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Matthew 23:13-23 Woe to the hypocrites
1. Matthew 23:13-23 Woe to the hypocrites
2. Revelation Woe
Revelation 8:13 And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound! [kjv]
και ειδον και ηκουσα ενος αετου πετομενου εν μεσουρανηματι λεγοντος φωνη μεγαλη ουαι ουαι ουαι τους κατοικουντας επι της γης εκ των λοιπων φωνων της σαλπιγγος των τριων αγγελων των μελλοντων σαλπιζειν [gnt]
The English word
"woe" appears many times in the Bible. Think of a
"bird" of
prey (eagle, hawk, owl, vulture, etc.) swooping down. Perhaps it was a
"bird" of "
pray". Sometimes the English word
"alas" is used for
"woe".
18:19 And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate. [kjv]
και εβαλον χουν επι τας κεφαλας αυτων και εκραξαν κλαιοντες και πενθουντες λεγοντες ουαι ουαι η πολις η μεγαλη εν η επλουτησαν παντες οι εχοντες τα πλοια εν τη θαλασση εκ της τιμιοτητος αυτης οτι μια ωρα ηρημωθη [gnt]
3. Words repeated three times in the GNT
There are three places in the
GNT (Greek New Testament) where the same word is repeated three times in a row.
"Jerusalem Jerusalem Jerusalem" in Luke 13:33-34 (end of verse 33, beginning of verse 34)
"Holy Holy Holy" in Revelation 4:8
"Woe Woe Woe" in Revelation 8:13
The only such three-peat to have a hymn is that of "
Holy, Holy, Holy".
There is as of yet no hymn for "
Woe, Woe, Woe".
4. Revelation 8:13 Woe, woe, woe
Revelation 8:13 And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound! [kjv]
και ειδον και ηκουσα ενος αετου πετομενου εν μεσουρανηματι λεγοντος φωνη μεγαλη ουαι ουαι ουαι τους κατοικουντας επι της γης εκ των λοιπων φωνων της σαλπιγγος των τριων αγγελων των μελλοντων σαλπιζειν [gnt]
In only three places in the
GNT are three words repeated. The words "
holy holy holy" from Revelation forms the basis of a hymn.
What song is from the three repeated words woe, woe, woe in Revelation?
Elmer Fudd best sings the song, Woe, woe, woe your boat.
5. Matthew 23:13 Shut and closed
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. [kjv]
ουαι δε υμιν γραμματεις και φαρισαιοι υποκριται οτι κλειετε την βασιλειαν των ουρανων εμπροσθεν των ανθρωπων υμεις γαρ ουκ εισερχεσθε ουδε τους εισερχομενους αφιετε εισελθειν [gnt]
Jesus now starts a sequence of verses that start with the words
"woe" (as in a
"bird" of prey's cry),
"scribes",
"Pharisees" and "
hypocrites". The Greek for "
hypocrite" meant "
acting" or "
pretending".
The "
kingdom" of "
heaven" is something that can be "
closed" to people. That could be "
deception". It could be "
compulsion" with rules and threat of force.
The Greek for "
suffer" is that of "
allow" and the same word often translated as "
forgive". The Greek for "
shut" has the same root as the Greek word for "
key" that is used to "
shut" something.
Have they taken the "
twig" out of the "
eye" of those wanting to do the right thing so they cannot bear "
fruit"? The Greek word "
twig" is a play on words with the Greek word for "
fruit".
6. Matthew 23:13
KJV: 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.
Greek: ουαι δε υμιν γραμματεις και φαρισαιοι υποκριται οτι κλειετε την βασιλειαν των ουρανων εμπροσθεν των ανθρωπων υμεις γαρ ουκ εισερχεσθε ουδε τους εισερχομενους αφιετε εισελθειν
7. Matthew 23:13 Before the against
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. [kjv]
ουαι δε υμιν γραμματεις και φαρισαιοι υποκριται οτι κλειετε την βασιλειαν των ουρανων εμπροσθεν των ανθρωπων υμεις γαρ ουκ εισερχεσθε ουδε τους εισερχομενους αφιετε εισελθειν [gnt]
The Greek word translated as
"against" is that of
"before" or
"in front of".
