1Christ exhorteth to observe the doctrine, but not to follow the evil examples, of the scribes and Pharisees; and particularly not to imitate their ambition: 13he pronounceth various woes against them for their blindness and hypocrisy: 34and prophesieth the destruction of Jerusalem.
1THEN spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples,
2Saying, Thea scribes and the Pharisees 1sit in Moses' seat:
a Neh. 8:4.
1 That is, they are called and ordained for this end, to read and expound the law of Moses to the people, Acts 13:15 and 15:21.
32All thereforeb whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: forc they say, and do not.
2 Namely, out of the law of Moses and the prophets; for, otherwise that which they taught contrary to, or besides that, Christ calls the leaven of the Pharisees, and admonishes His disciples to beware of it, Mat. 16:6, 12.
b Deut. 17:19; Mal. 2:6.
c Rom. 2:19.
4Ford they 3bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.
d Isa. 10:1; Luke 11:46; Acts 15:10.
3 A similitude taken from the bundles or packs of several things which men bind together, to lay upon someone’s shoulders to bear (them).
5But all their works they do fore to be seen of men: they make broad theirf4phylacteries, and enlarge the 5borders of their garments,
e Mat. 6:5.
f Deut. 6:8; 22:12.
4 Gr. phylacteria, that is, schedules or lists of keeping, which were little scrolls or schedules of parchment, on which was written the law of God or some part of the same, which they bound on their foreheads and arms that they might seem to have the remembrance of the law always before their eyes and conceited therein that they followed that which God commands, Exod. 13:9, 16; Deut. 6:8.
5 These were fringes with blue strings on the corners of the uppermost garments, which according to the law, Num. 15:38; Deut. 22:12, they were to wear, thereby to remember the heavenly doctrine of the law.
6Andg love the uppermost roomsh at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues,
g Mark 12:38, 39; Luke 11:43; 20:46.
h room – place at table*
7And greetings in the markets, and to be calledi of men, 6Rabbi, Rabbi.
i James 3:1.
6 This is an Hebrew word, signifying one who is eminent in learning and dignity, and of more repute than others, that is: Master, master.
8But be not ye called 7Rabbi: for one is your 8Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.
7 The use of this, and as also of the following titles, is not simply forbidden, for, the same indeed are sometimes ascribed to the prophets and apostles, but they sought therein the vain glory and dominion or mastership over the faith and conscience of others, verse 11.
8 Gr. Leader, Master-leader, or Guide. For, He alone is the only Lawgiver, and our Chief Prophet, Who, in things concerning faith and God’s worship, is only to be heard and followed, Mat. 17:5, and Who does not only show the way of salvation, but also goes perfectly before us by His example Himself, Heb. 2:10 and 12:2.
9And call no man your father upon the earth: forj9one is your Father, which is in heaven.
j Mal. 1:6.
9 Forasmuch as we have originally from Him alone our being and preservation, both in body and soul, we must expect all good from Him alone and put our trust in Him only.
10Neither be ye called masters: for 10one is your Master, even Christ.
10 That is, leader. See verse 8.
11Butk he that is 11greatest among you shall be your servant.
k Mat. 20:26.
11 Gr. greater, or superior.
12Andl whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.
l Job 22:29; Prov. 29:23; Luke 14:11; 18:14; James 4:6, 10; 1 Peter 5:5.
13¶Butm woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them 12that are entering to go in.
m Luke 11:52.
12 Or, those who are entering in, that is, those, who are on the way to embrace the doctrine of the Gospel, you hinder as much as lies in you, that they do not go forward.
14Woen unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a 13pretence make 14long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the 15greater damnation.
n Mark 12:40; Luke 20:47; 2 Tim. 3:6; Titus 1:11.
13 Gr. cloak.
14 That is, under pretense of devotion, and praying for them, you rob them of their means. See also 2 Tim. 3:6. Or, under a pretense, or for a cloak you are long in praying.
15 Gr. more abundant.
15Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and 16land to make one 17proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the 18child of hell than yourselves.
16 Gr. the dry, Gen. 1:10.
17 Gr. proselyton, that is, a new-comer, namely, who causes himself to go from the pagan religion to the Jewish’ (religion), as Nicolas was a new-comer from Antioch, Acts 6:5. See 1 Chron. 2:55; Ezek. 14:7; Acts 2:10.
18 Gr. son. That is, worthy of the damnation of hell, 2 Sam. 12:5.
16Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, 19it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the goldo of the temple, 20he is a debtor!
19 That is, it is of no force; or, is not bound to pay that which he has promised with such an oath.
o in NT currency, $5.00
20 That is, he is bound to perform his promise.
1721Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold?
21Christ does not hereby approve oaths taken by the creatures, but shows only how perversely they judged thereof, and ill-informed the consciences of men.
