Matthew 23

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 23:6

And love the uppermost rooms at feasts ,.... Or the first and chief places to sit, or lie down on, at ordinary meals, and especially at large entertainments, where the great ones sat, as in 1 Samuel 9:22 where Jarchi on the place observes, that by the manner of their sitting, it was known who was the greatest; and this the Scribes and Pharisees affected. With the Romans, the most honourable place was at the upper end of the table: some think it was more honourable to sit in the middle, but... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 23:7

And greetings in the markets ,.... They used to stroll about the markets, being public places, where there was a great concourse of people, on purpose to be taken notice of before multitudes, with singular marks of respect; as stretching out the hand, uncovering the head, and bowing the knee: and to be called of men Rabbi, Rabbi ; because of their great authority, and largeness of their knowledge: the repetition of the word Rabbi, is not made in the Vulgate Latin, nor in the Syriac,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 23:8

But be not ye called Rabbi ,.... Do not be ambitious of any such title, fond of it, or affect it, or be elated with it, should it be given you; nor look upon yourselves as men of power and authority over others; as having the dominion over men's faith, a power to make laws for others, impose them in a magisterial way, and bind and loose men's consciences at pleasure, as these men do: for one is your master, even Christ ; meaning himself, the true Messiah, the head of the church, King of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 23:9

And call no man your father upon the earth ,.... Not but that children may, and should call their natural parents, fathers; and such who have been instrumental in the conversion of souls, may be rightly called by them their spiritual fathers; as servants and scholars also, may call those that are over them, and instruct them, their masters: our Lord does not mean, by any of these expressions, to set aside all names and titles, of natural and civil distinction among men, but only to reject... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 23:10

Neither be ye called masters ,.... Or guides and leaders; not but that, the ministers of the word are in a sense such; it is their business to lead and direct souls to Christ, to guide their feet in the way of peace, and to go before them, as examples to them, in word, in conversation, faith, and purity; but then they are to guide them according to the word of God, and not their own dictates; and teach them to observe the rules, and obey the ordinances of Christ, and not what are of their... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 23:11

But he that is greatest among you ,.... Either who really is so, having more grace, and greater gifts bestowed upon him, than others; which doubtless was the case of some of the disciples, or who desired to be the greatest, was ambitious of, and affected a superiority over others, and to be in the highest post and place, as it is certain some of them did. This was what they were often contending about among themselves, who should be greatest: and Christ here seems to have regard to that vain... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 23:12

And whosoever shall exalt himself ,.... Above his fellow Christians, or fellow ministers, by entertaining too high an opinion of himself, by boasting of his gifts, as preferable to others, and as if he had not received them; by assuming, or eagerly coveting titles of honour among men, or by affecting honour that do not belong to him, or, abusing what he has: "shall be abased"; or humbled by God, or men, or both; such shall lose the honour they have, and come greatly short of what they are... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 23:13

But woe unto you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites ,.... It seems from hence, that the Scribes and Pharisees had not left him, at least not all of them, notwithstanding the confusion they were thrown into; but were still about him, observing what he said to the people, and watching an opportunity to take every advantage against him; whom he addresses in a very awful manner, calling them "hypocrites", as he truly might; for they were such, both to God and men: he had detected them already... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 23:14

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites ,.... The same character is given as before, and the same woe denounced, and a fresh reason given of it: for ye devour widows' houses ; that is, the goods in the houses of such as were left with fatherless children, and but little to support them; who being left alone, and none to advise them, and being weak, and prone to superstition; these greedy dogs, as Isaiah calls them, who could never have enough, easily imposed upon them, wormed... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 23:15

Woe unto you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites ,.... The same character, and woe, are still continued, and a new reason added, confirming the justness of them, in order to awaken and convince them, or, however, to caution the people against them: for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte ; that is, to the Jewish religion, and their particular sect. There were two sorts of proselytes among them; one was called גר תושב , "a proselyte of the gate", one that might dwell in any of... read more

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