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.

Woe {G3759} unto you {G5213}, scribes {G1122} and {G2532} Pharisees {G5330}, hypocrites {G5273}! for {G3754} ye compass {G4013} sea {G2281} and {G2532} land {G3584} to make {G4160} one {G1520} proselyte {G4339}, and {G2532} when {G3752} he is made {G1096}, ye make {G4160} him {G846} twofold more {G1362} the child {G5207} of hell {G1067} than yourselves {G5216}.

"Woe to you hypocritical Torah-teachers and P'rushim! You go about over land and sea to make one proselyte; and when you succeed, you make him twice as fit for Gei-Hinnom as you are!

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You traverse land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are.

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he is become so, ye make him twofold more a son of hell than yourselves.

Commentary

Matthew 23:15 is one of Jesus' most severe condemnations against the religious leaders of His time, the scribes and Pharisees. In this powerful "woe," Jesus exposes their intense but misdirected religious zeal and its devastating spiritual consequences, highlighting the dangers of hypocrisy and false teaching.

Context

This verse is part of a series of seven "woes" (or denunciations) delivered by Jesus in Matthew chapter 23. Throughout this chapter, Jesus systematically exposes the hypocrisy, spiritual blindness, and self-righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, contrasting their outward show of piety with their inward corruption. This particular woe focuses on their missionary efforts to convert Gentiles to Judaism, revealing the corrupting nature of their teaching and influence.

Key Themes

  • Hypocrisy and Misguided Zeal: The Pharisees were known for their meticulous adherence to the Mosaic Law and their own oral traditions. Jesus notes their extraordinary effort ("compass sea and land") to gain converts. However, He labels them "hypocrites" (from the Greek hypokrites, meaning 'actor' or 'one who wears a mask') because their outward actions did not stem from a pure heart or genuine love for God and truth. Their zeal was for their own system and reputation, not for God's glory or the true spiritual well-being of the converts.
  • Perversion of Discipleship: Instead of leading people to true righteousness and a life-giving relationship with God, their proselytizing efforts resulted in converts who became "twofold more the child of hell than yourselves." This implies that the converts not only adopted the Pharisees' legalistic and burdensome practices but perhaps even surpassed their teachers in fanaticism, rigid adherence to rules, or spiritual corruption, becoming entangled in a system that led away from God rather than towards Him. This stands in stark contrast to the Great Commission to make true disciples of all nations.
  • Spiritual Blindness and Judgment: Jesus' "woe" is a declaration of sorrow and impending divine judgment. It underscores the profound spiritual blindness of these leaders who, despite their religious fervor, were leading themselves and their followers further away from God's kingdom and into condemnation.

Linguistic Insights

  • The Greek word for "woe," ouai (οὐαί), is more than just an exclamation of sorrow; it often carries the strong connotation of a pronouncement of divine judgment or impending doom.
  • A "proselyte" (Greek: proselyton, προσήλυτον) refers specifically to a Gentile who converted to Judaism, undergoing rituals like circumcision and accepting the Jewish Law and traditions.
  • The phrase "child of hell" is a translation of the Greek huion Geennēs (υἱὸν γεέννης), literally "son of Gehenna." Gehenna was a valley outside Jerusalem, originally a place of pagan child sacrifice (2 Kings 23:10), which later became a constantly burning garbage dump. It was used metaphorically to represent a place of fiery judgment and eternal destruction. To be a "son of Gehenna" meant to be destined for or characterized by destruction, embodying the very spiritual corruption that led to it.

Practical Application

  • Examine Our Zeal: This verse challenges us to evaluate the motivations behind our religious activities and evangelistic efforts. Is our zeal rooted in genuine love for God and others, or in self-righteousness, tradition, or a desire for human approval and control? True faith should lead to genuine transformation, not just outward conformity.
  • Beware of False Teachers: It serves as a strong warning against spiritual leaders and teachings that, despite outward appearances of piety or success, lead people away from the true gospel of grace and into legalism, empty rituals, or spiritual bondage. The focus should always be on Christ and His transformative power, as seen in Paul's warning against a false gospel in Galatians.
  • Authentic Discipleship: Genuine discipleship involves leading people to a saving relationship with Jesus Christ, characterized by inner transformation, love, and obedience that flows from faith, not merely adherence to a set of rules or traditions.
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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Ephesians 2:3

    Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

  • Acts 13:10

    And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, [thou] child of the devil, [thou] enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?

  • Acts 13:43

    Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.

  • John 8:44

    Ye are of [your] father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

  • Acts 14:2

    But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil affected against the brethren.

  • Galatians 4:17

    ¶ They zealously affect you, [but] not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them.

  • Acts 17:5

    But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.
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