Matthew 23:1

A Warning Against Hypocrisy

1 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples:

Matthew 23:1 in Other Translations

1 Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples,

1 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples,

1 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples,

1 Now Jesus turned to address his disciples, along with the crowd that had gathered with them.

1 Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to His disciples:

Matthew 23:1 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 23:1

Then spake Jesus to the multitude
To the common people that were about him in the temple; the high priests and elders, Scribes, Pharisees, and Sadducees, having left him, being all nonplussed and silenced by him: and now, lest on the one hand, the people seeing the ignorance and errors of these men detected by Christ, should be tempted to conclude there was nothing in religion, and to neglect the word and worship of God, on account of the concern these men had in it; and on the other hand, because of their great authority and influence, being in Moses's chair, lest the people should be led into bad principles and practices by them, he directs them in what they should observe them, and in what not: that they were not altogether to be rejected, nor in everything to be attended to; and warns them against their ostentation, pride, hypocrisy, covetousness, and cruelty; and, at the same time, removes an objection against himself, proving that he was no enemy to Moses, and the law, rightly explained and practised:

and to his disciples;
not only the twelve, but to all that believed in him, and were followers of him.

Matthew 23:1 In-Context

1 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples:

2 “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat.

3 So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.

4 They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.

5 “Everything they do is done for people to see: They make their phylacterieswide and the tassels on their garments long;