The ancient Greek word
"ἔμπροσθεν" ≈ "before, in front" and, in the case of time,
"earlier"
8. Matthew 23:14
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. [kjv]
This verse was added in the
TR (Textus Receptus).
The part about
for a pretense make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation is a favorite verse part for those forced to listen to sermons, political statements, social statements, etc., in the guise of a prayer.
9. Matthew 23:14
KJV: 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.
Greek: ουαι δε υμιν γραμματεις και φαρισαιοι υποκριται οτι κατεσθιετε τας οικιας των χηρων και προφασει μακρα προσευχομενοι δια τουτο ληψεσθε περισσοτερον κριμα
10. Matthew 23:15 Jesus talks about recruiting friends
Jesus talks about what happens if you recruit followers (as friends, etc.) with incorrect motives (e.g., to fill the pews as a "
return on investment").
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. [kjv]
ουαι υμιν γραμματεις και φαρισαιοι υποκριται οτι περιαγετε την θαλασσαν και την ξηραν ποιησαι ενα προσηλυτον και οταν γενηται ποιειτε αυτον υιον γεεννης διπλοτερον υμων [gnt]
A "
proselyte" is someone who is being recruited to be a part of the group, as in being a "
friend" to bring a new member or attendee into a church. Might the "
proselyte" be compared to a "
fish" that is caught for the purpose of getting a gold coin? This is a different way to be a "
fisher" of "
men". It is more like a "
snake" posing as a "
fisher".
The Greek translated as "
hypocrites" means "
acting" or "
pretending".
11. Matthew 23:15
KJV: 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.
Greek: ουαι υμιν γραμματεις και φαρισαιοι υποκριται οτι περιαγετε την θαλασσαν και την ξηραν ποιησαι ενα προσηλυτον και οταν γενηται ποιειτε αυτον υιον γεεννης διπλοτερον υμων
12. Matthew 23:16 Gold
13. Matthew 23:16
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 ! [kjv]
ουαι υμιν οδηγοι τυφλοι οι λεγοντες ος αν ομοση εν τω ναω ουδεν εστιν ος δ αν ομοση εν τω χρυσω του ναου οφειλει [gnt]
In ancient times, one might take an "
oath" or "
vow". The ancient Greek word
"ὅρκος" ≈ "oath" as in the "
object by which one swears" and is related to
"ἕρκος" ≈ "fence". This "
swear" (verb) is not the same Greek word as "
oath" (noun) but is a semantic match in that they have the same meaning.
This Greek word is related to the shoulder as in "
swear" (verb) as «
ωμοσεαν» whereas the word «
ορκον» (noun) is used for the "
oath".
14. Matthew 23:16 Blind guides
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 ! [kjv]
ουαι υμιν οδηγοι τυφλοι οι λεγοντες ος αν ομοση εν τω ναω ουδεν εστιν ος δ αν ομοση εν τω χρυσω του ναου οφειλει [gnt]
The ancient Greek word
"τυφλός" ≈ "blind, dark, unseen" and is related to the English word
"deaf" and the German word
"taub" ≈ "deaf".
The ancient Greek word
"ὁδηγός" ≈ "guide" as in one who "
shows the way" and comes from two words.
"ὁδός" ≈ "way, path" as in the last part of the English words "method" and "exodus".
"ἡγέομαι" ≈ "guide".
15. Matthew 23:16
KJV: 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 !
Greek: ουαι υμιν οδηγοι τυφλοι οι λεγοντες ος αν ομοση εν τω ναω ουδεν εστιν ος δ αν ομοση εν τω χρυσω του ναου οφειλει
16. Matthew 23:17 Fools
Matthew 23:17 Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold? [kjv]
μωροι και τυφλοι τις γαρ μειζων εστιν ο χρυσος η ο ναος ο αγιασας τον χρυσον [gnt]
Jesus uses the idea of "
greater" in terms of
"gold" and the "
temple".
