The Gospels Matthew

Jesus' Lamentations Over Jerusalem

Discover Jesus as: King Matthew 23 Read on Bible Gateway (HCSB)

Day 133 of 730
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INTRO

We are in Matthew’s account of what we know as Holy Week. Jesus was teaching in the temple courts. He had silenced the Sadducees on the question of the resurrection, and had debated with the Pharisees on the Greatest Commandment and the Messiah. Now, we are going to see Jesus warn the religious leaders of their hypocrisy in His last public message. These were serious warnings described as scathing denunciation and angry castigation (reprimanded severely). It was a fit response to the hypocritical questioning meant to trap Jesus rather than to hear Him. Jesus was direct, pointed, blunt, and yet full of lament and concern for the righteous.

TEACHING

Matthew 23:1-3: Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and His disciples. Wiersbe wrote, “They had a false concept of righteousness (vv. 2-3)”1. There were about 6,000 Pharisees with many more who were “followers.” The name “Pharisee” means to “separate.” They were obsessed with tiny, minute details of the law. The legalism traps they fell into came from an incorrect focus on Leviticus 21 and 22.

To the Pharisees, righteousness meant outward conformity to the Law of God. They ignored the inward condition of the heart. Jesus was critical of the Pharisees because they were close to truth and had much in common with the teachings of Jesus. It was the legalistic observance of the Torah commands and hypocrisy of certain rabbinical leaders that Jesus was critical of.

Matthew 23:4-6: Wiersbe said that the Pharisees “had a false concept of ministry”2(v. 4). To the Pharisees, ministry meant handing down laws to the people, adding to their burden. Jesus came to lighten men’s burden (Matthew 11:28-30). Legalistic religions always seem to make burdens heavier.

Wiersbe wrote that the Pharisees also “had a false concept of greatness.”3This is the only mention of phylacteries (enlarged boxes that sat on the head and arm) in the New Testament. Their tassels were blue and white cords worn on the outer garments (Numbers 15:36; Deuteronomy 22:12). The hypocrites would lengthen their tassels, because the more noticeable the tassel, the more spiritual they seemed. To them, success meant recognition and praise from men.

Matthew 23:7-10: Rabbiliterally means, “my great one,” and can also be used for “my master” or “my teacher.” It became a title of respect used for the Torah scholars by everyone. Also, this title was associated with greatness. Jesus warned His disciples to avoid titles that would set them apart or above the community of faith.

Matthew 23:11-12: Compare Matthew 23:11 with the almost identical wording in Matthew 20:26-28. The greatest is the person who serves others. The hypocrites demanded to be served and respected. Jesus’ attitude was one of painful sorrow that the Pharisees were blinded to God’s truth and to their own sins.

Wiersbe wrote, “Perhaps the best way to deal with these seven (or eight) ‘woes’ is to contrast them with the eight beatitudes found in Matthew 5:1-12. In the Sermon on the Mount the Lord described true righteousness; here He describes false righteousness.”4

Matthew 23:13-14: The poor in spirit enter the kingdom, but the proud in spirit keep themselves out and even keep others out. Instead of mourning over their own sins, and mourning with widows, the Pharisees took advantage of these people in order to rob them.

Matthew 23:15-22: The Pharisees were out to win others to their legalistic system. They could not introduce those around them to the living God. The Pharisees were blind to the true values of life. Their priorities were confused. The Pharisees would take an oath and use some sacred object to substantiate that oath––the gold in the temple, or a gift on the alter. They left God out of their priorities.

Matthew 23:23-24: The Pharisees had rules for every area of life, yet they ignored the important things. They tithed everything, right down to their pantry of mint, dill, and cumin. Their tithing was only a smoke screen, distracting people from noticing that they neglected the more important matters of the law––justice, mercy, and faithfulness (Deuteronomy 10:12-13; Micah 6:8).

Matthew 23:25-28: Jesus used two illustrations, the cup and planter, and the sepulcher. These illustrations are both essentially saying the same thing. It was possible to be clean on the outside, and at the same time, defiled on the inside.

