Jan 4, 2022 · In Matthew 23, Jesus pronounces seven “woes” on the religious leaders of His day. A “woe” is an exclamation of grief, similar to what is expressed by the word alas . In pronouncing woes, Jesus was prophesying judgment on the religious elite who were guilty of hypocrisy and sundry other sins.

Dec 18, 2023 · In Matthew 23 Jesus pronounces “woes” on the scribes and Pharisees, the religious elite of the day. The word woe is an exclamation of grief, denunciation, or distress. This was not the first time Jesus had some harsh words for the religious leaders of His day.

Jan 5, 2023 · In Matthew 23:39, Jesus promises the Jews that they will see Him no more “until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’” At that time, Israel will be saved, and the Jews will be converted to faith in their true Messiah (see Romans 11:25–27).

Jun 14, 2022 · Matthew 2:23 says about Jesus, “He went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets, that he would be called a Nazarene.” Where is this prophecy in the Old Testament? Matthew is obviously not quoting a prophecy directly, as there is no Old Testament passage with the wording he uses.

Jan 5, 2023 · They “painted the outside,” leaving the inside full of greed and self-indulgence (Matthew 23:25). In their eyes, if they followed the law to the letter, they were holy, and the condition of their hearts wouldn’t matter. Jesus needed to confront the superficiality of these dangerous leaders who did not practice what they preached.

Jul 22, 2022 · The two martyrs Jesus mentions in Matthew 23, Abel and Zechariah, are the first and last martyrs, chronologically, in the Old Testament period. Zechariah the prophet ministered to the Jewish people, supporting their task of rebuilding the temple and challenging their spiritual condition until the temple was completed.

Jul 29, 2022 · The command “Get behind me, Satan,” spoken to Peter by Jesus, is recorded in Matthew 16:23 and Mark 8:33. “Get behind me, Satan” seems harsh and out of character for Jesus, especially when addressing Peter, one of His most devout disciples.

Feb 27, 2025 · What are the seven woes of Matthew 23? Why did Jesus rebuke the scribes and Pharisees so harshly in Matthew 23:13–36? What does it mean that the Pharisees devour widows’ houses (Matthew 23:14)? Why did Jesus refer to the Pharisees as a “child of hell” in Matthew 23:15? Why did Jesus say to cleanse the inside of the cup (Matthew 23:26 ...

Mar 31, 2023 · In Matthew 23, Jesus explains that the Pharisees and Sadducees displayed their wickedness in many ways. They did not practice what they preached (verse 3). They burdened the people with religious rituals and ceremonies of their own invention and made no effort to help them to bear them (verse 4).

Feb 5, 2025 · He introduces here the concept of the “many” and the “few” that He will return to in verses 21-23. In Matthew 7:15–18, He again contrasts the two types of people by using imagery well known to those in an agrarian culture—sheep/wolves, grapes/figs, thorn bushes/thistles, good trees/bad trees, and good fruit/bad fruit.