Knowing The Word in Matthew 23:1-12

[Chapter 23 prepares us for the judgment to come in Chapters 24 & 25 by exposing the rottenness at the heart of the Jewish leadership so Jesus’ followers can break from Pharisaic legalism.]

Seven Woes to the Scribes and Pharisees

1 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, 2 “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat [their teaching authority], 3 so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice. [“Of course you can do what they say, but do not do what they do!” Their life does not match up to their professed loyalty to God.] 4 They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. [They have increased the number of ways in which a person may offend God, but they have not helped them to understand how to please God.] 5 They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries [small leather boxes that contain scriptures from Exodus and Deuteronomy to be worn during prayer] broad [suggests they wear them often] and their fringes long,6 and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues 7 and greetings in the marketplaces and being called rabbi [“my great one”] by others. 8 But you are not to be called rabbi [avoid this status-seeking attitude], for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers [all followers stand on equal footing]. 9 And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father [a title for God alone], who is in heaven. 10 Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor [master], the Christ. [Jesus is claiming his own authority to Moses’ seat.] 11 The greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. [Jesus wants his disciples to have an unconventional attitude in contradistinction to the scribes and Pharisees.]