Matthew 23:29-33: By calling them serpents (vipers), Jesus was equating them to Satan. Gehenna is interchangeable with the word “hell” here. Gehenna is a valley surrounding Jerusalem’s Old City, from the west and south, currently known as Ben Hinnom. It was a place where the kings of Judah sacrificed their children by fire and was deemed cursed (Jeremiah 7:31; 19:2-9). In rabbinic literature and Scripture, Gehenna is a destination of the wicked.

Matthew 23:34-36: All the righteous blood that was shed will be charged to the Pharisees, from the death of Abel (Genesis 4:8) at the hand of Cain to the last martyr in the Hebrew Bible, Zechariah. The Hebrew Old Testament is arranged in a different order than our English Old Testament, making Zechariah the last martyr listed there (2 Chronicles 24:20-22).

Matthew 23:37-39: Jesus lamented Israel’s destruction. “Lament” is a verb that means to feel or express great sorrow or regret. Stuart Briscoe wrote, “Matthew’s inclusion of the lament is definitely to show that the prophecy of Jesus was not given in a spirit of vindictiveness.”5It is a picture of love, tender care, and willingness to die for the sins of the world including Israel.

Stuart K. Weber wrote, “But they were not willing. Even Jesus does not force compliance. What grief this must have caused him. What a demonstration of love, that he would subject his emotion to our wills, allowing himself to experience pain and suffering at our rebellious whim. That is authentic love.”6

CLOSING

Jesus turned and walked away from the temple, but His words rang in the ears of the disciples. They were moved to ask, “When will this happen and what will be the sign of your coming?” (Matthew 24:3). Jesus answered their questions in what we tend to call the Olivet Discourse, from the Mount of Olives just outside Jerusalem. That topic comes tomorrow.

Today the King wants to you to know that righteousness must begin with the inner person, not with external obedience alone.

  1. Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Expository Commentary New Testament: Matthew–Galatians(Colorado Springs, CO: David C. Cook, 1989), p. 83.

  2. Wiersbe, p. 83.

  3. Wiersbe, p. 83.

  4. Wiersbe, p. 84.

  5. Stuart Biscoe, The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Volumes 1-35: Genesis-Revelation(Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, Inc., 1987), np.

  6. Stuart Weber, Holman New Testament Commentary: Matthew(Nashville. TN: Broadman & Holman, 1999), p. 382.

Questions

  1. Why was Jesus adamant about obeying what the religious leaders said, but not to following their example? (Matthew 23:2-7)
  2. In Matthew 23, Jesus gave many “Woe to you” statements. What were the reasons He said these things to the scribes and Pharisees? (Matthew 23:13-16, 23, 25, 27, 29)
  3. Read Matthew 23:12. What does this verse mean to you? Is this promise for here on earth, for eternity, or both? (Psalm 138:6; Proverbs 29:23; Isaiah 57:15; James 4:6)
  4. Jesus is more concerned with the heart than our outer appearance (1 Samuel 16:7; Psalm 15:2; Matthew 5:8). What are some things that we can slip into to get the attention of man rather than God? How can we correct this?
  5. God has always desired and still desires His children to turn to Him, but we often turn to other things. How do you sense the love and compassion of God in Matthew 23:37? Jesus was grieving over Jerusalem, but He also gave hope. Where is the hope found in verse 39 of this chapter? (Romans 11:26)
  6. What did the Holy Spirit highlight to you in Matthew 23 through the reading or the teaching?

Next: the Daily Word →

Daily Word

Laura Martin Matthew 23:11-12

“The greatest among you will be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”

Jesus spoke to the crowds and His disciples about the Pharisees and the scribes. He described their outward appearance and how they liked to look religious. They liked to have the proper place at the banquets. They liked having a status greeting as Rabbi, thinking they deserved honor. Jesus pointed out that these things were not what was important.

Similar to the Pharisees and the scribes, your designer, well-put-together outfits are not important. Your official title is not important. Your corner office with expensive furniture is not important. Jesus wants your heart. He wants your heart surrendered to Him because Jesus said the humbled will be exalted. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Stop trying so hard. Sit and purify your heart. Stay in a place of humility, and as the Lord sees your heart, you will be exalted into the kingdom of God!

“The greatest among you will be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”

— Matthew 23:11-12

FURTHER SCRIPTURE

  • Matthew 5:3 – “The poor in spirit are blessed, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.”
  • Matthew 23:37b – “How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, yet you were not willing!”
  • James 4:10 – “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you.”