Matthew 23:13-36

Matthew 23:13-36

[13] But  woe  scribes  and  Pharisees,  hypocrites!  for  ye shut up  the kingdom  of heaven  against  men:  for  neither  go in  yourselves, neither  suffer ye  them that are entering  [14] Woe  scribes  and  Pharisees,  hypocrites!  for  ye devour  widows'  houses,  and  for a pretence  long  prayer:  therefore  ye shall receive  damnation.  [15] Woe  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  [16] Woe  ye blind  guides,  which  say,  Whosoever  shall swear  by  the temple,  nothing;  but  whosoever  shall swear  by  the gold  of the temple,  he is a debtor!  [17] Ye fools  and  blind:  for  whether  the gold,  or  the temple  that sanctifieth  the gold?  [18] And,  Whosoever  shall swear  by  the altar,  nothing;  but  whosoever  sweareth  by  the gift  that is upon  it,  he is guilty.  [19] blind:  for  whether  the gift,  or  the altar  that sanctifieth  the gift?  [20] Whoso therefore  shall swear  by  the altar,  sweareth  by  it,  and  by  all things  thereon.  [21] And  whoso shall swear  by  the temple,  sweareth  by  it,  and  by  him that dwelleth  therein.  [22] And  he that shall swear  by  heaven,  sweareth  by  the throne  of God,  and  by  him that sitteth  thereon.  [23] Woe  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:  ought ye  to have done,  and not  the other  undone.  [24] Ye blind  guides,  which strain at  a gnat,  and  swallow  a camel.  [25] Woe  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.  [26] Thou blind  Pharisee,  cleanse  first  that which is within  the cup  and  platter,  that  the outside  of them  may be  clean  also.  [27] Woe  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.  [28] Even so  also  outwardly  appear  righteous  unto men,  but  within  full  of hypocrisy  and  iniquity.  [29] Woe  scribes  and  Pharisees,  hypocrites!  because  ye build  the tombs  of the prophets,  and  garnish  the sepulchres  of the righteous,  [30] And  say,  If  in  the days  fathers,  we would  not  partakers  with them  in  the blood  of the prophets.  [31] Wherefore  ye be witnesses  unto yourselves,  that  the children  of them which killed  the prophets.  [32] up  then  the measure  fathers.  [33] Ye serpents,  ye generation  of vipers,  how  can ye  escape  the damnation  of hell?  [34] Wherefore,  behold,  send  unto  prophets,  and  wise men,  and  scribes:  and  some of  them  ye shall kill  and  crucify;  and  some of  them  shall ye scourge  in  synagogues,  and  persecute  them from  city  to  city:  [35] That  upon  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.  [36] Verily  I say  All  shall come  upon  generation. 

What does Matthew 23:13-36 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

Jesus now directed His attention toward the scribes and the Pharisees in the temple courtyard (cf. Matthew 23:1). He proceeded to announce a scathing indictment of them in seven parts. Compare the six woes of Isaiah 5:8-23 and the five woes of Habakkuk 2:6-20. He introduced each indictment with the word "woe." Jesus spoke of the scribes and Pharisees, but He spoke to the crowds and His disciples.
"No passage in the Bible is more biting, more pointed, and more severe than this pronouncement of Christ upon the Pharisees. It is significant that He singled them out, as opposed to the Sadducees, who were more liberal, and the Herodians, who were the politicians. The Pharisees, while attempting to honor the Word of God and manifesting an extreme form of religious observance, were actually the farthest from God." [1]
Essentially Jesus was criticizing them for their hypocrisy. [2] As the theme of the Sermon on the Mount was righteousness, the theme of these woes is hypocrisy. There is a common strong emphasis in both addresses on the leaders" failure to understand and submit to the Scriptures. Jesus gave both addresses to contrast the true meaning of Scripture with the Pharisees" interpretation and application of it. The Pharisees professed to teach the Scriptures accurately but did not do so. They were therefore hypocrites.
The literary structure of these woes is chiastic.
ARejection of the kingdom Matthew 23:13BEffects on others being more harm than good Matthew 23:15CMisguided use of Scripture affecting conduct Matthew 23:16-22DFailure to understand Scripture Matthew 23:23-24C"Misguided use of Scripture affecting character Matthew 23:25-26B"Effects on others frustrating the desired result Matthew 23:27-28A"Rejection of the kingdom"s heralds Matthew 23:29-36