Chapter 23

23:2  Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat:

sit in

Cf. Ezra 7:6 Ezra 7:25 Ezra 7:26 . Jesus' disciples were to honour the law, but not the hypocritical teachers of it.

23:5  But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,

phylacteries

Passages of Scripture enclosed in a small case, bound upon arm or forehead, Deuteronomy 6:8 .

23:14  Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.

Woe

The best MSS. omit verse 14.

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.

hell

Gehenna. (See Scofield "Matthew 5:22")

23:16  Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor!

debtor

Or, bound; also Matthew 23:18 . "guilty:"

23:28  Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

iniquity

Lit. Lawlessness. (See Scofield "Romans 3:23") .

23:34  Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city:

send unto you

The Jews' treatment of the apostles is proved, Matthew 23:31-33 .

23:35  That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.

Abel

Jesus' confirmation of Genesis 4:8-10 . Cf. Hebrews 12:24 .

23:36  Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation.

come upon

See, Revelation 18:21-24 . It is the way also of history; judgment falls upon one generation for the sins of centuries. The pediction was fulfilled in the destruction of Jerusalem, A.D. 70.

23:39  For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.

till

The three "untils" of Israel's blessing:

(1) Israel must say, "blessed is He" Matthew 23:39 ; Romans 10:3 Romans 10:4

(2) Gentile world-power must run its course. Luke 21:24 ; Daniel 2:34 Daniel 2:35 .

(3) The elect number of Gentiles must be brought in. Then "the Deliverer shall come out of Zion." etc. Romans 11:25-27 .