Matthew 23:29

KJV

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous,

KJV (with Strong's)

Woe {G3759} unto you {G5213}, scribes {G1122} and {G2532} Pharisees {G5330}, hypocrites {G5273}! because {G3754} ye build {G3618} the tombs {G5028} of the prophets {G4396}, and {G2532} garnish {G2885} the sepulchres {G3419} of the righteous {G1342},

Complete Jewish Bible

"Woe to you hypocritical Torah-teachers and P'rushim! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the graves of the tzaddikim,

Berean Standard Bible

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the monuments of the righteous.

American Standard Version

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye build the sepulchres of the prophets, and garnish the tombs of the righteous,

Commentary

### SUMMARY
In Matthew 23:29, Jesus pronounces a severe "woe" upon the scribes and Pharisees, exposing their profound hypocrisy. He condemns them for outwardly honoring deceased prophets and righteous individuals by building and adorning their tombs, while simultaneously demonstrating the same persecuting spirit as their ancestors by rejecting and plotting against the living Prophet, Jesus, and His message. This denunciation highlights the stark contrast between their external religious displays and their corrupt inner spiritual condition, revealing their true alignment with those who historically opposed God's messengers.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated within the climactic "Seven Woes" of [Matthew chapter 23](/matthew/23 "Matthew 23 - The Seven Woes Against the Scribes and Pharisees"), which represent Jesus' final and most scathing public condemnation of the religious establishment in Jerusalem before His passion. Following earlier teachings on authentic discipleship and the nature of the Kingdom, Jesus now directly confronts the scribes and Pharisees, exposing their spiritual bankruptcy. The woes escalate in intensity, moving from their external actions (like wearing broad phylacteries in [Matthew 23:5](/matthew/23-5 "Matthew 23:5 - Hypocritical Displays")) to their internal corruption and ultimate rejection of God's truth. [Matthew 23:29](/matthew/23-29 "Matthew 23:29 - Woe to Hypocritical Leaders") specifically targets their pretense of piety regarding past prophets, setting the stage for Jesus' pronouncement that they are heirs to those who persecuted God's messengers, culminating in the prophecy of Jerusalem's judgment in [Matthew 23:37-39](/matthew/23-37-39 "Matthew 23:37-39 - Jesus Laments Over Jerusalem").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In first-century Judaism, it was a common and respected practice to honor the graves of revered figures, particularly prophets and righteous individuals. This often involved building or refurbishing tombs and sepulchres, sometimes making them more elaborate or accessible for veneration. The Pharisees, as a prominent religious sect, would have been at the forefront of such practices, emphasizing their adherence to tradition and their reverence for the past. The irony Jesus exposes is that while they meticulously maintained the physical memorials of past prophets, they utterly failed to recognize or receive the greatest Prophet, Jesus, who stood before them. Their actions, though outwardly pious, masked a deep spiritual blindness and a perpetuation of the very spirit that led their ancestors to reject and persecute God's messengers, as seen throughout the Old Testament narrative, from the prophets like Jeremiah to the righteous like Abel ([Matthew 23:35](/matthew/23-35 "Matthew 23:35 - From the Blood of Abel to Zechariah")).
* **Key Themes:** The central theme in [Matthew 23:29](/matthew/23-29 "Matthew 23:29 - Woe to Hypocritical Leaders") is **Hypocrisy Unmasked**. Jesus systematically exposes the profound disconnect between the outward religious performance of the scribes and Pharisees and their corrupt inner spiritual state. Their act of building and adorning tombs for prophets is presented as a prime example of their superficial piety, which aims to impress others rather than genuinely honor God. This ties into the broader theme of **Outward Show vs. Inner Reality**, a recurring motif in Jesus' teachings, where He consistently prioritizes the condition of the heart over external rituals or traditions (e.g., [Matthew 15:7-9](/matthew/15-7-9 "Matthew 15:7-9 - Hypocrisy of Honoring God with Lips Only")). Furthermore, the verse introduces the theme of the **Legacy of Persecution**. By honoring dead prophets while actively rejecting the living Prophet (Jesus), the Pharisees unwittingly align themselves with the historical pattern of those who persecuted God's messengers. This theme is explicitly developed in subsequent verses, where Jesus declares them "witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets" ([Matthew 23:31](/matthew/23-31 "Matthew 23:31 - You are the Sons of Those Who Killed the Prophets")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Woe (Greek, _ouaí'_):** This is a powerful exclamation of grief, sorrow, and impending judgment. Unlike a simple expression of pity, "woe" in the New Testament often functions as a solemn declaration of divine disapproval and the inevitable calamity that will follow. It signals a pronouncement of doom or a lament over a tragic spiritual condition, serving as a stern warning from God.
* **Hypocrites (Greek, _hypokritḗs'_):** Derived from a Greek word meaning "an actor" or "one who wears a mask," this term perfectly describes the scribes and Pharisees. It denotes someone who pretends to be what they are not, presenting a false front of piety, righteousness, or virtue while their true character or motives are hidden and often contrary to their outward display. Jesus uses this term to expose their disingenuous religious performance.
* **Garnish (Greek, _kosméō'_):** From the root word for "order" or "world" (cosmos), this verb means "to put in proper order," "to adorn," "to decorate," or "to make beautiful." In this context, it emphasizes the superficial nature of the Pharisees' actions: they focused on the external beautification of the tombs, highlighting their concern for outward appearance rather than the spiritual principles or prophetic truths that the deceased figures represented.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!":** This opening phrase is a direct, forceful denunciation. "Woe" (G3759) is not merely an expression of sorrow but a pronouncement of judgment. The specific address to "scribes and Pharisees" identifies the primary targets of Jesus' condemnation—the religious leaders who held significant authority and influence. The epithet "hypocrites" (G5273) immediately labels their core failing, setting the tone for the accusations that follow. It establishes that their religious practice is a performance, a facade.
* **"because ye build the tombs of the prophets":** This clause provides the first reason for the "woe." The act of "building" (G3618) tombs for the prophets was outwardly seen as an act of reverence and piety. It suggested that they respected the memory and legacy of God's past messengers. However, Jesus implies that this act, while seemingly commendable, is rooted in a deeper hypocrisy, as their actions contradict the very spirit of the prophets they claim to honor.
* **"and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous":** This second clause reinforces the first, using the parallel action of "garnish[ing]" (G2885) the "sepulchres" (G3419) of the "righteous" (G1342). "Garnish" implies decorating or adorning, making the tombs outwardly appealing. This further emphasizes their focus on external appearances and superficial acts of devotion. The "righteous" here refers to those who lived justly and faithfully according to God's will, often including the prophets themselves. The irony is that while they beautified the resting places of those who spoke God's truth, they were actively resisting and seeking to silence the Truth incarnate standing before them.

