronomy 6:13; Deuteronomy 10:20 where swearing (double affirmation) before God was commanded, disclosing an affirmation of man with God as witness.

Matthew 23:21

1. “And whoso shall swear by the temple,” (kai ho omosas en to nao) “And the one who swears by the temple-shrine or temple proper,” the holy (sanctified) place of Jewish worship. Though swearing (as profanity) was forbidden and swearing by affirmation (double statement) was allowed; Jesus simply sets forth the premise that the truth once stated should be trustworthy.
2. “Sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth therein.” (omnuel en auto kai en to katoikonti auton) “He swears by it and the one who inhabits or dwells in it,” by the Lord Himself and all that pertains to His Holy temple. Colossians 3:17 affirms that everything now done in word or deed should be done in the name of Jesus, not Moses or an affirmation before a brazen altar, a slain sacrifice, or an earthly sanctified temple, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20.

Matthew 23:22

1. “And he that shall swear by heaven,” (kai ho omosas en to ourano) “And the one who swears by the heaven,” the third heaven, where God’s abode exists. Such an appeal to truth, honesty, or one’s veracity would mean nothing if the one swearing by affirmation did not believe in a living God, Psalms 11:4.
2. “Sweareth by the throne of God,” (omnuei en to throno tou theou) “He swears or affirms by the throne of God.” and by the name of the living God who is upon the throne, that he tells the truth, Deuteronomy 6:13; Deuteronomy 10:20.
3. “And by him that sitteth thereon.” (kai en to kathemeno epano autou) “And he swears or affirms by the one who sits upon the throne of God,” shall swear by the “God of truth,” Isaiah 65:16; Acts 7:49.

Matthew 23:23

1. “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!” (ousi humin grammateis kai Pharisaioi hupokritai) “Woe be to or awaits you scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites!” Four woes have fallen and a fifth now falls upon those super-pious religious hypocrites, Matthew 23:13-16. They continually strained at gnats and swallowed camels.
2. “For ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin,” (hoti apodekatoute to heduosmon kai anethon kai to kuminon) “Because you all tithe of the mint, dill, and cummin plants,” Luke 11:42; Luke 18:12. These were minute physical things that were mechanically done as prescribed by the law, Leviticus 27:30. Except they had added some things not provided, Mark 7:1-9.
3. “And have omitted the weightier matters of the:” (kai anethon ta bautera) “And you all have laid aside, put aside, omitted, or neglected the weightier matters,” morally and ethically, Luke 11:42; Micah 6:7. a) “Law,” (tou nomou) “Of the law,” Galatians 3:19-25. b) “Mercy,” (kai to eleos) “And of the mercy,” Exodus 34:7; Numbers 14:18. c) “Faith,” (kai ten pistin) “And the faith,” Jude 1:3.
4. “These ought ye to have done,” (tauta de edei poiesai) “These things it became you to do,” the tithing matters, as prescribed by law, which our Lord sanctified and fulfilled, Matthew 5:17-18; He finished the work He was sent to do, John 17:4.
5. “And not to leave the other undone,” (kakeina me apheinai) “And those things of law, mercy, judgement, and faith not to leave behind, omit or abandon like you have done, James 4:11; Mark 7:9.

Matthew 23:24

1. “Ye blind guides,” (hodegoi tuphloi) “You blind leaders,” Matthew 23:16; Who are legal in little, minute matters and lawless, anarchists in greater matters of principle. Worst of all they were blind and blind to the fact that they were blind, blinded by the god of this world, the Devil himself, 1 Corinthians 4:3-4.
2. “Which strain at a gnat,” (hoi diulizontes ton konopa).“Who are straining out the gnat from your wine vats, your vinegar or other drinks, to avoid the minutest of unclean insects, Leviticus 11:20; Leviticus 11:23; Leviticus 11:41-43.
3. “ And swallow a camel.” (ten de kamelon katapinontes) “Then swallowing the camel,” while guzzling down the camel, the largest unclean animal known to the Jews. The Hindus say, “Swallowing an elephant and choking on a flea.” King Saul made much “ado” of eating blood, but didn’t hesitate to shed innocent blood, 1 Samuel 14:33-34. Then the chief priests were scrupulous about not putting blood money into the treasury, yet they made their own hands gory, even as Judas Iscariot confessed, “I have shed innocent blood,” Matthew 27:4-6.

