Eight Woes Upon The Pharisees
By Pastor CG
Marks of a Pharisee
Matthew 23:1 Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples,
Matthew 23:2 Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat:
Matthew 23:2
a [Moses’ seat]
Twenty-one Characteristics of Hypocrites
1. They demand respect as teachers (Matthew 23:2).
2. They teach, but do not practice (Matthew 23:3).
3. They demand service; not give it (Matthew 23:4).
4. They seek praise of men (Matthew 23:5).
5. They parade their religion (Matthew 23:5).
6. They seek chief banquet places (Matthew 23:6).
7. They seek chief places in church (Matthew 23:6).
8. They glory in personal attention (Matthew 23:7).
9. They glory in titles (Matthew 23:7).
10. They rob men of truth and life (Matthew 23:13).
11. They reject truth and life (Matthew 23:13).
12. They take advantage of widows (Matthew 23:14).
13. They exhibit long prayers (Matthew 23:14).
14. They are zealous to win men to their sect, but not to God (Matthew 23:15).
15. They root and ground converts in hypocrisy, but not to God (Matthew 23:15).
16. They profess to be the only guide in religion, but are blind to truth and practical Christianity (Matthew 23:16-22).
17. They propagate those parts of religion from which they receive most personal gain and honor (Matthew 23:16-22).
18. They strain at gnats and swallow camels; stress minor details and omit the fundamentals of religion (Matthew 23:23-24).
19. They glory in physical cleanliness, but live in moral filth (Mt. v23:25-26).
20. They exhibit outward religion and self-righteousness and ignore inward holiness in life and conduct (Matthew 23:2,7-28).
21. They pretend to be more righteous than their forefathers (Matthew 23:29-33).
Matthew 23:3 All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.
Matthew 23:3
a [whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not] Obey God’s Word even if it comes from hypocrites, but do not live like them.
Matthew 23:4 For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.
Matthew 23:4
a [they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers] They point out the narrowest road to destruction. Practicing religion is not in itself condemned, but focussing only on its outward forms—the acts of piety to be seen of men—is wrong.
Matthew 23:5 But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,
Matthew 23:5
a [works they do for to be seen of men] The works of the hypocrites were done to be seen by others. Like many today, outward style in dress and beautiful forms of religion made the sum of their godliness.
b [seen of men] To be looked at as a clown or actor.
c [phylacteries] A small square box containing a parchment or skin (about 1 1/2 x 18 inches) on which were written Exodus 13:1-10; Deut. 6:4-9; Deut. 11:13-21. Worn on the arm and forehead by men only. Common people wore them only during prayers, but they were worn continually by the Pharisees who sought to enlarge the boxes so as to attract attention. Jesus did not condemn the wearing of them but the show made of them in public. They became badges of vanity and hypocrisy and amulets to drive away evil spirits.
d [borders of their garments]
b[hem] Greek: kraspedon (GSN-2899), a tassel of twisted wool (Matthew 9:20;
Matthew 14:36; Matthew 23:5; Mark 6:56; Luke 8:44). One was required at each of the four corners of the outer garment (Numbers 15:38-41; Deut. 22:12). Pharisees considered tassels special marks of sanctity and sought to enlarge them (Matthew 23:5). One thread of each tassel was to be deep blue to remind them of their duty to keep the law.
Matthew 23:6 And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues,
Matthew 23:6
a [uppermost rooms at feasts] Places of honor (Mark 12:39; Luke 20:46).
b [chief seats in the synagogues] Seats in front of the ark, facing the congregation and reserved for the elders and doctors of the law (Mark 12:39; Luke 11:43).
Matthew 23:7 And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.
Matthew 23:7
a [greetings in the markets] Loved formal salutations in public.
b [Rabbi] A title of a teacher (John 3:2; note, §Luke 9:38). A favorite title claimed by Pharisees (Matthew 23:7). One was made a rabbi by laying on of hands by the Sanhedrin who gave him a key as a sign of the authority conferred upon him to teach others, and a table-book as a sign of diligence in study. The key was worn as a badge of honor and was buried with him. Jews called John (John 3:26) and Jesus such (John 1:38,49; John 3:2; John 6:25) even though they were not ordained as rabbis (cp. John 20:16).
