1746 | Matthew 23:7
the most im por tant seats in the syn a gogues; y 7 they love to be greeted with re spect in the mar ket places and to be called‘ Rabbi’ by others. z
8“ But you are not to be called‘ Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all broth ers. 9 And do not call any one on earth‘ fa ther,’ for you have one Fa ther, a and he is in heaven. 10 Nor are you to be called in struc tors, for you have one In struc tor, the Mes siah. 11 The greatest among you will be your servant. b
12 For those who ex alt them selves will be humbled, and those who hum ble them selves will be ex alted. c
Seven Woes on the Teachers of the Law and the Pharisees
13“ Woe to you, teach ers of the law and Phar i sees, you hyp o crites! d You shut the door of the king dom of heaven in peo ple’ s faces. You your selves do not en ter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to. e [ 14 ] a
23:6 y Lk 11:43; 14:7; 20:46
23:7 z ver 8; Mk 9:5; 10:51; Jn 1:38, 49
23:9 a Mal 1:6; Mt 7:11
23:11 b Mt 20:26; Mk 9:35
23:12 c Lk 14:11
23:13 d ver 15, 23, 25, 27, 29 e Lk 11:52 a 14 Some manuscripts include here words similar to Mark 12:40 and Luke 20:47.
11:18; however, these verses originally were probably meant to be understood metaphorically. Only later were they interpreted literally. tassels. See note on 14:36. 23:8 – 10 Given the contrast with v. 7, the point is not that Christians can never use honorific titles but that they must not expect or demand them, much less revel in them. To avoid this temptation, it is probably best to use them as little as possible. 23:12 For an excellent illustration, see Luke 18:9 – 14. 23:13 – 32 Jesus pronounces seven woes on the teachers of the law and the Pharisees. The scribes and Pharisees comprised a very small portion of the Jewish populace, and Jesus is addressing only those present in the temple on this occasion. This one particular group of leaders, not the entire nation, were“ hypocrites”( v. 13), i. e., play-actors. 23:13 Woe.“ Alas” or“ how unfortunate” for someone because of impending doom or judgment. By refusing to help others do God’ s will and / or by making it harder than God intended, they save neither themselves nor others. See notes on vv. 3,4.
JEWISH SECTS
PHARISEES
Their roots can be traced to the Hasi dim of the second century BC( see note on Mark 2:16).
( 1) Along with the Torah, they accepted as equally in spired and authoritative all the commands set forth in the oral traditions preserved by the rabbis.
( 2) On free will and determination, they held to a mediating view that did not allow either human free will or the sovereignty of God to cancel out the other.( 3) They accepted a rather developed hierarchy of angels and demons.( 4) They believed in the immortality of the soul and in reward and retribution after death.( 5) They believed in the resurrection of the dead.( 6) The main emphasis of their teaching was ethical rather than theological.
SADDUCEES
They probably had their beginning during the Has mo nean period( 166 – 63 BC). Their demise occurred ca. AD 70 with the fall of Jerusalem and the destruction of the temple.
( 1) They considered only the books of Moses to be canonical Scripture, denying that the oral law was authoritative and binding.( 2) They were very exacting in Levitical purity.( 3) They attributed everything to free will.( 4) They argued that there is neither resurrection of the dead nor a future life.( 5) They rejected the idea of a spiritual world, including belief in angels and demons.
ESSENES
They probably originated among the Hasidim, along with the Pharisees, from whom they later separated( 1 Maccabees 2:42; 7:13). The Hasidim were a group of zealous Jews who took part with the Macca beans in a revolt against the Syrians ca. 165 – 155 BC. A group of Essenes probably moved to Qumran ca. 150 BC, where they copied scrolls and deposited them in nearby caves.
( 1) They strictly observed the purity laws of the Torah.( 2) They practiced communal ownership of property.( 3) They had a strong sense of mutual responsibility.( 4) Daily worship was an important feature along with daily study of their sacred scriptures.( 5) Solemn oaths of piety and obedience had to be taken.( 6) Sacrifices were offered on holy days and during their sacred seasons, but not at the temple, which they considered to be corrupt.( 7) Marriage was avoided by some but was not condemned in principle.( 8) They attributed to fate everything that happened.
ZEALOTS
They are thought to have originated in AD 6. A group of Zealots were among the last defenders against the Romans at Masada in AD 73.
( 1) They opposed payment of taxes to a pagan emperor because they believed that allegiance was due to God alone.( 2) They were fiercely loyal to Jewish tradition.( 3) They endorsed the use of violence as long as it accomplished a good end.( 4) They were opposed to the influence of Greek pagan culture in the Holy Land.