Expositor's Bible Commentary 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)

A “woe” (GK 4026) can be a compassionate “alas!” (24:19), a strong condemnation (11:21), or a combination of the two (18:17; 26:24). In this chapter condemnation predominates; but it is neither vindictive nor spiteful so much as judicial. Jesus the Messiah pronounces judgment.

The first woe assumes that the messianic reign (“the kingdom of heaven”) has begun. The teachers of the law and the Pharisees are “hypocrites” , since they claim to teach God’s way but refuse to enter the messianic kingdom and hinder those who try to do so. The personal conduct of the Pharisees is not in view here, however, only entrance into the kingdom. Though proper conduct is essential, it does not admit anyone into the kingdom.

The last controversy (22:41–46) revealed the real failure—the teachers of the law and the Pharisees do not enter the kingdom because they refuse to recognize who Jesus is. When the crowds begin to marvel at Jesus and suggest he may be the Messiah, the authorities do all they can to dissuade them (cf. 9:33–34; 11:19; 12:23–24; 21:15). The “woe” pronounced on the authorities is therefore of a piece with 18:6–7.