#### Literary Devices
[Matthew 23:29](/matthew/23-29 "Matthew 23:29 - Woe to Hypocritical Leaders") powerfully employs **Irony**. The scribes and Pharisees, who outwardly honor the dead prophets by building and adorning their tombs, are simultaneously demonstrating the same persecuting spirit as those who killed the prophets in the past. Their actions are a performative display of piety that directly contradicts their inner spiritual state and their treatment of the living Prophet, Jesus. This creates a profound sense of dramatic irony, where the audience understands the true implications of their actions, which the Pharisees themselves seem blind to. The repeated use of "Woe unto you" throughout [Matthew chapter 23](/matthew/23 "Matthew 23 - The Seven Woes Against the Scribes and Pharisees") functions as a form of **Anaphora**, emphasizing the severity and repetitive nature of Jesus' condemnation. Furthermore, the passage utilizes **Juxtaposition** by contrasting the outward act of honoring dead prophets with the inward disposition of rejecting the living Christ, highlighting the chasm between their religious facade and their spiritual reality.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse profoundly underscores the biblical emphasis on internal spiritual reality over external religious performance. Jesus exposes a form of piety that is self-serving and deceptive, demonstrating that outward acts of devotion, no matter how grand or traditional, are meaningless if the heart is not aligned with God's truth and justice. The scribes and Pharisees, by honoring past prophets while rejecting the present one, reveal a fundamental misunderstanding of God's continuous revelation and His call to genuine righteousness. Their actions serve as a timeless warning against the dangers of religious hypocrisy, where form supplants substance, and tradition becomes a barrier to recognizing and responding to God's living word.

