Matthew 23:13-32

Seven Woes. Seven is a sacred number and often used in Mt., as in OT (cf. especially Isaiah 5) and Rev. The first three treat of Pharisaic teaching, the last three of Pharisaic character, the fourth is transitional. i.-iii. The Scribes refused to accept the preaching of Jesus, and deterred others from accepting it (Matthew 23:13; cf. Luke 11:52). While they are thus eager to prevent Jews from becoming Christians, they are keen to make converts either from the Gentiles to Judaism, or, more probably, from Jews to Pharisaism, and such converts become excessively Pharisaical (Matthew 23:15); they make casuistical and perverse distinctions with regard to oaths which subvert men's notions of truthfulness and honour (Matthew 23:16). iv. They are scrupulously careful about minute ceremonial detail, but lax in fundamental moralities (cf. Luke 11:42). Note that Jesus does not attack the Law. v.-vi. While insisting on ritual cleanliness and the appearance of a good life, they are really given to extortion and avarice, like a cup or a tomb, fair on the outside, filthy within (Matthew 23:25; cf. Luke 11:39; Luke 11:44). vii. They pay great homage to the martyred prophets, but do their best to martyr John and Jesus, the prophets of their own day (Matthew 23:29).

Matthew 23:14. An interpolation from Mark 12:40.

Matthew 23:16. Ye blind guides: in place of the usual Scribes and Pharisees. Perhaps something about heaven and the throne (corresponding to Matthew 23:22) has been left out here. he is a debtor =the oath is binding. With Matthew 23:16; cf. Matthew 5:33.

Matthew 23:23. anise: better dill; cummin resembles caraway. The three little herbs were used in cookery and medicine.

Matthew 23:24. strain out, not at; the reference is to the fear of swallowing an unclean insect in a drink. Note the humour of swallow a camel (Glover, The Jesus of History, p. 49.)

Matthew 23:25. full from: i.e. as the result of avarice; the food and drink may be ceremonially clean while morally tainted because dishonestly obtained.

Matthew 23:27. Tombs were whitewashed on the 15th of Adar (just before the Passover, the time when Jesus was speaking), that passers-by might not become polluted through inadvertently touching them.

Matthew 23:29. The seventh woe is linked with the sixth by the word sepulchres. The honour shown to the graves of the prophets is sheer hypocrisy, for the Pharisees are not only lineally but morally descended from the murderers.

Matthew 23:32. Fill up: the variant You will fill up, though it has good authority, is an attempt to soften the irony.