Warnings Against Phariseeism.
Matthew 23:8 But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.
Matthew 23:8
a[Master] Greek: kathegetes (GSN-2519), leader, guide. Here and in Matthew
23:10.
b[and all ye are brethren] No one among you is higher than another, or can have from Me any authority over the rest (1 Peter 5:1-8).
Matthew 23:9 And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.
Matthew 23:9
a[father] Greek: pater (GSN-3962), generator, nearest ancestor, founder of a race or, in this case, founder of Christianity. Members of the Sanhedrin were called fathers (Acts 7:2; Acts 22:1), but this was not to be a practice among Christians. It is used of God 244 times and of earthly fathers 140 times. It is used of idolatrous priests (Judges 17:10) and of Abraham, the founder of Israel and great example of faith (Romans 4:11-18). It is also used of one who converts men to God through the gospel, so this is not the thing Jesus condemns (1 Cor. 4:15). The "fathers" of Matthew 23 were the hypocrites who lorded it over others solely because of religious position and power.
Here He condemns all three titles that Jewish doctors greatly cherished and that fostered their hypocrisy and religious pride.
Matthew 23:10 Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.
Matthew 23:10
a [Master] See note on §Matthew 23:8, above. God and Christ are jealous of these honors for they are the only ones who have any right to these titles. God is the only Father of Christians and Christ is the only leader and head of the church (Ephes. 1:20-23; Col. 1:18,24).
Matthew 23:11 But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.
Matthew 23:11
a[greatest among you] See note, §Matthew 18:1.
Matthew 18:1
a [Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?] Question 93. Next, §Matthew 18:12. A question to this day among disciples who still classify men in the gospel as to position and rewards contrary to the constant rebuke of Christ (Matthew 18:3-4; Matthew 20:20-28; Matthew 23:8-11; Mark 9:34-37; Luke 9:46-48; Luke 22:24-27). In these scriptures He did not rebuke men for expecting a literal earthly kingdom or for wanting to be in it, but He made it clear that entrance into it and position in it are on a different basis from that of the world. See note, §Matthew 4:17.
b[servant] Greek: diakonos (GSN-1249), note, §Matthew 20:26.
Matthew 20:26
a[it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister] This was the original and eternal purpose, not a historical fact.
b[minister] Greek: diakonos (GSN-1249), one who executes the command of
another. It is used of:
1.Servants of kings (Matthew 22:13)
2.Servants at feasts (John 2:5,9)
3.Ministers or officers of civil governments (Romans 13:4)
4.Men and women servants of churches (Matthew 23:11; Mark 9:35; Romans 16:1)
5.Deacons of churches or business elders and distinct from bishops or preaching elders
(Phil. 1:1; 1 Tim. 3:10-13; Acts 6:1-7)
6.Jesus Christ as a minister to the Jews in the work of preaching, teaching and healing
(Romans 15:8; Galatians 2:17; Matthew 4:23-24; Matthew 9:35; Acts 10:38)
7.Ministers of churches (Matthew 20:26; Mark 10:43). See Marks of a Good Pastor.
8.Preachers of the gospel (1 Cor. 3:5; 2 Cor. 3:6; Ephes. 3:7; Col. 1:23,25; 1 Thes. 3:2)
9.Ministers of Christ and of God (John 12:26; 2 Cor. 6:4-10; 2 Cor. 11:23; Ephes.
6:21; Col. 1:7; Col. 4:7; 1 Tim. 4:6)
10.Also used of ministers of Satan to counterfeit the work of true ministers and to
deceive (2 Cor. 11:15)
Matthew 23:12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.
Matthew 23:12
a [exalt himself shall be abased] Religious lordship and domination by any man has no place in Christianity (Luke 14:11; Luke 18:14; Proverbs 16:18).
Eight Woes Upon The Pharisees
1. WOE: Antagonism Against God
Matthew 23:13 But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.
Matthew 23:13
a [shut up the kingdom of heaven against men] Withhold from men the truth and teach false doctrines.
2. WOE: Oppression - Hypocrisy
Matthew 23:14 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.
Matthew 23:14
a [devour widows’ houses] A reference to robbing widows of property (cp. 2 Tim. 3:5-9).
b [long prayer] Prayers were sometimes three hours long and three times a day (cp. Matthew 6:5-9).
c [greater damnation] See §Matthew 10:15.
