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 .