Jesus calls the religious elite "
fools" or, in Aramaic, "
raca". Is Jesus then "
liable" or in "
danger" of the "
council"? He will be at the crucifixion.
17. Matthew 23:17
KJV: Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold?
Greek: μωροι και τυφλοι τις γαρ μειζων εστιν ο χρυσος η ο ναος ο αγιαζων αγιασας τον χρυσον
18. Matthew 5:22 Fools
Matthew 5:22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. [kjv]
εγω δε λεγω υμιν οτι πας ο οργιζομενος τω αδελφω αυτου ενοχος εσται τη κρισει ος δ αν ειπη τω αδελφω αυτου ρακα ενοχος εσται τω συνεδριω ος δ αν ειπη μωρε ενοχος εσται εις την γεενναν του πυρος [gnt]
19. Matthew 23:17 Blind
Matthew 23:17 Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold? [kjv]
μωροι και τυφλοι τις γαρ μειζων εστιν ο χρυσος η ο ναος ο αγιασας τον χρυσον [gnt]
The ancient Greek word
"τυφλός" ≈ "blind, dark, unseen" and is related to the English word
"deaf" and the German word
"taub" ≈ "deaf".
20. Matthew 23:18
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. [kjv]
και ος αν ομοση εν τω θυσιαστηριω ουδεν εστιν ος δ αν ομοση εν τω δωρω τω επανω αυτου οφειλει [gnt]
The Greek for "swear" is a play on words with "Moses".
The Greek for "alter" has the same ending as the "phylactery", both as a "prison" or "watch".
The
KJV (King James Version) translates as "
guilty" the Greek word that means "
debtor" as in the Lord's Prayer. Here it is one who is "
bound" by an "
oath". Jesus says not to take "
oaths".
21. Matthew 23:18
KJV: And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty.
Greek: και ος εαν αν ομοση εν τω θυσιαστηριω ουδεν εστιν ος δ αν ομοση εν τω δωρω τω επανω αυτου οφειλει
22. Matthew 23:19 Gifts and altars
Matthew 23:19 Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift? [kjv]
τυφλοι τι γαρ μειζον το δωρον η το θυσιαστηριον το αγιαζον το δωρον [gnt]
What is the
"gift"?
☐ The
dead "gift" "on" the
"altar".
☐ The
living "gift" "before" or
"in front of" the
"altar".
Are those who cannot "
see" the "
greater"
"gift" "
blind"?
23. Matthew 23:19
KJV: Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift?
Greek: μωροι και τυφλοι τυφλοι τι γαρ μειζον το δωρον η το θυσιαστηριον το αγιαζον το δωρον
24. Matthew 23:20 Swearing
Matthew 23:20 Whoso therefore shall swear by the altar, sweareth by it, and by all things thereon. [kjv]
ο ουν ομοσας εν τω θυσιαστηριω ομνυει εν αυτω και εν πασιν τοις επανω αυτου [gnt]
Jesus now makes
three statements about "
swearing". It is unclear as to how these are connected.
25. Matthew 23:20
KJV: Whoso therefore shall swear by the altar, sweareth by it, and by all things thereon.
Greek: ο ουν ομοσας εν τω θυσιαστηριω ομνυει εν αυτω και εν πασιν τοις επανω αυτου
26. Matthew 23:21 Swearing
Matthew 23:21 And whoso shall swear by the temple, sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth therein. [kjv]
και ο ομοσας εν τω ναω ομνυει εν αυτω και εν τω κατοικουντι αυτον [gnt]
27. Matthew 23:21
KJV: And whoso shall swear by the temple, sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth therein.