Matthew 10:15
a [It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha ...] The 9th New Testament prophecy in Matthew (Matthew 10:15-26; Matthew 10:15,23,26 are unfulfilled; Matthew 10:16-22,24-25 have been and are still being fulfilled). Next, §Matthew 10:32.
b [more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, that for that city] This teaches degrees of punishment in hell (Matthew 11:22; Matthew 12:41; Matthew 23:14; Mark 6:11; Mark 12:40; Luke 10:14; Luke 11:31-32; Luke 20:47; Rev. 20:11-15).
3. WOE: Damnation Of Souls
Matthew 23:15 Woe unto you, 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 than yourselves.
Matthew 23:15
a[compass sea and land to make one proselyte] An idiom for doing all in their power to make converts, not to God, but to their own sect.
b[proselyte] Greek: proselutos (GSN-4339), a newcomer, a convert from a Gentile religion to Judaism (Acts 2:10; Acts 6:5; Acts 13:43).
Two Classes of Jewish Proselytes:
1.Proselytes of righteousness who received circumcision and vowed to keep the whole law of Moses and all requirements of Judaism.
2.Proselytes of the gate (Exodus 20:10; Deut. 5:14; Deut. 24:16-21) who dwelt among Israel, and, although uncircumcised, observed the "seven precepts of Noah" which, according to the rabbis, were laws against idolatry, blasphemy, homicide, unchastity, theft or plundering, rebellion against rulers, and the use of "flesh with the blood thereof." They were called the scabs of the Jewish church. History records that they were more bitter against Christ and Christians than Jews, fulfilling this verse.
c[child of hell] Greek: gehenna (GSN-1067). "Child of hell" means one destined to hell (note, §John 17:12 and note, §Luke 12:5).
4. WOE: False Vows
Matthew 23:16 Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor!
Matthew 23:17 Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold?
Matthew 23:17
a [for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sactifieth the gold? ... for whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift?] Questions 139-140. Next, §Matthew 23:33. Pharisees held that they were not responsible to pay vows sworn by the temple or the altar (Matthew 23:16,18), but Jesus held that all vows must be paid and that the temple was greater than part of its material and the altar was greater than a gift upon it (Matthew 23:17,19-22).
Matthew 23:18 And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty.
Matthew 23:19 Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift?
Matthew 23:20 Whoso therefore shall swear by the altar, sweareth by it, and by all things thereon.
Matthew 23:21 And whoso shall swear by the temple, sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth therein.
Matthew 23:22 And he that shall swear by heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth thereon.
5. WOE: Outward Show
Matthew 23:23 Woe unto you, 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: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
g [ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone] Since Christ sanctioned tithing it should be practiced. His teachings were not to confirm the law for a few days and then be abolished. They were to take the place of the law which was "until John." Since then the kingdom of heaven is preached (Matthew 11:11-13; Luke 16:16). If we do away with this doctrine sanctioned by Christ just because it was part of the law, then on the same basis we can do away with more of His teachings which were part of the old covenant. The only parts of the law we have a right to reject as part of the New Testament are those that are not found in the New Testament or are not made a part of it.
Matthew 23:24 Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.
Matthew 23:24
a [strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel] Strain out gnats but gulp down camels.
6. Woe False Cleanses
Matthew 23:25 Woe unto you, 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.
Matthew 23:25
a [make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess] You ceremonially cleanse outward things which typify inward cleansing but you never purify the inward man from which come the issues of life (Matthew 15:18-20; Mark 7:19-21).
b [full of extortion and excess] See note, §Luke 4:28.
Matthew 23:26 Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.
Matthew 23:26
a [blind] Ten times this word is used by Christ of the blindness of religious leaders (Matthew 15:14; Matthew 23:16-26; Luke 6:39; John 9:41; Rev. 3:17). Others used it in this sense (Romans 2:19; Romans 11:7; 2 Cor. 3:14; 2 Cor. 4:4; 2 Peter 1:9). Rejecting light results in blindness (1 John 1:7; 1 John 2:11; John 3:19-20). Such people choose to be blind (John 8:39-41; John 12:40; Matthew 13:14-16). This is the worst kind of blindness, making people worthy of eternal blindness (Matthew 8:12; Matthew 25:30-46).
b [clean also] Cleanse heart and body.
