Matthew 23

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 23:36

Verily I say unto you ,.... An usual form of introducing something of moment to raise attention to it, and to ascertain the truth of it: all these things shall come upon this generation ; all the things which Christ had foretold should come to pass in the present age; as that the apostles and ministers of the word he should send to them, some of them they would kill and crucify, and others they would scourge in their synagogues, or persecute from place to place; and all the horrible... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 23:37

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem ,.... The metropolis of Judea, the seat of the kings of Judah, yea, the city of the great king; the place of divine worship, once the holy and faithful city, the joy of the whole earth; wherefore it was strange that the following things should be said of it. The word is repeated to show our Lord's affection and concern for that city, as well as to upbraid it with its name, dignity, and privileges; and designs not the building of the city, but the inhabitants of it; and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 23:38

Behold your house is left unto you desolate. Signifying that the city in which they dwelt, where they had their ceiled houses, and stately palaces, would, in a little time, within the space of forty years, be destroyed, and become a desert; and the temple, formerly the house of God, but now only their's, and in which they trusted, would be abandoned by God, he would grant his presence no more in it; and the Messiah, the proprietor of it, and who was now in it, would then take his leave of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 23:39

For I say unto you, ye shall not see me henceforth ,.... Meaning in a very little time after the passover, from the time of his crucifixion and death; otherwise they saw him many times after this, as in the palace of the high priest, in Pilate's judgment hall, and on the cross; but not after his resurrection. This shows the reason of their house being desolate, and in what sense it should be so, and immediately became so; namely, by being then directly, and ever after, destitute of his... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 23

The character of the scribes and Pharisees, and directions to the people and the disciples to receive the law from them, but not to follow their bad example, Matthew 23:1-7 . The disciples exhorted to humility, Matthew 23:8-12 . Different woes pronounced against the scribes and Pharisees for their intolerance, Matthew 23:13 ; rapacity, Matthew 23:14 ; false zeal, Matthew 23:15 ; superstition in oaths and tithes, Matthew 23:16-23 ; hypocrisy, Matthew 23:24-28 . Their cruelty, ... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 23:2

The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat - Εκαθισαν . - They sat there formerly by Divine appointment: they sit there now by Divine permission. What our Lord says here refers to their expounding the Scriptures, for it was the custom of the Jewish doctors to sit while they expounded the law and prophets, ( Matthew 5:1 ; Luke 4:20-22 ;), and to stand up when they read them. By the seat of Moses, we are to understand authority to teach the law. Moses was the great teacher of the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 23:3

All therefore whatsoever - That is, all those things which they read out of the law and prophets, and all things which they teach consistently with them. This must be our Lord's meaning: he could not have desired them to do every thing, without restriction, which the Jewish doctors taught; because himself warns his disciples against their false teaching, and testifies that they had made the word of God of none effect by their traditions. See Matthew 15:6 , etc. Besides, as our Lord speaks... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 23:4

They bind heavy burdens - They are now so corrupt that they have added to the ceremonies of the law others of their own invention, which are not only burdensome and oppressive, but have neither reason, expediency, nor revelation, to countenance them. In a word, like all their successors in spirit to the present day, they were severe to others, but very indulgent to themselves. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 23:5

All their works they do for to be seen of men - In pointing out the corruptions of these men, our Lord gives us the distinguishing characteristics of all false teachers, whether Jewish or Christian. They live not according to the truths they preach. They say, and do not, Matthew 23:3 . They are severe to others, point out the narrowest road to heaven, and walk in the broad road themselves. They bind on burdens, etc., Matthew 23:4 . They affect to appear righteous, and are strict... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 23:7

To be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi - רבי רבי , i.e. My teacher! my teacher! The second rabbi is omitted by several excellent MSS., by most of the ancient versions, and by some of the fathers. Griesbach has left it in the text, with the note of doubtfulness. There are three words used among the Jews as titles of dignity, which they apply to their doctors - Rabh, Rabbi, and Rabban; each of these terms has its particular meaning: rabban implies much more than rabbi, and rabbi much more than... read more

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 23:36

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 23:37

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 23:38

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 23:39

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 23

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 23:2

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 23:3

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 23:4

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 23:5

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 23:7

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