Greek: και ο ομοσας εν τω ναω ομνυει εν αυτω και εν τω κατοικουντι αυτον
28. Swearing
Matthew 23:22 And he that shall swear by heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth thereon. [kjv]
και ο ομοσας εν τω ουρανω ομνυει εν τω θρονω του θεου και εν τω καθημενω επανω αυτου [gnt]
29. Matthew 23:22
KJV: And he that shall swear by heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth thereon.
Greek: και ο ομοσας εν τω ουρανω ομνυει εν τω θρονω του θεου και εν τω καθημενω επανω αυτου
30. Matthew 23:23 Tithe
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. [kjv]
ουαι υμιν γραμματεις και φαρισαιοι υποκριται οτι αποδεκατουτε το ηδυοσμον και το ανηθον και το κυμινον και αφηκατε τα βαρυτερα του νομου την κρισιν και το ελεος και την πιστιν ταυτα δε δε εδει ποιησαι κακεινα μη αφειναι [gnt]
The
KJV translates as "
omitted" and then "
undone" (at the end of the verse) the (same) Greek word that means "
forgive" or "
let go".
31. Matthew 23:23
KJV: 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.
Greek: ουαι υμιν γραμματεις και φαρισαιοι υποκριται οτι αποδεκατουτε το ηδυοσμον και το ανηθον και το κυμινον και αφηκατε τα βαρυτερα του νομου την κρισιν και τον ελεον το ελεος και την πιστιν ταυτα δε δε εδει ποιησαι κακεινα μη αφιεναι αφειναι
32. Matthew 23:24 Put it together
Matthew 23:24 Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel. [kjv]
οδηγοι τυφλοι διυλιζοντες τον κωνωπα την δε καμηλον καταπινοντες [gnt]
English: strain the gnat the of/which the camel swallow
Greek: διυλιζοντες τον κωνωπα την δε κάμηλον καταπινοντες (as written)
Greek: δια λιζοντες τον κωνο πετεινα και μυλόν καταπινοντες (play on words)
English: through the matter/play the cone/hemlock/poison birds and apple swallow
The flexible Greek word order is sometimes used to create a play on words that adds the imagery and meaning to the actual words.
Had the religious establishment in Judea attempted to "
swallow" the "
poison" and/or "
blood" of the (Roman) "
birds" and "
apple"? There are other ways that the play on words could create mental imagery.
The Greek for "
gnat" is the source of the English word
"canopy".
33. Matthew 23:25-26 Cleaning the cup and bowl
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. [kjv]
23:26 Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also. [kjv]
Luke 11:39 And the Lord said unto him, Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter; but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness. [kjv]
As Jesus often does, there are double-meanings in the words translated as
"platter" and
"excess" but only
one of the double-meanings for each word appears in the corresponding verse in Luke translated as
"platter" and
"wickedness", respectively.
34. Matthew 23:27 Bones
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. [kjv]
ουαι υμιν γραμματεις και φαρισαιοι υποκριται οτι παρομοιαζετε ταφοις κεκονιαμενοις οιτινες εξωθεν μεν φαινονται ωραιοι εσωθεν δε γεμουσιν οστεων νεκρων και πασης ακαθαρσιας [gnt]
The ancient Greek word
"ὀστέον" ≈ "bone" is in the first part of the English word
"osteoporosis".
"ὅστις" ≈ "whoever" as a play on words.
"hostis" ≈ "enemy" (Latin)
In modern terms, the
Pharisees might be some pastors while the
scribes might be some theologians, Bible Greek language experts, etc.
The
scribes are the academics of the time who keep the books for the religious establishment. Why might the professors and Greek experts at Bible Seminaries not want to point out what Jesus points out about the
scribes?
The Greek word translated as "
hypocrites" meant "
acting" or "
pretending".
35. End of page
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 ! [kjv]
ουαι υμιν οδηγοι τυφλοι οι λεγοντες ος αν ομοση εν τω ναω ουδεν εστιν ος δ αν ομοση εν τω χρυσω του ναου οφειλει [gnt]
What might "gold" represent?
