WOE TO YOU … PHARISEES, YOU HYPOCRITES / Matthew 23:13

(KJV) Matthew 23:13

“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.

The Greek word translated “hypocrite” is hupokritai. In classical Greek, a hypocrite was an actor in a play. The actor, of course, was not expected to live out in his daily life the character he played on stage. Jesus used the term for people who were putting on an act in public that was only a pretense. Their religious appearance was a mask that concealed their spiritual blindness and the corruption within their hearts. Jesus’ words in Matthew 23 express His strongest accusations, criticisms and condemnation against those who acted as if they were devoted to God, yet resisted everything Jesus was doing and teaching. His words were directed against religious leaders and false teachers who had rejected at least a part of the revealed Word of God (with which they were very familiar) and replaced it with their own ideas and interpretations (Matthew 23:23, 28; 15:3, 6-9; Mark 7:6-9). 

1. Jesus’ spirit, or attitude, in this passage should be noted. It is not the tolerant, permissive and accommodating attitude of someone who is worried about offending anyone. He is ultimately concerned about faithfulness to God and His Word. Jesus was not a weak preacher who tolerated sin and hypocrisy. Being true to His mission caused Him to be angry about evil (Matthew 21:12-17; John 2:13-16) and to denounce sin and corruption in high places (Matthew 23:23, 25). 
2. Jesus’ love for God’s Word, as well as His concern for people who were being harmed or destroyed by those who distorted the Word (Matthew 15:2-3; 18:6-7; 23:13,15), was so great that it caused Him to use words like “hypocrites” (Matthew 23:15), “son of hell” (Matthew 23:15), “blind guides” (Matthew 23:16), “fools” (Matthew 23:17), “greed and self-indulgence” (Matthew 23:25), “whitewashed tombs…unclean” (Matthew 23:27), “full of…wickedness” (Matthew 23:28), “snakes,” “brood of vipers” (Matthew 23:33) and murderers (Matthew 23:34). Keep in mind that these words, though harsh and condemning, were spoken with a broken heart (Matthew 23:37) by the One who would eventually give His life for those He challenged so severely (John 3:16; Romans 5:6,8). 
3. Jesus describes the character of false teachers and preachers as those who seek to be popular with others (Matthew 23:5), who love honor (Matthew 23:6), who want to be highly honored because of their positions and titles (Matthew 23:7) and who keep people out of heaven by presenting a twisted version of God’s true message (Matthew 23:13). They are “professionals” who appear spiritual and godly, but are really unrighteous and rebellious (Matthew 23:14, 25-27). They say good things about godly spiritual leaders of the past (such as the prophets), but they do not follow their instructions or their example. They are not truly committed to God and His Word (Matthew 23:29-30), and they lack an authentic personal relationship with God. 
4. The Bible commands us to beware of such false religious leaders (Matthew 7:15; 24:11), regarding them as unbelievers (Galatians 1:9) and refusing to support their ministry or to associate with them (2 John 1:9-11). Keep in mind that this does not give us the right to withhold support from our churches simply because we do not appreciate or agree with a minister who challenges us when we may, in fact, be wrong. 

Those in the church who – under the pretense of love, tolerance and unity – refuse to recognize and speak out against this false behavior according to God’s Word (Matthew 7:15; Galatians 1:6-7; 2 John 1:9) are actually participating in the evil works of false prophets and teachers (2 John 1:10-11).

• NIV Bible
• King James Bible
• www. biblegateway.com
• www.biblestudytools.com
• Map Pencils
• College Ruled Spiral Notebook
• Ballpoint Pens
• Some links may be affiliated. By purchasing an item from an affiliate link, I receive a small commission – but you are not charged more or less by clicking or purchasing through the link. Thank you for supporting me!

1. LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR / MATTHEW 22:39
2. AN EXPERT IN THE LAW / MATTHEW 22:35-36
3. FEW ARE CHOSEN / MATTHEW 22:14
4. WEDDING CLOTHES / MATTHEW 22:11
5. KINGDOM TAKEN AWAY FROM YOU / MATTHEW 21:43
6. IF YOU HAVE FAITH / MATTHEW 21:21-22
7. JESUS OVERTURNED THE TABLES / MATTHEW 21:12
8. RANSOM FOR MANY / MATTHEW 20:28
9. NOT SO WITH YOU / MATTHEW 20:26
10. MEN TO WORK IN HIS VINEYARD / MATTHEW 20:1
11. FIRST WILL BE LAST / MATTHEW 19:30
12. GO SELL YOUR POSSESIONS / MATTHEW 19:21
13. FOR MARITAL UNFAITHFULNESS / MATTHEW 19:9
14. IF TWO AGREE / MATTHEW 18:19
15. IF YOUR BROTHER SINS / MATTHEW 18:15
16. ANGELS / MATTHEW 18:10
17. WOE TO THE MAN / MATTHEW 18:7
18. MILLSTONE … AROUND HIS NECK / MATTHEW 18:6
19. UNLESS YOU CHANGE / MATTHEW 18:3
20. FAITH … NOTHING WILL BE IMPOSIBLE / MATTHEW 17:20
21. UNBELIEVING AND PERVERSE / MATTHEW 17:17
22. WAS TRANSFIGURED / MATTHEW 17:2
23. COMING IN HIS KINGDOM / MATTHEW 16:28
24. KEYS OF THE KINGDOM / MATTHEW 16:19
25. PETER … ROCK … CHURCH – THE GATES OF HADES WILL NOT OVERCOME / MATTHEW 16:18
26. BE ON YOUR GUARD AGAINST THE YEAST / MATTHEW 16:6
27. YOU HAVE GREAT FAITH / MATTHEW 15:28
28. FOR THE SAKE OF YOUR TRADITION / MATTHEW 15:5-6
29. DON’T BE AFRAID / MATTHEW 14:27
30. PRAY ALONE / MATTHEW 14:23-24
31. LOAVES AND FISH / MATTHEW 14:19
32. DANCED FOR THEM / MATTHEW 14:6-7
33. SEPARATE THE WICKED FROM THE RIGHTEOUS / MATTHEW 13:49
34. KINGDOM … A NET / MATTHEW 13:47
35. KINGDOM … TREASURE / MATTHEW 13:44-46
36. THE FIERY FURNACE / MATTHEW 13:42
37. WEED OUT … EVERYTHING THAT CAUSES SIN / MATTHEW 13:41
38. LET BOTH GROW TOGETHER / MATTHEW 13:30
39. GOOD SEED … WEEDS / MATTHEW 13:24-25
40. PARABLES OF THE KINGDOM / MATTHEW 13:3
41. AN EVIL SPIRIT / MATTHEW 12:43
42. JONAH / MATTHEW 12:40
43. BLASPHEMY AGAINST THE SPIRIT / MATTHEW 12:31
44. THE KINGDOM OF GOD / MATTHEW 12:28
45. SABBATH / MATTHEW 12:1
46. COME TO ME / MATTHEW 11:28
47. FORCEFUL MEN LAY HOLD OF IT / MATTHEW 11:12
48. GREATER THAN HE / MATTHEW 11:11
49. JOHN / MATTHEW 11:7
50. PROPHET … RIGHTEOUS MAN / MATTHEW 10:41
51. I DID NOT COME TO BRING PEACE / MATTHEW 10:31
52. ACKNOWLEDGES ME BEFORE MEN / MATTHEW 10:32
53. HELL / MATTHEW 10:28
54. DO NOT BE AFRAID OF THEM / MATTHEW 10:26
55. CITIES OF ISRAEL / MATTHEW 10:23
56. GIVEN WHAT TO SAY / MATTHEW 10:19-20
57. PREACH … THE KINGDOM / MATTHEW 10:7
58. AUTHORITY TO DRIVE OUT EVIL SPIRITS / MATTHEW 10:1
59. ASK THE LORD TO SEND / MATTHEW 9:38
60. THE HARVEST IS PLENTIFUL / MATTHEW 9:37
61. NEW WINE INTO OLD WINESKINS / NEW WINE PRESERVED / MATTHEW 9:17
62. THEN THEY WILL FAST / MATTHEW 9:15
63. EAT WITH ‘SINNERS’ / MATTHEW 9:11
64. THEY PLEADED WITH HIM TO LEAVE / MATTHEW 8:34
65. LET THE DEAD BURY THEIR OWN DEAD / MATTHEW 8:22
66. GREAT FAITH / MATTHEW 8:10
67. DON’T TELL ANYONE / MATTHEW 8:4
68. JESUSE TOUCHED THE MAN / MATTHEW 8:3
69. I NEVER KNEW YOU / MATTHEW 7:23
70. MANY WILL SAY LORD, LORD / MATTHEW 7:22
71. DOES THE WILL OF MY FATHER / MATTHEW 7:21
72. BY THEIR FRUIT YOU WILL RECOGNIZE THEM / MATTHEW 7:16
73. SMALL IS THE GATE … AND ONLY A FEW FIND IT / MATTHEW 7:14
74. YOUR FATHER … GIVE GOOD GIFTS / MATTHEW 7:11
75. ASK … SEEK … KNOCK / MATTHEW 7:7-8
