InstaStudy

Woes to the Scribes and Pharisees: A Study of Matthew 23

An examination of Jesus's pronouncements against religious hypocrisy in Matthew 23, focusing on the importance of inward righteousness and genuine faith.

1. The Problem of Outward Observance

1.1 Authority and Hypocrisy (Matthew 23:1-3)

Verses: Matthew 23:1-3
  • Jesus acknowledges the scribes and Pharisees sit in Moses' seat, possessing a degree of authority.
  • He instructs the disciples to observe and do what they teach, but not to imitate their actions.
  • Their actions do not align with their words, revealing hypocrisy.

1.2 Heavy Burdens and Empty Show (Matthew 23:4-7)

Verses: Matthew 23:4-7
  • They bind heavy burdens on others but do not lift a finger to help.
  • Their actions are done to be seen by others, seeking praise and recognition.
  • They love the places of honor at feasts and greetings in the marketplaces.

2. Hypocrisy in Religious Practice

2.1 Blind Guides (Matthew 23:16-19)

Verses: Matthew 23:16-19
  • Jesus calls them blind guides, highlighting their flawed judgment and spiritual insight.
  • They make distinctions between oaths, valuing the gold of the temple over the temple itself.
  • This demonstrates a misplaced emphasis on material things over spiritual significance.

2.2 Straining Out a Gnat (Matthew 23:23-24)

Verses: Matthew 23:23-24
  • They are meticulous about tithing even small herbs but neglect justice, mercy, and faith.
  • They strain out a gnat but swallow a camel, illustrating their focus on minor details while ignoring major moral issues.
  • True righteousness involves both outward obedience and inward transformation.

3. The Importance of Inward Righteousness

3.1 Clean the Inside of the Cup (Matthew 23:25-26)

Verses: Matthew 23:25-26
  • Jesus rebukes them for cleaning the outside of the cup while the inside is full of greed and self-indulgence.
  • He urges them to cleanse the inside first, so that the outside may also be clean.
  • Inward purity is essential for genuine righteousness.

3.2 Whitewashed Tombs (Matthew 23:27-28)

Verses: Matthew 23:27-28
  • They appear beautiful on the outside but are full of death and decay on the inside.
  • Outwardly they appear righteous, but inwardly they are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
  • True righteousness is not merely an outward appearance but an inward reality.

4. Rejection of God's Messengers and Impending Judgment

4.1 Persecution of Prophets (Matthew 23:29-32)

Verses: Matthew 23:29-32
  • They build tombs for the prophets and adorn the monuments of the righteous, claiming they would not have participated in their persecution.
  • Jesus reveals that they are descendants of those who murdered the prophets and will continue their evil deeds.
  • Their actions demonstrate a rejection of God's messengers and a continuation of a pattern of disobedience.

4.2 Judgment to Come (Matthew 23:33-36)

Verses: Matthew 23:33-36
  • Jesus pronounces judgment upon them, calling them serpents and a brood of vipers.
  • He warns that they will not escape the judgment of hell.
  • The blood of all the righteous people shed on earth will be required of their generation.

5. God's Love and Humanity's Rejection

5.1 Lament over Jerusalem (Matthew 23:37-39)

Verses: Matthew 23:37-39
  • Jesus expresses deep sorrow over Jerusalem, lamenting their rejection of Him.
  • He desires to gather them as a hen gathers her chicks, but they are unwilling.
  • Their house is left to them desolate until they say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!'