ESV Study Bible | English Standard Version
Matthew 23:2-7
2 u “The scribes and the Pharisees v sit on Moses' seat, 3 so practice and observe whatever they tell you—w but not what they do. x For they preach, but do not practice. 4 y They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, [1] and lay them on people's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. 5 t They do all their deeds z to be seen by others. For they make a their phylacteries broad and b their fringes long, 6 and they c love the place of honor at feasts and d the best seats in the synagogues 7 and d greetings in e the marketplaces and being called f rabbi [2] by others.
Matthew 23:27-28
27 n “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like o whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and p all uncleanness. 28 So you also q outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of r hypocrisy and lawlessness.
Matthew 23:33
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Matt. 21:1–23:39 The Messiah Asserts His Authority over Jerusalem. Jesus' authority over Jerusalem is revealed in his triumphal entry (21:1–11), actions in the temple (21:12–17), cursing the fig tree (21:18–22), debates with religious leaders (21:23–22:46), and woes pronounced on the teachers of the law and the Pharisees (23:1–39).
Matt. 23:1–12 Warnings against the Teachers of the Law and the Pharisees. Jesus warns the crowd and his disciples not to follow the false leadership of the Pharisees (vv. 1–12), then directly pronounces woes upon those leaders for their deadly actions (see vv. 13–39).
Matt. 23:2 The scribes and the Pharisees were two distinct groups, though there was some overlap between them: the scribes were the professional interpretative experts on the Torah itself, while the Pharisees were experts in theological matters that the Torah raised. Moses' seat. Traditionally understood as referring symbolically to the authority of Moses. However, recent archaeological evidence has revealed a literal chair found in early synagogues. Whether literal or figurative, it refers to a place from which experts on the law taught.
Matt. 23:3 so practice and observe whatever they tell you. Jesus recognized the Pharisees' official function as interpreters of the Law of Moses, and insofar as they accurately interpreted Scripture, they were to be obeyed. However, “so” (Gk. oun) connects this verse with v. 2 and the mention of Moses, and therefore “whatever they tell you” should probably be limited to “whatever they tell you about the Law of Moses” and does not include the Pharisees' later extensive additions to Mosaic laws which rabbinic teachers made. but not what they do. Jesus is about to show that much of the Pharisees' practice and their extrabiblical tradition is wrong.
Matt. 23:4 Heavy burdens describes the extrabiblical tradition of the rabbis that was a pillar of the Pharisaic branch of Judaism. It was intended as a means of making the OT relevant to new life situations, but its massive obligations had become burdensome and oppressive.
Matt. 23:5 phylacteries. Small cube-shaped cases made of leather, containing Scripture passages written on parchment. They were worn on the left arm and forehead as a literal way to obey the admonition of Deut. 11:18 (cf. Ex. 13:9; Deut. 6:8). fringes. Tassels with a blue cord that were attached to the four corners of a man's garment (Num. 15:37–41; Deut. 22:12), reminding the people to obey God's commandments and to be holy (Num. 15:40).
Matt. 23:6 place of honor. Seating at banquets was assigned to guests based on their rank or status. best seats in the synagogues. Excavations at early Galilean synagogues indicate that bench seats were built along the sides of the synagogue (see note on Luke 4:16; and The Synagogue and Jewish Worship). In any meeting place, some seats are regarded as better than others.
Matt. 23:7 Rabbi (Hb. rabbi) literally meant “my lord,” but it was used generally for outstanding teachers of the law, most frequently heads of rabbinical schools.
Matt. 23:13–36 Woes of Judgment against the Teachers of the Law and the Pharisees. Jesus now addresses the scribes and Pharisees directly, declaring a series of seven “woes” upon them that echoes the criticisms he has repeated throughout his ministry. These seven woes stand in contrast to the first seven “blessings” that introduce the Sermon on the Mount and describe Jesus' true disciples (5:3–9). (For a similar list of woes, see Luke 11:37–54.)
Matt. 23:27–28 Sixth woe: whitewashed tombs. The Pharisees were like tombs, which in Jesus' day could be outwardly very beautiful but within held nothing but death and decay. These tombs were customarily whitewashed to identify them clearly to passersby, since people would be rendered unclean for seven days through any contact with them (Num. 19:16; cf. Luke 11:44).
Matt. 23:33 serpents . . . brood of vipers. Virtually synonymous terms that magnify the guilt of these religious leaders (see notes on 3:7; 12:33–35).
