Matthew 23
Matthew 23 | |
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Book | Gospel of Matthew |
Category | Gospel |
Christian Bible part | New Testament |
Order in the Christian part | 1 |
Gospel of Matthew |
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Chapters |
Matthew 23 is the twenty-third chapter in the
Text
The original text was written in Koine Greek. This chapter is divided into 39 verses.
Textual witnesses
Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter are:
- Papyrus 77 (~AD 200; extant: verses 30–39)
- Codex Vaticanus (325–350)
- Codex Sinaiticus (330–360)
- Codex Bezae (c. 400)
- Codex Washingtonianus (c. 400)
- Codex Ephraemi Rescriptus (c. 450)
- Codex Purpureus Rossanensis(6th century)
- Codex Sinopensis(6th century; extant verses 1–35)
- Papyrus 83 (6th century; extant verses 39)
A Warning Against Scribes and Pharisees (23:1–12)
Matthew presents a concerted attack on the Jewish religious authorities at this point in his gospel narrative; there is a briefer warning about the scribes in Mark 12:38–40, and
Verse 2
- "The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses seat."[4]
Dale Allison states that "'Moses' seat' is ambiguous. It may either refer to a literal chair for synagogue authorities or be a metaphor for teaching authority (cf. the professor's 'chair')." Thus, the New Century Version presents this verse as:
- The teachers of the law and the Pharisees have the authority to tell you what the law of Moses says.[5]
Allison observes that "only here (in Matthew's gospel) are the Jewish leaders presented in a positive light: they should be obeyed".[6] Moses "sat to judge the people" in Exodus 18:13, although Meyer counsels against the suggestion that the "seat of Moses" refers to this passage.[2]
Meyer also suggests that the word ἐκάθισαν (ekathisan, "have sat down") should be read as "have seated themselves",[7] meaning that they have "assumed to themselves the duties of this office".[2]
Verse 5
- But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments.[8]
Arthur Carr notes that "Jesus does not prohibit the practice of wearing
The Scribes and Pharisees Denounced (23:13–36)
While the previous pericope was directed to the crowd and the disciples, this part addresses the scribes and Pharisees, in the form of 'seven woes', a powerful climax to repudiate their leadership.[3]
Verse 13
- But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people's faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in.[10]
Some manuscripts add here (or after verse 12) verse 14: Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows' houses and for a pretense you make long prayers; therefore you will receive the greater condemnation.[11]
The phrase "enter the kingdom of heaven" appears three other times in the Gospel, at
Verse 36
- Assuredly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation.[13]
"These things" in the Greek texts are ταῦτα πάντα (tauta panta) in the
The Fate of Jerusalem (23:37–39)
This last part acts as the inevitable conclusion of the hypocrisy of the leaders to the total guilt of Israel in its rejection of God's messenger: Jerusalem has rejected the call of God's last and greatest messenger and will receive judgment for it.[14]
Verse 39
- for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, 'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!'[15]
Citing Psalm 118:26, echoing Matthew 21:19.[16]
Other Gospels
Luke 11:37–54 parallels Matthew 23, but Luke's version has six, not seven, accusations, and is thus known as the "Six Woes". Luke's version is also shorter than Matthew's. Luke 13:34–35 parallels Jesus' lament over Jerusalem in verses 37–39.
See also
Notes
The "anise" mentioned in some translations is
References
Citations
- ^ Hood, J., Matthew 23–25: The Extent of Jesus' Fifth Discourse, Journal of Biblical Literature, Fall 2009, volume 128, No. 3, pp. 527–543, accessed 17 December 2022
- ^ a b c d e Meyer, H. A. W., Meyer's NT Commentary: Matthew 23, accessed 18 March 2021
- ^ a b France 1994, p. 934.
- ^ Matthew 23:2: New King James Version
- ^ Matthew 23:2: New Century Version
- ^ Allison, D. Jr., Matthew in Barton, J. and Muddiman, J. (2001), The Oxford Bible Commentary, p. 875
- ^ As in the New American Standard Bible: Matthew 23:2
- ^ Matthew 23:5: NKJV
- ^ Carr, A. (1893), Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges on Matthew 23, accessed 17 December 2022
- ^ Matthew 23:13 ESV
- ^ Note [a] on Matthew 23:13 in ESV
- ^ Gundry, Robert H. Matthew: a Commentary on his Literary and Theological Art. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1982. p. 131
- ^ Matthew 23:36
- ^ France 1994, p. 935.
- ^ Matthew 23:39 NKJV
- ^ Coogan 2007, p. 45 New Testament.
- ^ EB (1878).
Sources
- ISBN 9780195288810.
- ISBN 9780851106489.
- , 'Encyclopædia Britannica, 9th ed., Vol. II, New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1878, pp. 57–58.
External links
- Matthew 23 King James Bible – Wikisource
- English Translation with Parallel Latin Vulgate
- Online Bible at GospelHall.org (ESV, KJV, Darby, American Standard Version, Bible in Basic English)
- Multiple bible versions at Bible Gateway (NKJV, NIV, NRSV etc.)
Preceded by Matthew 22 |
Chapters of the New Testament Gospel of Matthew |
Succeeded by Matthew 24 |