Matthew 23:16-22

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Matthew 23:13-33

In these verses we have eight woes levelled directly against the scribes and Pharisees by our Lord Jesus Christ, like so many claps of thunder, or flashes of lightning, from mount Sinai. Three woes are made to look very dreadful (Rev. 8:13; 9:12); but here are eight woes, in opposition to the eight beatitudes, Matt. 5:3. The gospel has its woes as well as the law, and gospel curses are of all curses the heaviest. These woes are the more remarkable, not only because of the authority, but... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Matthew 23:1-39

If a man is characteristically and temperamentally an irritable, ill-tempered and irascible creature, notoriously given to uncontrolled outbursts of passionate anger, his anger is neither effective nor impressive. Nobody pays any attention to the anger of a bad-tempered man. But when a person who is characteristically meek and lowly, gentle and loving, suddenly erupts into blazing wrath, even the most thoughtless person is shocked into taking thought. That is why the anger of Jesus is so... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 23:16

Woe unto you, you blind guides ,.... Meaning the same persons, the Scribes and Pharisees, as before, though not named, who pretended to be "guides of the blind", Romans 2:19 but were them selves blind, and so very unfit to be guides of others; they were as they were born, ignorant of divine things, of God in Christ, of the true Messiah, of the true meaning of the Scriptures, of the spirituality of the law, and of the Gospel of Christ; and the way of salvation by him; and their minds were... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 23:17

Ye fools, and blind ,.... That argue after so ridiculous a manner, that make use of such thin sophistry, that everybody may see through it; who must be stupid and sottish to the last degree, and their minds foolishly blinded with avarice; as to please and satisfy themselves: with so poor a distinction; that would by no means serve them, but make against them: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold ? The temple, to be sure: for that was the seat of the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 23:18

And whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing ,.... These are again the words or savings of the scribes and Pharisees, and express their sentiments and practice: it was usual with them to swear by the altar; and this was reckoned either no sin at all, or such an oath was not accounted binding on a man; he might break, or keep it as he thought fit: of this kind of swearing, we have the following instances. One said to another F18 Echa Rabbati, fol. 54. 1. , "swear to me that... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 23:19

Ye fools, and blind ,.... This is very justly repeated, since this is no less an instance of their folly, blindness, and stupidity. In three copies of Beza's the word "fools" is not; nor is it in the Vulgate Latin, nor in Munster's Hebrew Gospel; but the Syriac, Arabic, Persic, and Ethiopic versions have it: for whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift ? The gift, or offering, before it was devoted to sacred use, and brought, and laid upon the altar, was... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 23:20

Whosoever therefore shall swear by the altar, .... Not that Christ allowed of swearing by the altar, or by the temple, or by heaven, or by any creature, animate or inanimate; for such swearing is elsewhere disapproved of by him, and forbid, but if a man did swear by the altar, he ought to know, and consider that he not only sweareth by it , but by all the gifts, and offerings that are brought, and laid upon it, and by all things thereon ; whatever gifts and sacrifices are offered... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 23:21

And whoso shall swear by the temple ,.... As we have before seen they used to do, and as appears from what the poet says F23 Martial. Epigr. l. 11. Ep. 60. : Ecce negas, jurasque mihi per templa tonantis Non credo: jura, verpe, per Anchialum. In which he intimates, that if the Jew swore by the temple, he would not believe him; as well he might not, since such an oath was accounted nothing; but bids him swear by Anchialus, that is, by אלוה חי , "Chi Eloah", or חי עליון ,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 23:22

And he that shall swear by heaven ,.... As the Jews were wont to do in common, but did not look upon such an oath as obligatory on them; See Gill on Matthew 5:34 , though such an one sweareth by the throne of God ; for heaven is God's throne, where he sits, and, in an eminent manner, displays the glory of his majesty: and by him that sitteth thereon , by God himself. Thus swearing by anything that has any relation to God, is implicitly swearing by him; and therefore ought to be... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 23:16

Whosoever shall swear by the gold - The covetous man, says one, still gives preference to the object of his lust; gold has still the first place in his heart. A man is to be suspected when he recommends those good works most from which he receives most advantage. Is bound thereby, i.e. to fulfill his oath. read more

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