Matthew 23

Who did Jesus address? (verse 1)

What does Jesus say is the reason to observe whatever the scribes and the Pharisees say? (verse 2-3)

What should not be observed that the scribes and Pharisees do? (verse 2-3)

What do the scribes and Pharisees do? (verse 4)

What are they not willing to do? (verse 4)

Why do the scribes and Pharisees do their deeds? (verse 5)

What are the two things Jesus describes the scribes and Pharisees as making? (verse 5)

What do the scribes and Pharisees love? (verse 6-7) (four mentioned)

"But you are not to be called _________, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers." - (Verse 8)

"And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is __ ______." (verse 9)

 "Neither be called ____________, for you have one instructor, the Christ." (Verse 10)

"The greatest among you shall be your ___________." (verse 11)

 "Whoever exalts himself will be __________, and whoever humbles himself will be ____________." (verse 12)

“But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people's faces. For you ___________ enter yourselves _____ allow those who would enter to go in." (verse 14)

"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him ________ as much a child of hell as yourselves." (verse 15)

“Woe to you, ________ guides, who say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is ___________ by his oath." (Verse 16)

"You blind _______! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that has made the gold sacred? (Verse 17)

"And you say, ‘If anyone swears by the _______, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gift that is on the _________, he is bound by his oath." (verse 18)

"You blind _________! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that ________ the gift sacred?" (Verse 19)

"So whoever swears by the altar swears by it and by ______________ on it." (verse 20)

"And whoever swears by the temple swears by it and by _______ __________  ______ in it." (Verse 21)


"And whoever swears by heaven swears by the ____________ of God and by _________ who ________ ______ ____." 

"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you _________ mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the __________ ________ of the _______: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others." (verse 23)

"You blind _____________, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel! (verse 24)

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of __________ and _________-___________." (verse 25)

"You blind Pharisee! _________ clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean." (Verse 26)

"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like _____________ __________, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and all uncleanness." (verse 27)

"So you also outwardly appear righteous to __________, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness." (verse 28)

What do the scribes and Pharisees build in verse 29?

What do the scribes and Pharisees decorate? (verse 29)

What do they do as they build and decorate? (verse 30)

What is their witness? (Verse 30-32)

"Fill up, then, the measure of your ______." (Verse 32)

"You ________, you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to hell?" (verse 33)

"Therefore ___ send you prophets and wise men and scribes, some of whom you will kill and crucify, and some you will flog in your synagogues and persecute from town to town," (verse 34)

"so that on ____ may come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah the son of Barachiah, whom _____ murdered between the sanctuary and the altar." (Verse 35)

"Truly, I say to you, all these things will come upon ____ ______________." (verse 36)

What is the imagery in verse 37-38?

When does Jesus say that they will see him again? (verse 39)

Further questions:

What is implied about what Jesus can see in verse 28? 

In this chapter, what is Jesus talking about?


Application:

our father we humbly come before you to thank you for teaching us
we desire justice, mercy, and faithfulness
make us clean from the inside out

Interpretation:

In this case there is more going on then first meets the eye. Often, heavenly or spiritual things are conveyed in our human terms but with the effect of translation. Here is an essay by C.S. Lewis called "Transposition" that is worth reading. 

https://gutenberg.ca/ebooks/lewiscs-transposition/lewiscs-transposition-00-h.html#ch01transposition

Matthew 23English Standard Version (ESV)

Seven Woes to the Scribes and Pharisees

23 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, 2 “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat, 3 so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice. 4 They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear,[a] and lay them on people's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. 5 They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad 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[b] by others. 8 But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers.[c] 9 And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. 10 Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ. 11 The greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

13 “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people's faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in.[d] 15 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell[e] as yourselves.

16 “Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.’17 You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that has made the gold sacred? 18 And you say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gift that is on the altar, he is bound by his oath.’ 19 You blind men! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that makes the gift sacred? 20 So whoever swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. 21 And whoever swears by the temple swears by it and by him who dwells in it. 22 And whoever swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by him who sits upon it.

23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. 24 You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel!

25 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 26 You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean.

27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and all uncleanness. 28 So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

29 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and decorate the monuments of the righteous, 30 saying, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ 31 Thus you witness against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. 32 Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers.33 You serpents, you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to hell? 34 Therefore I send you prophets and wise men and scribes, some of whom you will kill and crucify, and some you will flog in your synagogues and persecute from town to town, 35 so that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah the son of Barachiah,[f] whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar. 36 Truly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation.

Lament over Jerusalem

37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! 38 See, your house is left to you desolate. 39 For I tell you, you will not see me again, until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’”

Footnotes:

1. Matthew 23:4 Some manuscripts omit hard to bear
2. Matthew 23:7 Rabbi means my teacher, or my master; also verse 8
3. Matthew 23:8 Or brothers and sisters
4. Matthew 23:13 Some manuscripts add here (or after verse 12) verse 14: Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows' houses and for a pretense you make long prayers; therefore you will receive the greater condemnation
5. Matthew 23:15 Greek Gehenna; also verse 33
6. Matthew 23:35 Some manuscripts omit the son of Barachiah