18And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever sweareth by 22the gift that is upon it, he is guilty.
22 That is, offering. See Mat. 5:24.
19Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gift, or thep altar that sanctifieth the gift?
p Exod. 29:37.
20Whoso therefore shall swear by the altar, sweareth by it, and by all things thereon.
21Andq whoso shall swear by the temple, sweareth by it, and by him 23that dwelleth therein.
q 1 Kings 8:13; 2 Chron. 6:1, 2.
23 Or, Who inhabits the same. How God dwells in the temple, see 1 Kings 8:27.
22Andr he that shall swear by heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth thereon.
r 2 Chron. 6:33; Isa. 66:1; Mat. 5:34; Acts 7:49.
23Woes unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye 24pay tithe of 25mint and anise and cummin,t andu have omitted 26the weightier matters of the law, 27judgment, 28mercy, and 29faith: thesev ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
s Luke 11:42.
24 That is, give tenths, or teach that men must give tenths thereof.
25 The Greek word hedyosmos has its name from smelling, sweet or well.
t a plant like fennel with hot seeds used as a spice
u 1 Sam. 15:22; Hosea 6:6; Micah 6:8.
26 That is, most important parts.
27 That is, that which is just and equal.
28 That is, the works of charity.
29 That is, faithfulness in all dealings with men.
v Mat. 9:13; 12:7.
24Ye blind guides, which strain at a 30gnat, and swallow a camel.
30 Or, squeeze out a gnat, and drink down a camel. This is a common proverb against those who pry closely into small matters, but regard not the great ones.
25Woew unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter,x but within they are full of 31extortion and excess.
w Luke 11:39.
x dish
31 That is, full of meat and drink gotten by injustice and used with excess.
26Thou blind Pharisee, 32cleanse first thatywhich is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.
32 That is, cease from injustice and excess, whereby your meat and drink was made unclean, so shall your platters and cups be clean also.
y Titus 1:15.
27Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whitedz sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.
z Acts 23:3.
28Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
29Woeaa unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the 33sepulchres of the righteous,
aa Luke 11:47.
33 That is, the buildings which were erected upon the graves above the earth for the remembrance of the deceased, which are called tombs.
30And say, If we had been 34in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them 35in the blood of the prophets.
34 Or, in the times.
35 That is, on the blood shedding, or killings.
31Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, thatab ye are 36the children of them which killed the prophets.
ab Acts 7:51; 1 Thes. 2:15.
36 Gr. sons.
3237Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers.
37 That is, go on thus freely, follow and finish your fathers’ wickedness in killing the prophets, until the deserved punishment shall come upon you.
33Yeac38serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape 39the damnation of hell?
ac Mat. 3:7.
38 See Rom. 3:13, etc.
39 Gr. the judgment of hell.
34¶Wherefore,ad behold, Iae send unto you prophets, and wise men, and 40scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall yeaf scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city:
ad Luke 11:49.
ae Mat. 10:16; Luke 10:3; John 16:2; Acts 7:52.
40 This word is here taken for true teachers, such a scribe as Ezra has been, Ezra 7:6; Mat. 13:52.
af Mat. 10:17; Acts 5:40.
35That upon you may come all the righteous 41blood shed upon the earth, fromag the blood of righteous Abel unto theah blood of Zacharias son of 42Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.
41 That is, the punishment for all the shedding of blood of the righteous, as Mat. 27:25. For, the children, which follow the evil example of their parents misdeeds, are made partakers of the sin and punishment of the same, Exod. 20:5.
ag Gen. 4:8; Heb. 11:4.
ah 2 Chron. 24:21.
42 Who is also called Johanan, 1 Chron. 6:9, and Jehoiada, 2 Chron. 24:22 and here Barachias. And this Zacharias was one of the last prophets, whose death or murder is related by name in the Old Testament, and whose blood, like also the blood of Abel, cried to God for vengeance.
36Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation.
37 Oai Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killestaj the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, howak often would I have gathered 43thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye 44would not!
ai Luke 13:34.
aj Mat. 21:35, 36.
ak Psalm 17:8; 91:4.
43 That is, your inhabitants.
44 That is, you have always sought to hinder it, see verse 13, and yet Christ, in spite of them, gathered all His own from among them. Isa. 1:8 and Rom. 9:29.
38Behold,al your house 45is left unto you desolate.
al Psalm 69:25; Isa. 1:7; Jer. 7:34; Micah 3:12; Acts 1:20.
45 That is, it shall be destroyed, and remain destroyed, which was done by the Romans about forty years thereafter.
39For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, 46till ye shall say, Blessedam47is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.
46 Namely, at the last day, when He shall come in His glory to judgment, and they must then acknowledge that He is the Blessed of the Lord, that is, the true Messiah, Rev. 1:7. See also Mat. 26:64.
am Psalm 118:26.
47 Or, be.