The Meaning of Matthew 23:17 Explained

Matthew 23:17

KJV: Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold?

YLT: Fools and blind! for which is greater, the gold, or the sanctuary that is sanctifying the gold?

Darby: Fools and blind, for which is greater, the gold, or the temple which sanctifies the gold?

ASV: Ye fools and blind: for which is greater, the gold, or the temple that hath sanctified the gold?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

[Ye] fools  and  blind:  for  whether  is  greater,  the gold,  or  the temple  that sanctifieth  the gold? 

What does Matthew 23:17 Mean?

Context Summary

Matthew 23:13-26 - Woes For The False-Hearted
These repeated woes may be translated, Alas for you! Our Lord with unfailing accuracy indicates the inevitable doom which such conduct as that of the Pharisees and scribes must incur. He forewarned them that they could expect nothing in the dread future but the judgment of Gehenna-the metaphor being taken from the valley of Hinnom, south of Jerusalem, where fires were kept burning to consume rubbish and refuse.
Hypocrisy is hiding under a cloak of religion the sins which the ordinary moralist and worldling would condemn. It is very injurious, because it hinders men from entering the Kingdom, Matthew 23:13. It is punctilious in its exactions, because while it strains out gnats, it swallows camels, Matthew 23:23-24. It expends itself on outward ritual-the Pharisees would not enter Pilate's hall on the day before the Passover, but they murdered the holy Savior. Above all things, let us be true, professing to be no more than we are! [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

Greek Commentary for Matthew 23:17

Ye fools [μωροι]
In Matthew 5:22 Jesus had warned against calling a man μωρος — mōros in a rage, but here he so terms the blind Pharisees for their stupidity, description of the class. “It shows that not the word but the spirit in which it is uttered is what matters” (McNeile). [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Matthew 23:17

Revelation 3:17 Have gotten riches [πεπλουτηκα]
Perfect active indicative of πλουτεω — plouteō old verb from πλουτος — ploutos used here of imagined spiritual riches which the church did not possess, just the opposite of church in Smyrna (poor in wealth, rich in grace). This church was in a rich city and was rich in pride and conceit, but poor in grace and ignorant of its spiritual poverty Old adjective from τλαω — tlaō to endure, and πωρος — pōros a callus, afflicted, in N.T. only here and Romans 7:24. Note the one article in the predicate with all these five adjectives unifying the picture of sharp emphasis on “thou” (συ — su), “thou that boastest.”Miserable Pitiable as in 1 Corinthians 15:19.Poor (πτωχος — ptōchos). See Revelation 2:9 for spiritual poverty. Perhaps some local example of self-complacency is in mind.Blind Spiritual blindness as often (Matthew 23:17), and note “eye-salve” in Revelation 3:18.Naked (γυμνος — gumnos). “The figure completes the picture of actual poverty” (Beckwith). See Revelation 3:15, Revelation 3:16. [source]
Revelation 3:17 Miserable [ελεεινος]
Pitiable as in 1 Corinthians 15:19.Poor (πτωχος — ptōchos). See Revelation 2:9 for spiritual poverty. Perhaps some local example of self-complacency is in mind.Blind Spiritual blindness as often (Matthew 23:17), and note “eye-salve” in Revelation 3:18.Naked (γυμνος — gumnos). “The figure completes the picture of actual poverty” (Beckwith). See Revelation 3:15, Revelation 3:16. [source]
Revelation 3:17 Blind [τυπλος]
Spiritual blindness as often (Matthew 23:17), and note “eye-salve” in Revelation 3:18.Naked (γυμνος — gumnos). “The figure completes the picture of actual poverty” (Beckwith). See Revelation 3:15, Revelation 3:16. [source]

What do the individual words in Matthew 23:17 mean?

Foolish and blind Which for greater is the gold or temple - having sanctified the gold
μωροὶ καὶ τυφλοί τίς γὰρ μείζων ἐστίν χρυσὸς ναὸς ἁγιάσας τὸν χρυσόν

μωροὶ  Foolish 
Parse: Adjective, Vocative Masculine Plural
Root: μωρός  
Sense: foolish.
τυφλοί  blind 
Parse: Adjective, Vocative Masculine Plural
Root: τυφλός  
Sense: blind.
μείζων  greater 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Singular, Comparative
Root: μέγας  
Sense: great.
χρυσὸς  gold 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: χρυσός  
Sense: precious things made of gold, golden ornaments.
ναὸς  temple 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: ναός  
Sense: used of the temple at Jerusalem, but only of the sacred edifice (or sanctuary) itself, consisting of the Holy place and the Holy of Holies (in classical Greek it is used of the sanctuary or cell of the temple, where the image of gold was placed which is distinguished from the whole enclosure).
  - 
Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
ἁγιάσας  having  sanctified 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: ἁγιάζω 
Sense: to render or acknowledge, or to be venerable or hallow.
χρυσόν  gold 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: χρυσός  
Sense: precious things made of gold, golden ornaments.

What are the major concepts related to Matthew 23:17?

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