MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 23:2 THE SCRIBES AND THE PHARISEES. See notes on 2:4; 3:7. MOSES’ SEAT refers to a place of authority from which experts on the law taught. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 23:3 SO DO AND OBSERVE WHATEVER THEY TELL YOU. “So” connects this verse with v. Matthew 23:2. The mention of Moses evidently indicates “whatever they tell you about the Law of Moses” and does not include the Pharisees’ later extensive additions to Mosaic laws. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var imag... [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 23:4 HEAVY BURDENS. See note on 11:28. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 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 Deuteronomy 11:18. FRINGES. These tassels with a blue cord attached to the four corners of a ma... [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 23:7 RABBI literally meant “my lord” but it was used generally for outstanding teachers of the law. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 23:8 NOT TO BE CALLED RABBI,... CALL NO MAN YOUR FATHER.... NEITHER BE CALLED INSTRUCTORS. Jesus does not forbid use of titles such as “teacher,” “doctor,” or “father” for all time in all circumstances. Rather, he prohibits his disciples from using these terms in the way the... [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 23:13 Jesus now speaks directly to the scribes and Pharisees. He declares seven “woes” (or laments) upon them that echo 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 M... [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 23:15 _Second woe: entrapped converts._ The Pharisees enthusiastically sought converts, only to place them under the weight of the many requirements they added to the Bible’s teaching. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length,... [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 23:16 _Third woe: binding oaths._ The Pharisees focus on superficial distinctions and overlook the higher principles of the law. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 23:20 WHOEVER SWEARS. See Matthew 5:33. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 23:23 _Fourth woe: neglecting the weighty matters of the law._ TITHE. The Mosaic law required giving a tenth of all that one produced to the work of the Lord (Leviticus 27:30). MINT, DILL, CUMIN. The Pharisees paid a tithe even from their smallest garden crops. Jesus says tha... [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 23:24 STRAINING OUT A GNAT. The rabbis strained wine to remove any small, unclean insects (Leviticus 11:23, Leviticus 11:41) that could contaminate it. SWALLOWING A CAMEL. The camel was the largest land animal in Palestine (see Matthew 19:24). It was unclean (Leviticus 11:4).... [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 23:26 _Fifth woe: clean outside, filthy inside._ CLEAN THE INSIDE. While seeking external purity, the Pharisees were blind to the corrupt internal condition of their hearts. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 23:27 _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 WHITEWASHED to identify them clearly, since people would be unclean for seven days through... [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 23:29 _Seventh woe: descendants of murderers of the prophets._ In plotting against Jesus, the religious leaders follow their ancestors, who persecuted and MURDERED God’s PROPHETS. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img;... [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 23:35 The murders of ABEL (Genesis 4:8) and ZECHARIAH 1:1 (2 Chronicles 24:20) encompass all of OT biblical history (2 Chronicles 1:1 is last in the Hebrew order of OT books). ⇐... [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 23:37 JERUSALEM apparently refers to the whole nation of Israel. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 23:38 HOUSE. Here the reference is probably to the religious leaders in Jerusalem. All Jewish religious authority will collapse with the destruction of the temple in A.D. 70. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 23:39 As Jesus cites Psalms 118:26 (compare Matthew 21:9), he identifies himself as God’s Messiah and Savior who will once again come to his people, but only after a time of great judgment, when they are finally ready to receive him. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsBy... [ Continue Reading ]