Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Matthew 23:1

"Then spake Jesus to the multitudes and to his disciples," — Matthew 23:1 (ASV)

Perhaps a year earlier Jesus had begun to denounce the Pharisees (15:7). Subsequently he warned his disciples of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees (16:5–12). Now his warning and denunciations are public. Matthew mentions both “crowds” and “disciples” because he sees that the essential thrust of Jesus’ warnings is to compel people to follow either him, the Messiah as defined in 22:41–46, or the religious leaders. And those who do the latter will share their leaders’ condemnation.