Matthew 23:25

1. “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!” (ouai humin grammateis kai Pharisaioi hupokritai) “Woe (awaits) you all, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites;” The sixth woe now falls from the lips of our Lord upon the Messiah-rejecting scribes and Pharisees, yet no more upon them than upon religious hypocrites today.
2. “For ye make clean,” (hoti katharizete) “Because you all cleanse,” or sterilize, pretend to sanctify, as a matter of tradition, Mark 7:4.
3. “The outside of the cup and of the platter,” (to eksothen tou poteriou kai tes paropsidos) “The outside of the cup and the dish,” from which you eat and drink, Mark 7:8-9; Luke 11:39.
4. “But within they are full of extortion and excess.” (estothen de gemousin eks har ages kai akarsias) “Yet within they are full of robbery and intemperance,” Luke 11:39-40. Their hearts were poison, polluted, and wicked, while the veneer of their public appearance of piety made them hypocrites, Jeremiah 17:9-10; Matthew 15:18-19; Mark 7:21. The idea is that the cup and platter were filled with wine and meat purchased by unrighteous and plunder money, ill acquired by them.

Matthew 23:26

1. “Thou blind Pharisee.” (Pharisai tuphle) “You blind Pharisee,” Matthew 23:16; Matthew 23:24, ye double blind ones, by depravity of natural birth and by choice. '
2. “Cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter,” (katharlson proton to entos tou poteriou) “You (are) first (to) cleanse the inside of the cup,” to correct the error of your religious deportment. Regeneration brings inner cleansing, which gives spiritual power for outer subjection, or cleansing, Titus 3:5; Galatians 5:24-25; 1 Corinthians 9:26-27.
3. “That the outside of them may be clean also.” (hina genetai kai to ektos autou katharon) “In order that the outside of it may also be clean,” for except the cup or platter of man’s soul first be cleansed from within, he is without power to live an holy life from without; To be ethical in deeds man needs spiritual power from within, Romans 16:18; Philippians 3:17-19; Romans 12:1-2; Ephesians 4:30-32.

Matthew 23:27

1. “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!” (ouai humin grammateis kai Pharisaioi hupkritai) “Woe (be) to you scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites!” This is the seventh woe pronounced upon hypocrites.
2. “For ye are like unto whited sepulchres” (hoti paromoiazete taphois kekoniamenois) “Because you all resemble graves that have been whitewashed,” to conceal their abhorrent contents, Luke 11:44; Psalms 5:9.
3. “Which indeed appear beautiful outward,” (oitines eksothen men phainontai horaioi) “Which outwardly indeed (being whitewashed) appear (to be) beautiful,” a pretence of cleanliness that conceals the inner rottenness, Acts 23:3; John 18:23; Philippians 3:4-9.
4. “But are within full of dead men’s bones,” (esothen de gemousin osteon nekron) “However within they are full of bones of dead men;” The Jews whitened the tombs at the Passover season that none might touch them and be considered unclean, Numbers 19:16.
5. “And of all uncleanness.” (kai pases akatharsais) “And of all (kind of) uncleanness,” uncleanness that symbolizes what was in the hearts of the scribes and Pharisees, Matthew 15:18-19; Romans 3:9-20.

Matthew 23:28

1. “Even so ye also,” (houtos kai humeis) “Just like this, you all also,” as scribes and Pharisees, Matthew 23:27, objects of this seventh woe.
2. “Outwardly appear righteous unto men,” (eksothen men phainesthe tois anthropois dikaioi) “Outwardly certainly appear to men as righteous ones,” as trees with leaves, but having no good fruit, clean by outward appearance but, proud, covetous, conceited and vile from within, busy with externals, but dead toward morality of an high order and spiritual fruit, James 1:22; Ephesians 5:17-18; 2 Peter 1:4-9.
3. “But within are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.” (esothen de este mestoi hupokeiseos kai anomias) “However, within (within the cup of your soul, within your hearts) you all are full of (bloated with) hypocrisy and lawlessness,” both moral and ethical lawlessness, Romans 3:23; Psalms 5:9. ++ Matthew 23:29
4. “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!” (ouai humin grammateis kai Pharisaioi hupokritai) “Woe to you all, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites;” This is the eighth woe our Lord pronounced against the superious scribes and pharisees as recounted in this chapter, Matthew 23:13-16; Matthew 23:23; Matthew 23:25; Matthew 23:28-29.
5. “Because ye build the tombs of the prophets,” (hoti oikodomeite tous taphous ton propheton), “Because you all build (frame or form) the graves of the prophets,” repairing the tombs and monuments, Daniel 9:4-9; Luke 11:47.
6. “And garnish the sepulchres of the righteous.” (kai kosmeite ta mnemeia ton dikaion) “And you decorate or adorn the monuments or memorial stones of the righteous,” of the righteous prophets your forebearers murdered, Luke 11:48. You do this to make it appear that you are more righteous than your forefathers who killed these prophets.

