Jesus Denounces Hypocrisy in Matthew 23

Short answer: Matthew 23 records Jesus speaking to the multitudes and his disciples about the scribes and Pharisees. He pronounces a series of woes against their hypocrisy and calls his followers to humility and servant leadership.

What Matthew 23 says

Jesus begins by acknowledging the scribes and Pharisees sit in Moses' seat, so their teaching should be observed, but their works are not to be imitated because they say and do not do. They bind heavy burdens on others but will not lift a finger to help. They do all their works to be seen by men, making their phylacteries broad and enlarging the fringes of their garments. They love places of honor at feasts, the best seats in synagogues, greetings in marketplaces, and being called Rabbi. Jesus then instructs his followers not to be called Rabbi, for one is their teacher, the Christ, and all are brothers. They are not to call anyone on earth father, for one is their Father in heaven, nor be called masters, for one is their master, the Christ. The greatest among them will be a servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

Jesus then pronounces a series of woes on the scribes and Pharisees, calling them hypocrites. He says they devour widows' houses and make long prayers as a pretense, so they will receive greater condemnation. They shut up the Kingdom of Heaven against men, neither entering themselves nor allowing others to enter. They travel sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he becomes one, they make him twice as much a son of Gehenna as themselves. He calls them blind guides who say that swearing by the temple is nothing, but swearing by the gold of the temple is binding. He asks which is greater, the gold or the temple that sanctifies the gold. Similarly, swearing by the altar is nothing, but swearing by the gift on it is binding. He asks which is greater, the gift or the altar that sanctifies the gift. He explains that whoever swears by the altar swears by it and everything on it; whoever swears by the temple swears by it and him who lives in it; whoever swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and him who sits on it.

Jesus continues with more woes. He accuses them of tithing mint, dill, and cumin but neglecting the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faith. He says they ought to have done these without leaving the others undone. He calls them blind guides who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel. He says they clean the outside of the cup and platter but inside are full of extortion and unrighteousness. He tells the blind Pharisee to first clean the inside so the outside may become clean. He compares them to whitened tombs that look beautiful outwardly but inside are full of dead men's bones and uncleanness. They outwardly appear righteous but inwardly are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. They build the tombs of the prophets and decorate the tombs of the righteous, saying that if they had lived in the days of their fathers, they would not have partaken in the blood of the prophets. Thus they testify that they are children of those who killed the prophets. He tells them to fill up the measure of their fathers. He calls them serpents and offspring of vipers, asking how they will escape the judgment of Gehenna.

Jesus declares that he sends them prophets, wise men, and scribes. Some they will kill and crucify, some they will scourge in their synagogues and persecute from city to city. So upon them will come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zachariah son of Barachiah, whom they killed between the sanctuary and the altar. He says all these things will come upon this generation. He then laments over Jerusalem, which kills the prophets and stones those sent to her. He says how often he would have gathered her children as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but they would not. He says their house is left desolate. He tells them they will not see him from now on until they say, Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

Verses that carry the chapter

• “All things therefore whatever they tell you to observe, observe and do, but don’t do their works; for they say, and don’t do.” (Matthew 23:3) — This verse distinguishes between the authority of the scribes and Pharisees' teaching and the hypocrisy of their actions. It calls for obedience to true teaching while warning against imitating bad examples.
• “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” (Matthew 23:12) — This verse states a core principle of the kingdom: self-exaltation leads to humiliation, while humility leads to exaltation. It summarizes Jesus' teaching on greatness as service.
• ““Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint, dill, and cumin, and have left undone the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faith. But you ought to have done these, and not to have left the other undone.” (Matthew 23:23) — This verse highlights the danger of focusing on minor details while neglecting the weightier matters of justice, mercy, and faith. It calls for a balanced obedience that does not ignore the more important aspects of the law.
• ““Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets, and stones those who are sent to her! How often I would have gathered your children together, even as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you would not!” (Matthew 23:37) — This verse reveals Jesus' deep compassion for Jerusalem despite its rejection of him. It shows his desire to gather and protect, contrasting with the city's violent history against prophets.

Gospel connection

Matthew 23 fits within the larger biblical story by showing how religious leaders can outwardly appear righteous while inwardly being far from God. It connects to the Old Testament prophets who repeatedly called Israel to genuine repentance and justice rather than empty ritual. Jesus, as the promised Messiah, confronts the same hypocrisy and announces judgment, yet also expresses his longing to gather his people. This chapter points forward to the cross, where Jesus will bear the condemnation that these woes pronounce, and to the resurrection, where true righteousness and humility are vindicated. It also anticipates the inclusion of all who humble themselves and believe, becoming children of God.

Application

This chapter asks readers to examine their own lives for hypocrisy. It challenges us to not just teach or speak truth but to live it, to avoid burdening others while refusing to help, and to reject the love of honor and titles. It calls us to humble service, recognizing that greatness in God's kingdom is measured by serving others. It warns against focusing on minor rules while neglecting justice, mercy, and faith. It invites us to clean the inside of our lives, not just the outside, and to respond to Jesus' longing to gather us under his care. Ultimately, it points us to repentance and faith in Christ, who alone can cleanse us from within.

Biblical fidelity check

This chapter does not claim that all Pharisees were hypocrites, nor does it condemn the Mosaic Law itself. It does not give a complete list of their sins or provide historical details beyond what is stated. It does not specify the exact identity of Zachariah son of Barachiah beyond the text, nor does it explain how the woes were fulfilled in detail. The text is silent on the later conversion of some Pharisees, such as Nicodemus, and does not describe the reaction of the scribes and Pharisees to these words. It also does not state when the desolation of the house would occur or what it precisely entails.

Questions for study

1. Why does Jesus tell the crowds to observe what the scribes and Pharisees teach but not to do their works?
2. What does it mean to be called Rabbi, father, or master, and why does Jesus forbid these titles for his followers?
3. How do the woes in verses 13-36 illustrate the difference between outward appearance and inward reality?
4. What are the weightier matters of the law mentioned in verse 23, and how can we practice them without neglecting other commands?
5. Why does Jesus lament over Jerusalem in verse 37, and what does this reveal about his heart for those who reject him?

Keep reading

Related studies: Matthew 1 Bible Study, Matthew 10 Bible Study, Matthew 12 Bible Study, Matthew 13 Bible Study.

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FAQ

What is the main point of Matthew 23?

The main point is Jesus' denunciation of the hypocrisy of the scribes and Pharisees and his call for his followers to pursue humble, sincere service rather than outward show.

Why does Jesus call the scribes and Pharisees hypocrites?

He calls them hypocrites because they say one thing and do another, burden others without helping, and focus on external rituals while neglecting justice, mercy, and faith.

What does Jesus mean by straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel?

This vivid image contrasts scrupulous attention to minor details with the careless neglect of major moral and spiritual responsibilities.