Jesus Condemns the Leaders' Hypocrisy

Matthew 23:1-12

Jesus Condemns the Leaders' Hypocrisy

Then Yeshua spoke to the multitudes and to his disciples,

saying, “The scribes and the Pharisees sat on Moses’ seat.

All things therefore whatever they tell you to observe, observe and do, but don’t do their works; for they say, and don’t do.

For they bind heavy burdens that are grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not lift a finger to help them.

But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their tefillin broad, enlarge the fringes of their garments,

and love the place of honor at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues,

the salutations in the marketplaces, and to be called ‘Rabbi, Rabbi’ by men.

But don’t you be called ‘Rabbi,’ for one is your Rabbi, the Messiah, and all of you are brothers.

Call no man on the earth your father, for one is your Father, he who is in heaven.

Neither be called masters, for one is your master, the Messiah.

But he who is greatest among you will be your servant.

Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

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Commentary written on this passage, not on a single verse.

Where else Scripture says this.

1 Peter 5:5
Likewise, you younger ones, be subject to the elder. Yes, all of you clothe yourselves with humility, to subject yourselves to one another; for “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
from verse 12
James 4:6
But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
from verse 12
Luke 14:11
For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
from verse 6
Proverbs 29:23
A man’s pride brings him low, but one of lowly spirit gains honor.
from verse 12
1 Corinthians 9:19
For though I was free from all, I brought myself under bondage to all, that I might gain the more.
from verse 11
Luke 18:14
I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
from verse 12
Matthew 18:4
Whoever therefore humbles himself as this little child, the same is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.
from verse 12
Proverbs 15:33
The fear of the LORD teaches wisdom. Before honor is humility.
from verse 12
John 13:14
If I then, the Lord and the Rabbi, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.
from verse 8
John 13:15
For I have given you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you.
from verse 11
Matthew 5:3
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
from verse 12
Galatians 5:13
For you, brothers, were called for freedom. Only don’t use your freedom for gain to the flesh, but through love be servants to one another.
from verse 11

Historical interpretation

Eleven Centuries of Reception

55 surviving comments on this passage. Each one is dated, so this reads as a timeline rather than a list.

55 quotes · AD 220–1274

Ante-NicenePost-NiceneEarly MedievalMedieval

2003004005006007008009001000110012001300

Select a marker to jump to its quote. Markers stagger vertically where authors wrote within a few decades of each other.

AD 220TertullianAnte-NiceneSourceOn Repentance

Why not? He had found the son whom he had lost; he had felt him to be all the dearer of whom he had made a gain. Who is that father to be understood by us to be? God, surely: no one is so truly a Father; no one so rich in paternal love.

AD 220TertullianAnte-NiceneSourceOn Monogamy

But further, if Christ reproves the scribes and Pharisees, sitting in the official chair of Moses, but not doing what they taught, what kind of (supposition).

AD 220TertullianAnte-NiceneSourceOn the Veiling of Virgins

So, too, righteousness-for the God of righteousness and of creation is the same-was first in a rudimentary state, having a natural fear of God: from that stage it advanced, through the Law and the Prophets, to infancy; from that stage it passed, through the Gospel, to the fervour of youth: now, through the Paraclete, it is settling into maturity. He will be, after Christ, the only one to be called and revered as Master; for He speaks not from Himself, but what is commanded by Christ.

AD 220TertullianAnte-NiceneSourceOn Monogamy

Therefore a wife, when her husband is dead, will not marry; for if she marry, she will of course be marrying (his) brother: for "all we are brethren." Again, the woman, if intending to marry, has to marry "in the Lord; " that is, not to an heathen, but to a brother, inasmuch as even the ancient law forbids marriage with members of another tribe.

AD 220TertullianAnte-NiceneSourceOn Prayer

However, our Lord very frequently proclaimed God as a Father to us; nay, even gave a precept "that we call no one on earth father, but the Father whom we have in the heavens: and so, in thus praying, we are likewise obeying the precept.

AD 220TertullianAnte-NiceneSourceOn Monogamy

To Abraham, in fine, they appeal; prohibited though they are to acknowledge any other father than God. Grant, now, that Abraham is our father; grant, too, that Paul is.

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Jesus Condemns the Leaders' Hypocrisy