The Word Made Fresh
1Then Jesus told the crowds and his disciples, 2“The legal experts and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. 3So, do what they teach you to do, but don’t do as they do because they don’t practice what they teach. 4They load people down with the heavy burdens they lay on the shoulders of others, but they won’t lift a finger to help anyone. 5They do all their good works in public where they can be seen. That’s why they wear such conspicuous containers to hold scripture verses, and that’s why they wear such long fringes on their robes. 6They love to have the most prominent seats at banquets and in the synagogues, 7and to be greeted as someone important in public, and for people to call them ‘teacher’. 8But you are not to be called ‘teacher’ because all of you have just one teacher, and all of you are brothers. 9And don’t refer to anyone on earth as your father, because you have only one father, who is in heaven. 10Don’t be called teachers, either, because you have one teacher, the Christ. 11The most important one among you will be your servant. 12Those who think they’re important will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be important.
13“But too bad for you legal experts and Pharisees. You are hypocrites because you try to turn people away from the kingdom of heaven. You won’t enter it yourselves, and you try to keep everyone else from entering. 14Too bad for you hypocrites, you legal experts and Pharisees, because you steal the houses of widows while you love to be seen making long prayers in public. That is why you will be strongly condemned. 15And too bad for you legal teachers and Pharisees. You will traverse land and sea to make a single convert, and then you make the new convert twice the child of hell you are yourselves.
16“Too bad for you blind guides who say that whoever swears by the sanctuary doesn’t bind you to anything, but whoever swears by the gold of the sanctuary has made a binding promise. 17You yourselves are blind fools! Which is more binding; the gold or the sanctuary that makes the gold sacred?
18“And you claim that when someone swears by the altar, they are not bound by anything, but anyone who swears by the sacrifice on the altar is bound by what they have sworn. 19How blind can you be? Which is greater – the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred? 20If you swear by the altar, you are bound by both the altar and everything on it. 21If you swear by the sanctuary, you are bound by the sanctuary and by the One who resides there. 22If you swear by heaven, you are swearing by the very throne of God as well as by the One sitting on it!
23“Shame on you legal experts and Pharisees! Hypocrites! You tithe your spices, but neglect the more important laws concerning justice and mercy and faith. These laws are the ones you should keep without neglecting the others. 24You blind guides! You diligently strain out the gnat in your bowl, but then swallow a camel!
25“Shame on you legal experts and Pharisees. Hypocrites! You wash the outside of cup and dish, but neglect to wash away your own greed and self-importance. 26Are you Pharisees blind? Clean the inside of the cup and dish before you clean the outside!
27“Too bad for you legal experts and Pharisees! You are like tombs that have been whitewashed to make the outside look lovely, but are completely unclean because they are full of bones and death. 28That’s you! You look good on the outside but on the inside you are filled with hypocrisy and wickedness.
29“Too bad for you legal experts and Pharisees. Hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and dig graves for the righteous. 30And you claim that if you had been living in the days of your ancestors, you would not have joined them in shedding the blood of the prophets. 31So, you condemn yourselves, because you are the descendants of those who murdered the prophets! 32Okay, then finish what your ancestors did.
33“You are snakes and children of snakes. How will you avoid being condemned to hell? 34Pay attention! I am sending prophets to you along with others who are wise, and experts in the law. But you will crucify some, and some you will beat in your synagogues and pursue from town to town. 35So, you will be held accountable for all the righteous blood poured out on the ground – from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Barachiah, whom you had put to death between the temple and the altar. 36It is certain that all this will fall on this generation.
37“Oh, Jerusalem, the city that murders prophets, stoning those who are sent to it! How often have I wanted to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks beneath her wings, but you would have nothing to do with me. 38Don’t you see that your home is left empty for you? 39I’m telling you that you will not see me again until you say that the one who comes in the LORD’s name is welcome here.”
Commentary
1-12: The Pharisees are still standing there, however. Jesus addresses the words in this chapter to the crowds and to his disciples. It is obvious that he wants the Pharisees to overhear what he has to say about them. They flaunt their religious devotion, he says, but it is all an outward show. Jesus tells his disciples that they are not to be like that, but are to live in humility and in service to one another.
13-15: Jesus unleashes a scathing criticism of the scribes (the legal experts in the Law) and Pharisees. Not only are they turning others away from his teachings (which lead to the kingdom of heaven), but they refuse to listen themselves.
16-22: Their values are skewed.
23-24: They nit-pick and miss the important things.
25-28: They think the outer appearance counts for more than the inward character.
29-36: Jesus continues to lash out against the Pharisees, pointing out that they convict themselves as the descendants of those who killed the prophets. The reference in verse 35 to Zechariah is a story found at 2 Chronicles 24:20-22.
37-39: The illustration of the hen that protects its chicks under its wings is a lovely metaphor of the care God gives God’s people. Jesus’ complaint is now extended to the entire city, not just to the Pharisees and scribes. He has already entered the city to the acclamation of the crowds (see 21:9), but here Matthew likely intends that Jesus is referring to the “second coming.”
Takeaway
If you’re going to challenge the ‘powers that be,’ be sure you are connected to the ‘Power that has always been.’