Woes to the Pharisees (Matthew 23 explained)
Quick Summary
Matthew 23 contains one of Jesus’ most powerful denunciations of religious hypocrisy. In this chapter, Jesus pronounces seven or eight woes upon the Pharisees and scribes, calling out their behavior as corrupt, self-serving, and spiritually damaging. These "woes" function as a prophetic lament and a form of righteous judgment, revealing what happens when outward religion masks inward decay.
Introduction: Woe to You, Hypocrites
The phrase "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!" rings out repeatedly in Matthew 23. These aren't casual criticisms. Jesus is delivering a rebuke in the tradition of the Old Testament prophets. It is not about punishment alone. it is about grief, warning, and a call to repentance. Matthew 23 is a mirror held up to anyone tempted to elevate performance over faithfulness, reputation over righteousness, and control over compassion.
This chapter invites us to reflect deeply: What are the signs of authentic spiritual leadership? How do we keep our practices aligned with God’s heart rather than our own pride?
The Setting: Final Public Teaching Before the Passion
Matthew 23 comes just before the Passion narrative. Jesus is in Jerusalem. The crowds are listening. The religious leaders are present. This is the last major public discourse in Matthew’s Gospel before the crucifixion. It’s not gentle. It’s not vague. It’s Jesus, unflinchingly honest.
He begins by acknowledging the authority of the Pharisees to teach the law (Matthew 23:2), but condemns their failure to live by it. "They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on the shoulders of others; but they themselves are unwilling to lift a finger to move them" (Matthew 23:4, NRSV).
Verse by Verse Breakdown of Matthew 23 and Commentary
Matthew 23:13 – Woe #1: You Shut the Door to the Kingdom
“But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you lock people out of the kingdom of heaven. For you do not go in yourselves, and when others are going in, you stop them" (Matthew 23:13).
Here, Jesus accuses the Pharisees of preventing access to God’s grace. They obsess over purity and gatekeeping but fail to recognize the kingdom in their midst. Their focus on rules and control blocks others from experiencing true faith.
Matthew 23:15 – Woe #2: Zealous But Misguided
"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cross sea and land to make a single convert, and you make the new convert twice as much a child of hell as yourselves" (Matthew 23:15).
Jesus exposes their missionary zeal as empty. They go to great lengths to convert others, but instead of leading them to God, they lead them into more legalism and spiritual bondage.
Matthew 23:16-22 – Woe #3: Blind Guides
Jesus calls them "blind guides" for their twisted teachings on oaths. They had created an elaborate system of technicalities about what promises could be broken.
"You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold or the sanctuary that has made the gold sacred?" (Matthew 23:17).
They elevated the wrong things. Their priorities were warped. They saw value in material things rather than in the sacred.
Matthew 23:23-24 – Woe #4: Straining Gnats, Swallowing Camels
They tithe spices but neglect justice, mercy, and faith.
"You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel!" (Matthew 23:24).
This memorable image mocks their meticulous legalism. They focus on tiny observances while ignoring the weightier matters of the law.
Matthew 23:25-26 – Woe #5: Clean on the Outside, Dirty on the Inside
Jesus compares them to a cup cleaned on the outside but filthy inside.
"So you also on the outside look righteous to others, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness" (Matthew 23:28).
The danger of spiritual performance is that it hides the rot within. Jesus isn’t impressed by appearances—he wants integrity.
Matthew 23:27-28 – Woe #6: Whitewashed Tombs
They appear holy, but inwardly are dead.
"For you are like whitewashed tombs, which on the outside look beautiful, but inside they are full of the bones of the dead and of all kinds of filth" (Matthew 23:27).
This is about spiritual death beneath a holy facade. It’s not merely harsh—it’s heartbreaking.
Matthew 23:29-36 – Woe #7: Honoring Prophets While Killing Them
Jesus closes with a biting irony. They build tombs for the prophets but share the guilt of their ancestors who murdered them.
"You snakes, you brood of vipers! How can you escape being sentenced to hell?" (Matthew 23:33).
They claim righteousness, but when faced with the living Word of God in Jesus, they plot to kill him.
Matthew 23 Meaning for Today
These woes are not just ancient rebukes. They are warnings to every generation of religious leaders and believers.
Do we hide behind religious appearances?
Do we impose standards on others that we ourselves do not live by?
Are we willing to let God expose the inside of the cup?
Jesus isn’t attacking tradition or law—he’s calling for a faith that is authentic, merciful, and humble. This chapter compels anyone who has power, influence, or a voice in spiritual spaces to practice repentance and self-examination.
Even amid this harsh chapter, we should remember that not every Pharisee was hardened. Nicodemus came to Jesus at night (John 3:1-2). Joseph of Arimathea helped bury Jesus (Matthew 27:57-60). Some Pharisees heard, and some believed.
The woes of Matthew 23 are a thunderclap of warning. But they are also a call to renewal.
FAQs
What are the seven woes of the Pharisees?
They are found in Matthew 23:13, 15, 16, 23, 25, 27, and 29. Jesus denounces the Pharisees for hypocrisy, legalism, and neglecting justice and mercy.
Why did Jesus rebuke the Pharisees so harshly?
Because they used religion to burden others while protecting their own power. Jesus called them to authentic faith and justice.
Were all Pharisees bad?
No. Some Pharisees, like Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea, showed openness to Jesus and acted with compassion.
What is a whitewashed tomb?
It refers to something outwardly beautiful but inwardly corrupt. Jesus uses this as a metaphor for religious hypocrisy.
Explore More Bible Facts
Works Consulted
N. T. Wright, Matthew for Everyone, Part 2: Chapters 16–25 (Westminster John Knox, 2004), pp. 109–116.
Dale C. Allison, The New Interpreter's Bible: Matthew 21-28, Vol. 8 (Abingdon, 1995), pp. 270–304.
