SIT ON MOSES' SEAT (επ της Μωυσεως καθεδρας εκαθισαν). The gnomic or timeless aorist tense, εκαθισαν, not the aorist "for" the perfect. The "seat of Moses" is a brief form for the chair of the professor whose function it is to interpret Moses. "The heirs of Moses' authority by an unbroken traditi... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THEY SAY AND DO NOT (λεγουσιν κα ου ποιουσιν). "As teachers they have their place, but beware of following their example" (Bruce). So Jesus said: "Do not ye after their works " (μη ποιειτε). Do not practice their practices. They are only preachers. Jesus does not here disapprove any of their... [ Continue Reading ]
WITH THEIR FINGER (τω δακτυλω αυτων). A picturesque proverb. They are taskmasters, not burden-bearers, not sympathetic helpers.... [ Continue Reading ]
TO BE SEEN OF MEN (προς το θεαθηνα τοις ανθρωποις). See Matthew 6:1 where this same idiom occurs. Ostentation regulates the conduct of the rabbis.PHYLACTERIES (φυλακτηρια). An adjective from φυλακτηρ, φυλασσω (to guard). So a fortified place, station for garrison, then a safeguard, protecting ch... [ Continue Reading ]
THE CHIEF PLACE AT FEASTS (την πρωτοκλισιαν εν τοις δειπνοις). Literally, the first reclining place on the divan at the meal. The Persians, Greeks, Romans, Jews differed in their customs, but all cared for the post of honour at formal functions as is true of us today. Hostesses often solve the po... [ Continue Reading ]
SALUTATIONS (ασπασμους). The ordinary courtiers were coveted because in public. They had an itch for notice. There are occasionally today ministers who resent it if they are not called upon to take part in the services at church. They feel that their ministerial dignity has not been recognized.... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT BE NOT YE CALLED RABBI (υμεις δε μη κληθητε Ραββε). An apparent aside to the disciples. Note the emphatic position of υμεις. Some even regard verses Matthew 23:8-10 as a later addition and not part of this address to the Pharisees, but the apostles were present. Euthymius Zigabenus says: "Do... [ Continue Reading ]
CALL NO MAN YOUR FATHER (πατερα μη καλεσητε υμων). Jesus meant the full sense of this noble word for our heavenly Father. "Abba was not commonly a mode of address to a living person, but a title of honour for Rabbis and great men of the past" (McNeile). In Gethsemane Jesus said: "Abba, Father" (M... [ Continue Reading ]
MASTERS (καθηγητα). This word occurs here only in the N.T. It is found in the papyri for teacher (Latin, _doctor_). It is the modern Greek word for professor. "While διδασκαλος represents Ραβ, καθηγητες stands for the more honourable Ραββαν, -βων" (McNeile). Dalman (_Words of Jesus_, p. 340) sugg... [ Continue Reading ]
EXALT HIMSELF (υψωσε εαυτον). Somewhat like Matthew 18:4; Matthew 20:26. Given by Luke in other contexts (Matthew 14:11; Matthew 18:14). Characteristic of Christ.... [ Continue Reading ]
HYPOCRITES (υποκριτα). This terrible word of Jesus appears first from him in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 6:2; Matthew 6:5; Matthew 6:16; Matthew 7:5), then in Matthew 15:7 and Matthew 22:18. Here it appears "with terrific iteration" (Bruce) save in the third of the seven woes (Matthew 23:13;... [ Continue Reading ]
TWOFOLD MORE A SON OF HELL THAN YOURSELVES (υιον γεεννης διπλοτερον υμων). It is a convert to Pharisaism rather than Judaism that is meant by "one proselyte" (ενα προσηλυτον), from προσερχομα, newcomers, aliens. There were two kinds of proselytes: of the gate (not actual Jews, but God-fearers and... [ Continue Reading ]
YE BLIND GUIDES (οδηγο τυφλο). Note omission of "Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites" with this third woe. In Matthew 15:14 Jesus had already called the Pharisees "blind guides" (leaders). They split hairs about oaths, as Jesus had explained in Matthew 5:33-37, between the temple and the gold of th... [ Continue Reading ]
YE FOOLS (μωρο). In Matthew 5:22 Jesus had warned against calling a man μωρος in a rage, but here he so terms the blind Pharisees for their stupidity, description of the class. "It shows that not the word but the spirit in which it is uttered is what matters" (McNeile).... [ Continue Reading ]
YE TITHE (αποδεκατουτε). The tithe had to be paid upon "all the increase of thy seed" (Deuteronomy 14:22; Leviticus 27:30). The English word tithe is tenth. These small aromatic herbs, mint (το ηδυοσμον, sweet-smelling), anise or dill (ανηθον), cummin (κυμινον, with aromatic seeds), show the Phar... [ Continue Reading ]
STRAIN OUT THE GNAT (διυλιζοντες τον κωνωπα). By filtering through (δια), not the "straining at" in swallowing so crudely suggested by the misprint in the A.V.SWALLOW THE CAMEL (την δε καμηλον καταπινοντες). Gulping or drinking down the camel. An oriental hyperbole like that in Matthew 19:24. Se... [ Continue Reading ]
FROM EXTORTION AND EXCESS (εξ αρπαγης κα ακρασιας). A much more serious accusation. These punctilious observers of the external ceremonies did not hesitate at robbery (αρπαγες) and graft (ακρασιας), lack of control. A modern picture of wickedness in high places both civil and ecclesiastical where... [ Continue Reading ]
WHITED SEPULCHRE (ταφοις κεκονιαμενοις). The perfect passive participle is from κονιαω and that from κονια, dust or lime. Whitened with powdered lime dust, the sepulchres of the poor in the fields or the roadside. Not the rock-hewn tombs of the well-to-do. These were whitewashed a month before th... [ Continue Reading ]
THE TOMBS OF THE PROPHETS (τους ταφους των προφητων). Cf. Luke 11:48-52. They were bearing witness against themselves (εαυτοις, verse Matthew 23:31) to "the murder-taint in your blood" (Allen). "These men who professed to be so distressed at the murdering of the Prophets, were themselves compassi... [ Continue Reading ]
FILL YE UP (πληρωσατε). The keenest irony in this command has been softened in some MSS. to the future indicative (πληρωσετε). "Fill up the measure of your fathers; crown their misdeeds by killing the prophet God has sent to you. Do at last what has long been in your hearts. The hour is come" (Br... [ Continue Reading ]
YE SERPENTS, YE OFFSPRING OF VIPERS (οφεις γεννηματα εχιδνων). These blistering words come as a climax and remind one of the Baptist (Matthew 3:17) and of the time when the Pharisees accused Jesus of being in league with Beelzebub (Matthew 12:34). They cut to the bone like whip-cords.HOW SHALL YE... [ Continue Reading ]
ZACHARIAH SON OF BARACHIAH (Ζαχαριου υιου Βαραχιου). Broadus gives well the various alternatives in understanding and explaining the presence of "son of Barachiah" here which is not in Luke 11:51. The usual explanation is that the reference is to Zachariah the son of Jehoiada the priest who was sl... [ Continue Reading ]
HOW OFTEN WOULD I HAVE GATHERED (ποσακις ηθελησα επισυναγειν). More exactly, how often did I long to gather to myself (double compound infinitive). The same verb (επισυναγε) is used of the hen with the compound preposition υποκατω. Everyone has seen the hen quickly get together the chicks under h... [ Continue Reading ]