76. DO NOT JUDGE / MATTHEW 7:1
77. SEEK … KINGDOM … RIGHTEOUSNESS / MATTHEW 6:33
78. IF THAT IS HOW GOD CLOTHES / MATTHEW 6:30
79. DO NOT WORRY / MATTHEW 6:25
80. EYE IS THE LAMP OF THE BODY / MATTHEW 6:22
81. WHEN YOU FAST / MATTHEW 6:16
82. IF YOU DO NOT FORGIVE / MATTHEW 6:15
83. IF YOU FORGIVE / MATTHEW 6:14
84. DELIVER US FROM THE EVIL ONE / MATTHEW 6:13
85. FORGIVE AS WE ALSO HAVE FORGIVEN / MATTHEW 6:12
86. DAILY BREAD / MATTHEW 6:11
87. YOUR KINGDOM COME – YOUR WILL BE DONE / MATTHEW 6:10
88. THIS THEN IS HOW YOU SHOULD PRAY / MATTHEW 6:9
89. PRAY IN SECRET / MATTHEW 6:6
90. ‘ACTS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS’ BEFORE MEN / MATTHEW 6:1
91. DO NOT RESIST AN EVIL PERSON / MATTHEW 5:39
92. LOOKS LUSTFULLY / MATTHEW 5:28
93. ANGRY … RACA … FOOL / MATTHEW 5:22
94. UNLESS YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS / MATTHEW 5:20
95. GREAT IN THE KINGDOM / MATTHEW 5:19
96. THE LAW TO FULFILL / MATTHEW 5:17
97. LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE THAT THEY MAY SEE YOUR GOOD DEEDS / MATTHEW 5:14-16
98. PERSECUTED BECAUSE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS / MATTHEW 5:10
99. THE PEACEMAKERS / MATTHEW 5:9
100. THE PURE IN HEART / MATTHEW 5:8
101. THE MERCIFUL / MATTHEW 5:7
102. HUNGER AND THIRST FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS / MATTHEW 5:6
103. THE MEEK / MATTHEW 5:5
104. THOSE WHO MOURN / MATTHEW 5:4
105. BLESSED POOR IN SPIRIT / MATTHEW 5:3
106. SERMON ON THE MONT / MATTHEW 5-7
107. THE KINGDOM AND HEALING / MATTHEW 4:23
108. FISHERS OF MEN / MATTHEW 4:19
109. IT IS WRITTEN / MATTHEW 4:6
110. FASTING FORTY DAYS / MATTHEW 4:2
111. JESUS … TEMPTED / MATTHEW 4:1-11
112. THE TRINITY IN EXAMPLE / MATTHEW 3:17
113. SPIRIT … ON HIM / MATTHEW 3:16
114. JESUS … BAPTIZED / MATTHEW 3:13
115. WILL BAPTIZE YOU WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT / MATTHEW 3:11
116. FRUIT IN KEEPING WITH REPENTANCE / MATTHEW 3:8
117. PHARISEES AND SADDUCEES / MATTHEW 3:7
118. KINGDOM OF HEAVEN – REPENT / MATTHEW 3:2
119. WARNED IN A DREAM / MATTHEW 2:22-23
120. ESCAPE TO EGYPT / MATTHEW 2:13
121. CHIEF PRIESTS AND TEACHERS OF THE LAW / MATTHEW 2:4
122. HEROD – MAGI / MATTHEW 2:1
123. NO UNION WITH HER UNTIL / MATTHEW 1:25
124. VIRGIN … GIVE BIRTH TO A SON / MATTHEW 1:23
125. JESUS / MATTHEW 1:21
126. MARY … JESUS / MATTHEW 1:16
127. CHRIST – SON OF DAVID / MATTHEW 1:1
128. GENEALOGY OF JESUS CHRIST / MATTHEW 1:1-16
129. I AM WITH YOU / MATTHEW 28:20
130. KILL ALL THE BOYS / MATTHEW 2:16
131. FORGIVENESS OF SINS / MATTHEW 26:28
132. SATAN / MATTHEW 4:10
133. DEVIL AND HIS ANGELS / MATTHEW 25:41
134. MONEY / MATTHEW 6:24
135. GO … MAKE DISCIPLES … BAPTIZING / MATTHEW 28:19
136. SALT OF THE EARTH / MATTHEW 5:13
137. YOU ARE WORTH MORE / MATTHEW 10:31
138. GUIDED BY GRACE HOME

• Etsy
• Facebook
• Google
• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• Pinterest
• X
• YouTube

Summary

Article Name

WOE TO YOU ... PHARISEES, YOU HYPOCRITES / Matthew 23:13

Description

The Greek word translated “hypocrite” is hupokritai. In classical Greek, a hypocrite was an actor in a play.

Author

Margarita Crews

Publisher Name

Guided By Grace

Publisher Logo