Matthew 23:30

1. “And say, if we had been in the days of our fathers,” (kai legete ei emetha en tais hemerais ton pateron hemon) “And you all say, If we were in the days of our fathers;” by word and deed you say it.
2. “We would not have been partakers with them,” (ouk an emetha auton koinonoi) “We would not have been partakers of them,” or taken a hand with them in the premeditated murders of the holy prophets, Acts 7:51-53.
3. “In the blood of the prophets.” (en to haimati ton propheton) “In (shedding) the blood of the prophets,” Iike they did. At this very time, however, they were guilty of entering collusion with the high priests, Sadducees, Sanhedrins, and Herodians to entrap and kill Him, Matthew 20:17-19; Luke 19:47-48; Matthew 22:15-16.

Matthew 23:31

1. “Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves,” (hose martuteite heautois) “So that you all are yourselves witnesses,” Acts 7:51-53. What is more you are joining hands to slay me, the prophet spoken of by Moses, whom you are to hear, Deuteronomy 18:15-18.
2. “That ye are the children of them that killed the prophets.” (hoti huioi este ton phoneusanton tous prophetas) “That you all are true heirs or sons of those who have killed the prophets,” by the very fact that you continually repair, decorate, and honor the tombs, advertising that if you had been living when the prophets were slain you would not have helped slay them, yet you too are of your father the devil, John 8:44.

Matthew 23:32

1. “Fill ye up then,” (kai humeis plerosate) “And what is more, you all fulfill or live up to,” just “fill the bill,” as inheritors of the nature and estate.
2. “The measure of your fathers.” (to metron ton pateron humon) “The measure (full example) of your fathers,” in what you are by nature, like your murderous fathers, and by what you do in repeatedly trying to ensnare or entrap me for purposes of putting me to death, Matthew 20:17-19; 1 Thessalonians 2:15-16.

Matthew 23:33

1. “Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers,” (opheis gennemata echidonon) “You serpents, you offspring of vipers,” of “a venomous or poisonous serpent,” even the Devil. Jesus charged “your spiritually poisoned genealogy,” is of the Devil himself. Repeatedly He indicated that were snake-hearted hypocrites of the Devil, as Joh the Baptist had done, Matthew 3:7; Luke 3:7.
2. “How can ye escape the damnation of hell?” (pos phugete apo tes kriseos tes geennes) “Just how will you all escape from the judgement of Gehenna-Hell? While your hearts remain hating, bigoted, covetous, and corrupt, Luke 11:40; Acts 7:51-52; Matthew 12:34; John 8:44-47.

Matthew 23:34

1. “Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets,” (dia touto idou ego apostello pros humas prophetas) “Therefore behold I send to you all prophets,” I commission to you all of Israel, prophets, the twelve apostles, the seventy and the Gospel writers.
2. “And wise men and scribes:” (kai sophous kai grammateis) “And wise men and scribes,” or wise men and writers of my will, I now send to you all, John 20:21; Acts 1:8.
3. “And some of them ye shall kill and crucify;” (eks auton apokteneite kai staurosete) “And some of them whom I send you all will scourge and crucify,” John 16:2; treat as lawbreakers, and capital criminals, as they did Stephen and James, Acts 7:58-60; Acts 12:1-4.
4. “And some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues,” (kai eks auton mastigosete en tais sunagogues humon) “And some of them whom I send you all will scourge and whip in your synagogues,” as they did the apostles and others, Acts 5:40-42; Acts 7:54-60,
5. “And persecute from city to city:” (kai dioksete apo pollos eis polin) “And you all (as a generation of vipers, snake-hearted hypocrites) will pursue and persecute from city to city,” as they did as a self-styled truth-squad to trouble the saints in the Antioch church, then across Asia Minor, creeping into fellowships to corrupt and destroy, Acts 13:45; Acts 15:1; Acts 15:24; Galatians 1:6-9; 2 Peter 2:1-3; Jude 1.4914-19.

Matthew 23:35

1. “That upon you may come,” (hopos ethe eph’ humas) “So that upon you comes, because of your own chosen wicked deeds,” your hypocrisy; upon you who join hands in the persecution of the righteous, Revelation 6:10-11; Revelation 18:24.

2. “All the righteous blood shed upon the earth,” (pan haina dikaion ekchunnomenon epi tes ges) “All the righteous blood having been shed upon the earth,” in the river of martyrs’ blood you join hands with the guilty and the judgement that awaits murderers.

