The Meaning of Matthew 23:1 Explained

Matthew 23:1

KJV: Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples,

YLT: Then Jesus spake to the multitudes, and to his disciples,

Darby: Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples,

ASV: Then spake Jesus to the multitudes and to his disciples,

Discover Matthew 23:1

CONTEXT: What is the Context of Matthew 23:1?

MEANING: What does Matthew 23:1 Mean?

WORDS: What do the individual words in Matthew 23:1 mean?

RELATIONS: What do the major concepts mean in Matthew 23:1?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Then  spake  Jesus  to the multitude,  and  to his  disciples, 

What does Matthew 23:1 Mean?

Verse Meaning

As we have seen, there were three groups of people present in the temple courtyard. These were the disciples of Jesus, His critics, namely, the various groups of Israel"s leaders, and the crowds of ordinary Israelites. Jesus now turned from addressing the Pharisees ( Matthew 22:41) and proceeded to speak to the multitudes and His disciples primarily.
Jesus had begun to criticize the Pharisees and scribes to their faces about one year earlier ( Matthew 15:7). Later He warned His disciples to beware of the teachings of the Pharisees and the Sadducees ( Matthew 16:5-12). Now He denounced these enemies publicly. He did so because the decision the masses and His disciples now faced was whether to follow Jesus or Israel"s established religious leaders. They could not do both.

Context Summary

Matthew 23:1-12 - Humbling The Self-Exalted
These words were addressed to the disciples and the crowds that had gathered around. The Jewish religious leaders divorced morality and religion, and insisted that men should respect their office, whatever might be their personal character. The craving for this has been the temptation and bane of Christ's ministers in every age.
But how evidently our Lord condemns clerical and priestly assumption! With the two-edged sword, which pierces to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, He cuts between the professions and performances of these men. No more awful words were ever spoken! How true is Matthew 23:4! The hypocrite always spares himself, but is merciless in his demands on others. The true servant of God never exacts these titles as a rightful homage, or as indicating either superiority or special sanctity. We all have one Master and one Father; and, though our talents greatly differ, we stand on an absolute equality so far as saving grace is concerned. [source]

Chapter Summary: Matthew 23

1  Jesus admonishes the people to follow good doctrine, not bad examples
5  His disciples must beware of their ambition
13  He denounces eight woes against their hypocrisy and blindness,
34  and prophesies of the destruction of Jerusalem

What do the individual words in Matthew 23:1 mean?

Then - Jesus spoke to the crowds and to disciples of Him
Τότε ὁ Ἰησοῦς ἐλάλησεν τοῖς ὄχλοις καὶ τοῖς μαθηταῖς αὐτοῦ

ὁ  - 
Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: ὁ  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Ἰησοῦς  Jesus 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: Ἰησοῦς  
Sense: Joshua was the famous captain of the Israelites, Moses’ successor.
ἐλάλησεν  spoke 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ἀπολαλέω 
Sense: to utter a voice or emit a sound.
τοῖς  to  the 
Parse: Article, Dative Masculine Plural
Root: ὁ  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
ὄχλοις  crowds 
Parse: Noun, Dative Masculine Plural
Root: ὄχλος  
Sense: a crowd.
μαθηταῖς  disciples 
Parse: Noun, Dative Masculine Plural
Root: μαθητής  
Sense: a learner, pupil, disciple.
αὐτοῦ  of  Him 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.

What are the major concepts related to Matthew 23:1?

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Similar Scriptures for Matthew 23:1

Luke 12:1 [5]
Matthew 15:10-20 [4]
Luke 20:45-46 [4]
Luke 12:57 [3]
Mark 12:38-39 [2]
Mark 7:14 [2]