7. WOE: Self - Righteousness
Matthew 23:27 Woe unto you, 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.
Matthew 23:27
a [whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness] Tombs were whitewashed one month before the passover to warn all persons about contacting uncleanness (Numbers 19:16). They were also decorated various ways (Matthew 23:29).
Matthew 23:28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
Matthew 23:28
a [outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity] The way of millions today in churches whose Christianity goes no deeper than what can be seen (1 Samuel 16:7; 2 Cor. 10:7; 2 Tim. 3:5; 1 Peter 3:3).
8. WOE: Boasting And Self - Conceit
Matthew 23:29 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous,
Matthew 23:29
a [Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous] Last of eight woes for eight sins (Matthew 23:13-29):
1. Unwillingness to let common people enjoy religious freedom and pure truth (Matthew 23:13)
2. Greed and pretended holiness to secure secular ends (Matthew 23:14)
3. Pretended zeal to win converts to God but with no view in mind other than to make instruments to serve their own oppressions and cruelty (Matthew 23:15)
4. False doctrines and interpretations of Scripture and ungodly means in escaping responsibility in vows which were made in hypocrisy (Matthew 23:16-22)
5. Superstition in scrupulously attending little things and things not commanded; and omitting things of great importance that are definitely enjoined (Matthew 23:23-24)
6. Maintaining hypocrisy and pretended saintship by outward religious show (Matthew 23:25-26)
7. Deep inward depravities and abominations covered only by outward forms of religion (Matthew 23:27-28)
8. Pretended concern for the holiness of the people which goes no further than whitewashing tombs and bragging about their own supposed regrets for the sins of their fathers while at the same time plotting every conceivable means to commit worse sins than their fathers did (Matthew 23:29-30)
Matthew 23:30 And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.
Matthew 23:30
a [If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets] They were worse than their fathers for they killed the Messiah and His followers (Matthew 23:34-36).
Matthew 23:31 Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets.
Matthew 23:32 Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers.
Matthew 23:33 Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?
Matthew 23:33
a [serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?] Serpents and a brood of vipers destined to gehenna fire (note, §Luke 12:5).
b [how can ye escape the damnation of hell?] Question 141. Next, §Matthew 24:2.
Matthew 23:34 Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city:
Matthew 23:34
a [I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes ...] The 36th New Testament prophecy in Matthew (Matthew 23:34-39; Matthew 23:34-36 are fulfilled; Matthew 23:37-39 are unfulfilled). Next, §Matthew 24:2.
Matthew 23:35 That upon you 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.
Matthew 23:35
a [That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth] Because they rejected greater light, killed the greatest executive of God—the Son from heaven—and stubbornly refused all offers of God’s mercy confirmed by the greatest signs and wonders of all times, judgment was to fall in a greater measure than upon any other generation.
b [Zacharias son of Barachias] This was no doubt Zechariah the prophet (Zech. 1:1). Here we learn of his death in the temple. It could not be the one in 2 Chron. 24:20-21 who was the son of Jehoida.
Matthew 23:36 Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation.
Matthew 23:37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!
Matthew 23:37
a [O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not] Christ’s last heart-rending plea to Israel.
b [ye would not] In the final analysis man is responsible for his destiny (Rev. 22:17).
Matthew 23:38 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.
Matthew 23:38
a [house is left unto you desolate] Referring to the nation as well as the temple (2 Samuel 7:5,18-19). Both were destroyed and both will be restored. Israel was here officially cut off as a nation at the end of Daniel’s 69th week and will not be dealt with as such until Daniel’s 70th week (Daniel 9:27).
Three Reasons the Temple Was Destroyed:
1. Because of their sins
2. To take away all possibility of continuing Judaism
3. To prove conclusive that the law was abolished, the old Jewish economy was brought to an end and the Christian dispensation introduced
Matthew 23:39 For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.
Matthew 23:39
a [till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord] You will see Me again and will be glad to accept Me as your Messiah (Zech. 12:10-13:1; Isaiah 66:7-8; Romans 11:25-29).
b [Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord] Compare the first time they said this (Matthew 21:9; Psalm 118:26).
