Church Fathers Commentary Matthew 23:13

"But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye shut the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye enter not in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering in to enter[.]" — Matthew 23:13 (ASV)

Origen of Alexandria: Christ is truly the Son of the God who gave the Law. Following the example of the blessings pronounced in the Law, He Himself pronounced blessings on those who are saved. Likewise, following the curses of the Law, He now declares a woe against sinners: “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites.”

Those who accept that it is compatible with goodness to utter these denunciations against sinners should understand that God’s purpose is the same in the curses of the Law. Both the curse there and the woe here fall upon the sinner not from the One who pronounces them, but from the sinners themselves, who commit the sins being denounced. They rightly bring upon themselves the consequences of God’s discipline, which is appointed to turn people to what is good.

In the same way, a father rebuking a son utters words of cursing, but he does not desire that his son should become deserving of those curses. Rather, he desires that his son should turn away from them.

He adds the reason for this woe: “You shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in.” These two actions are by nature inseparable, because not allowing others to enter is, by itself, enough to keep the one hindering out.

Pseudo-Chrysostom: By “the kingdom of heaven,” he means the Scriptures, because the kingdom of heaven is found in them; the understanding of the Scriptures is the door.

Alternatively, “the kingdom of heaven” is the blessedness of heaven, and its door is Christ, through whom people enter. The gatekeepers are the priests, to whom the word of teaching or interpreting Scripture is entrusted, by which the door of truth is opened to humanity. The opening of this door is correct interpretation. And notice that He did not say, “Woe to you,” because you open it, but “because you shut it up.” The Scriptures, then, are not shut, even though they may be obscure.

Origen of Alexandria: The Pharisees and the Scribes, then, would neither enter in themselves nor listen to Him who said, “By me if any man enter in, he shall be saved” (John 10:9). Nor would they allow those to enter who could have believed through the things previously spoken by the Law and the Prophets concerning Christ. Instead, they shut the door with every kind of device to deter people from entering.

They also disparaged His teaching, denied all prophecy concerning Him, and blasphemed every miracle as deceitful or as worked by the Devil. All who in their evil conduct set a sinful example for the people, and who commit injustice, causing the weak to stumble, seem to shut up the kingdom of heaven before others. This sin is found among the people, and especially among the teachers, when they teach others what Gospel righteousness requires but do not practice what they teach.

But those who both teach and live rightly open the kingdom of heaven to others; they both enter in themselves and invite others to enter. Conversely, many will not allow those who are willing to enter the kingdom of heaven, excommunicating out of jealousy others who are better than themselves. In this way they refuse them entrance.

But these sober-minded people, overcoming this tyranny by their patience, enter and inherit the kingdom even though they were forbidden. Likewise, those who have rashly taken up the profession of teaching before they have learned, and who, following Jewish fables, disparage those who search out the deeper things of Scripture—these also, as far as it is in their power, shut people out from the kingdom of heaven.