* [Isaiah 29:13](/isaiah/29-13 "Isaiah 29:13 - Honoring God with Lips Only"): "Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:"
* [Acts 7:51-53](/acts/7-51-53 "Acts 7:51-53 - Stephen's Accusation of Rejecting the Holy Spirit"): "Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers:"
* [Luke 11:47-48](/luke/11-47-48 "Luke 11:47-48 - Woe to Those Who Build Tombs for Prophets"): "Woe unto you! for ye build the sepulchres of the prophets, and your fathers killed them. Truly ye bear witness that ye allow the deeds of your fathers: for they indeed killed them, and ye build their sepulchres."

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Matthew 23:29 serves as a potent mirror for self-examination, challenging us to look beyond superficial religious acts and probe the true condition of our hearts. It warns against the insidious nature of hypocrisy, where we might outwardly honor spiritual heroes or past truths while inwardly resisting the living, active truth of God's Word and the Holy Spirit in our present lives. True faith is not about constructing impressive monuments to past piety but about cultivating a living, dynamic relationship with God that manifests in genuine obedience, humility, and love. We are called to embody the values and truths proclaimed by the prophets and righteous individuals, not merely to venerate their memory. This requires a constant vigilance against self-deception, ensuring that our outward expressions of faith are consistent with our inner motives and actions, and that we are open to God's ongoing revelation, even when it challenges our comfort zones or established traditions.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what ways might I be tempted to engage in outward religious displays that do not reflect the true condition of my heart?**
* **Am I more inclined to honor past spiritual figures or traditions than to embrace the living truth and challenges God presents today?**
* **How can I ensure that my actions and motives are genuinely aligned with God's will, rather than seeking the approval of others or maintaining a religious facade?**

### FAQ
**Why was it considered hypocritical for the Pharisees to build tombs for the prophets?**

Answer: It was considered hypocritical because, while they outwardly honored the deceased prophets by building and beautifying their tombs, their actions and attitudes towards Jesus, the living Prophet, mirrored the very persecution and rejection that their ancestors had inflicted upon those same prophets. Jesus highlights the stark contrast between their supposed reverence for the past and their active hostility towards God's present messenger. They claimed to revere the prophets' messages, but they failed to recognize or accept the fulfillment of those messages in Christ, demonstrating that their outward piety was a disguise for an unrepentant and rebellious heart. This is further emphasized in [Matthew 23:31](/matthew/23-31 "Matthew 23:31 - You are the Sons of Those Who Killed the Prophets"), where Jesus states they are "witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets."

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
[Matthew 23:29](/matthew/23-29 "Matthew 23:29 - Woe to Hypocritical Leaders") finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in exposing the profound spiritual blindness that led to the rejection of Jesus Himself. The Pharisees' act of honoring dead prophets while persecuting the living Christ underscores the tragic irony that God's people, entrusted with His revelation, failed to recognize the very culmination of that revelation. Jesus, as the Prophet greater than Moses ([Deuteronomy 18:15](/deuteronomy/18-15 "Deuteronomy 18:15 - A Prophet Like Moses")), the ultimate fulfillment of all prophetic declarations ([Luke 24:27](/luke/24-27 "Luke 24:27 - Jesus Explains Scriptures Concerning Himself")), and the Righteous One par excellence ([Acts 3:14](/acts/3-14 "Acts 3:14 - Denied the Holy and Just One")), stood before them. Their veneration of past messengers was a hollow gesture, as their hearts were hardened against the One whom all prophets foretold. The "woe" pronounced upon them foreshadows the judgment that would fall upon those who reject God's ultimate messenger, leading to the destruction of Jerusalem ([Matthew 23:37-38](/matthew/23-37-38 "Matthew 23:37-38 - Jesus Laments Over Jerusalem")). Conversely, for those who truly honor the prophets, their faith culminates in receiving Christ, the "Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world" ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")), demonstrating that true spiritual lineage is not through physical descent or outward ritual, but through faith in the Son whom God has sent ([John 3:16-18](/john/3-16-18 "John 3:16-18 - God So Loved the World")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Luke 11:47

Woe unto you! for ye build the sepulchres of the prophets, and your fathers killed them.

Luke 11:48

Truly ye bear witness that ye allow the deeds of your fathers: for they indeed killed them, and ye build their sepulchres.

Acts 2:29

Men [and] brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day.