Matthew 23:17,Matthew 23:19

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 23:17

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 23:1-39

Denunciation of the scribes and Pharisees, and lamentation over Jerusalem which followed their guidance to her own destruction. (Peculiar to St. Matthew.) read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 23:2-33

Pharisees and Sadducees. The Pharisees first appear under this name in Jewish history about the year B.C. 160. There had been Separatists, or Puritans, as far back as the Captivity, but it was alter the return to Palestine that events gave an impulse to the Separatist idea so strong as to consolidate what might otherwise have remained a tendency. The Jews had learned the value of commerce, and it was found impossible, in dealing with foreign merchants, to observe the minute regulations... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 23:13-31

Condemnation of their hypocrisy. I. THE EIGHT WOES . 1 . The first. The reiterated "Woe unto you!" is an expression of holy indignation. Christ, the righteous Judge, denounces the hypocrisy of the Pharisees. He knew the hardness, the impenitence of their hearts, and in his awful justice he pronounces their condemnation. Yet those very woes are also utterances of holy sorrow. The word is thrice rendered "alas!" in Revelation 18:1-24 . (see also Matthew 24:19 ). The Lord... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 23:13-32

Eight woes pronounced on the Pharisees for their conduct and teaching. (Comp. Luke 11:42-52 .) read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 23:16-22

Swearing. From the doings of the scribes and Pharisees the Lord passes to their teaching ; and he commences with their refinement in respect to oaths. There is no reference here to judicial swearing, or deposing upon oath before a magistrate in the interests of public justice. The whole argument goes to show that the swearing here referred to is the voluntary and gratuitous. I. SWEARING ORIGINATES IN FALSEHOOD . 1 . Simple assertion, is the sufficient bond of a true... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 23:17

Ye fools. Jesus adds to "blind" the epithet "fools," which implies not only the irrationality and absurdity of their practice, but also its moral delinquency, the fool in sapiential language being the sinner. The temple that sanctifieth the gold. Our Lord shows the absurdity of this sophistical distinction. It was because the temple was the place of God's presence that what was therein was consecrated. The gold was nothing without the temple; the temple, the originally holy, is superior to... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 23:17

The temple that sanctifieth the gold - To sanctify is to make holy. The gold had no holiness but what it derived from the temple. If in any other place, it would be no more holy than any other gold. It was foolish, then, to suppose that that was more holy than the temple, from which it received all the sanctity which it possessed. read more

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

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

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

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 23:1-39

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 23:2-33

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 23:13-31

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 23:13-32

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 23:16-22

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 23:17

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 23:17

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