3. “From the blood of righteous Abel,” (apo tou haimatos Abel tou dikaiou) “From the blood of righteous Abel,” from the “army of righteous martyrs,” beginning with the first martyr, Abel, 1 John 3:12; Genesis 4:8; Hebrews 12:24.

4. “Unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachiss,” (heos tou haimatos Zachariou huiou Barachiou) “Even until the blood of Zacharias the heir-son of Barachias,” referred to 2 Chronicles 24:20-22. There is a difference between this Zacharias and the minor prophet, Zechariah 1:11; Ezra 5:1; Ezra 6:14.

5. “Whom ye slew,” (hon ephoneusate) “Whom you al I murdered,” killed with premeditated malice aforethought, by stoning to death.

6. “Between the temple and the altar.” (metaksu tou naou kai tou thusiasteriou) “Between the (location of) the temple shrine and the altar of sacrifice.” This occurred “in the court of the house of the Lord, at the commandment of the king.” The scope from Abel to Zecharias covered from the first to the last murder of the righteous recounted in the book of the law.

Matthew 23:36

1. “Verily I say unto you,” (amen lego humin) “Truly I disclose to you all,” before it occurs. This introduces a solemn statement, terrible to meditate upon, attributing final judgement in treasured measure upon a Jewish generation that murdered the holy prophets, the Son of God, and the apostles, etc.
2. “All these things shall come upon this generation.” (eksei tauta panta epi ten genean tauten) “That al I these things will come upon this generation,” referring to the Jews who had rejected Him and His New Covenant work. This deferred judgment in fury began with Israel’s dispersion from Jerusalem, among all nations, about A.D. 70 under the Roman army of Tit and will be consummated only during the 70th week of Jacob’s trouble, the latter half of which may be definitively recognized as “The Tribulation The Great,” Daniel 9:26-27; Luke 21:20-24.

Matthew 23:37

JESUS’ LAMENT OVER V. 37-39

1. “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem,” (lerousalem Ierousalem) “O Jerusalem! O Jerusalem!” This exclamatory repetition of the name of the city of peace reflects an intense degree of love and mingled grief flowing from the heart of Jesus for a rejecting people, John 1:11-12.
2. “Thou that killest the prophets,” (he apokteinousa tous prophetes) “And who is killing them yet,” with malice and seething hate, for the holy one and His New Covenant church fellowship of disciples.
3. “And stonest them that are sent unto thee,” (kai lithobolousa tous apestalmenous pros auten) “And stoning the ones who are mandated (sent or commissioned) to her,” Acts 7:51-53.
4. “How often would I have gathered thy children together,” (posakis ethelesa episunagagein ta tekna sou) “How frequently I willed (affectionately or earnestly) to gather or assemble your children in one company,” to follow me, Matthew 11:28-30; John 6:37; Psalms 91:4-5.
5. “Even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings,” (on tropon ornis episunagei ta nossia (autes) hupo tas pterugas) “As a bird (or foul) gathers her young ones under her wings,” for protection from rain, storm, and predators, and for comfort, Deuteronomy 32:11-12; Psalms 17:8.
6. “And ye would not!” (kai ouk ethelesate) “And you all would not,” did not will to do it, being instead proud, self-righteous, self-reliant and sinfully rebellious. They would not, though they could have, Proverbs 1:24; Isaiah 30:15; Jeremiah 6:16-17.

Matthew 23:38

1. “Behold,” (idou) “Behold,” or take special note now. This is our Lord’s last wail of woe upon Jerusalem and the rebellious Jewish race before His death.
2. “Your house is left unto your desolate.” (aphietai humin ho oikos humon) “Your house (that Moses built for you) is left to you all,” Zechariah 11:6, is abandoned of the Lord, left to you without His Spirits ever coming upon it in shekinah glory any more, Hebrews 3:1-6.

Matthew 23:39

1. “For I say unto you,” (lego gar humin) “For I tell you all,” as scribes and Pharisees and Sadducees in particular, as positional evil advisers and blind guides and blind followers, Matthew 23:17; Matthew 23:24.
2. “Ye shall not see me henceforth,” (ou me idete ap’ arti) “You all shall not see me from now (this moment),” any more as a prophet appealing to you, whom you have rejected, Deuteronomy 18:15-18.
3. “Till ye shall say,” (eos an eipete) “Until you all (as a nation of Israel) shall say,” after 1) Israel has been scattered, 2) The church called from among the Gentiles has witnessed to all nations, and 3) The Tribulation The Great is at an end.
4. “Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.” (eulogemenos ho erchomenos en onomati kuriou) “Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord,” after receiving the Antichrist for one prophetic week of rule, Daniel 9:26-27; John 5:43; Luke 1:31-33; 1 Corinthians 15:24.