Matthew 23

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 23:8

The equality of believers. "And all ye are brethren." The kindliness and mutual helpfulness of brotherhood are not prominent in our Lord's mind at this time. He was rather thinking of the equality of the brothers in one family. All are sons. No one of them is any more than a son. No one of them has any rights over his brother. The variety of gifts, talents, and dispositions in no way affects the equal rights of the brotherhood. All who push themselves into chief places, bid for special... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 23:8-10

Christian equality. Our Lord does not wish to see the distinctions of Judaism, which had become so odious in his day, repeated in Christianity. He does not desire the dogmatism of the rabbis to be copied by the Christian teachers, or the authority of the rulers to be transferred to the Christian pastors. He does not want his people to think that they can best show their humility by losing their self-respect and cringing before ecclesiastical superiors. In opposition to all such tendencies,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 23:9

Your father. This was the title given to eminent teachers and founders of schools, to whom the people were taught to look up rather than to God. It was also addressed to prophets ( 2 Kings 2:12 ; 2 Kings 6:21 ). In Matthew 23:8 Christ said, "be not called;" here he uses the active, "call not," as if he would intimate that his followers must not give this honoured title to any doctor out of complaisance, or flattery, or affectation. Upon the earth. In contradistinction to heaven, where... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 23:10

Neither be ye called masters; καθηγηται ì : leaders, guides. This is just what the Pharisees claimed to be (see Matthew 23:16 and Romans 2:19 , , Romans 2:20 ). One is your master ( καθηγητη ì ς , Leader ) , even [ the ] Christ . Hero Jesus announces himself, not only as their Teacher, but as the Messiah, their Ruler and Guide. He is censuring that sectarian spirit which began in the primitive Church, when one said," I am of Paul; another, I of Apollos,"... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 23:11

But he that is greatest … your servant; δια ì κονος : minister (see Matthew 20:26 , Matthew 20:27 ). It was there said to the apostles alone; here it is spoken more publicly to emphasize the contrast between Christian humility and Pharisaical pride and vanity. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 23:11

Greatness finding expression in service. This setting of truth was repeated by our Lord again and again, and variously illustrated by parable and by example (as in our Lord's washing the disciples' feet). He must have been much impressed by the unreadiness to serve which distinguished the prominent religionists of his days. The Pharisee class was always scheming to get— to get wealth, to get praise, to get credit. He never saw them giving, or trying to do anything for anybody. They were... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 23:12

Whosever shall exalt himself shall be abased ( ταπεινωθη ì σεται , shall be humbled ); and he that shall humble ( ταπεινω ì σει ) himself shall be exalted. It is not clear why the rendering of the verb is not uniform in this verse. The antithesis certainly requires it. The gnome, so often repeated (see references), seems to be, as it has been called, "an axiom in the kingdom of God." It is indeed a universal law in God's dealings with men. Olshausen quotes a saying! of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 23:13

Some authorities transpose Matthew 23:13 and Matthew 23:14 —a variation attributable to the circumstance that the commencing clauses are the same. As Christ inaugurated his public teaching by pronouncing eight benedictions in the sermon on the mount, so here he closes his ministry by imprecating or prophesying eight woes on the perverse and unbelieving Pharisees. In Lange's commentary there is proposed a scheme of antithesis between the benedictions and the woes, but it is not very... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 23:13

The woe of the hypocrites. A most important part of the work of Christ was to expose the utterly false and worthless character of the venerated religious leaders of his day. It was a thankless task, one that brought odium on the head of its Author. A weaker man would have shrunk from it, and a less sensitive man might have enjoyed the humiliation it inflicted on his enemies. But Jesus was neither cowardly nor censorious. Therefore he rebuked the venerated religionists, and yet we know the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 23:13

The woe of the hypocrite. The word "woe" is repeated again and again in this chapter, and yet the reader of it fails to realize what the woe denounced precisely was. The suggestive word is left by Christ. It is enough to tell these men that they are surely heaping up woe for themselves in the latter day. Some hint of the coming woe may be given in the closing verses of the chapter, which indicate a time of sorest humiliation, of hopeless ruin. Jewish literature gives quite as bad a picture... read more

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 23:8

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 23:8-10

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 23:9

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 23:10

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 23:11

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 23:11

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 23:12

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 23:13

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 23:13

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 23:13

Verse of the Day

Daily Devotional

Group of Brands