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Verse Takeaways
1
A Curse on Obstruction
Jesus issues a 'woe,' which commentators describe as a solemn curse or judicial pronouncement, not just a mild rebuke. Their primary sin was actively obstructing people's path to salvation. Scholars explain they acted as gatekeepers who, instead of opening the door to God's kingdom through truth, slammed it shut through false teaching, human traditions, and opposition to Christ.
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Matthew
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Commentaries
8
Albert Barnes
On Matthew 23:13
18th Century
Theologian
Woe to you. You are guilty, and punishment will come to you. He proceeds to state in what way they were guilty.
This most eloquent,…
AT Robertson
On Matthew 23:13
Hypocrites (υποκριτα). This terrible word of Jesus appears first from him in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 6:2,5,16…
Charles Spurgeon
On Matthew 23:13
19th Century
Preacher
While our Savior was speaking to the people and His disciples, the scribes and Pharisees may have again drawn near. At any rate, His next words wer…
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Expositor's Bible Commentary
On Matthew 23:13
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 chapte…
John Calvin
On Matthew 23:13
16th Century
Theologian
You shut up the kingdom of heaven. Christ pronounces a curse on them because they pervert their office to the general destruction of the w…
John Gill
On Matthew 23:13
17th Century
Pastor
But woe unto you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites
It seems from hence, that the Scribes and Pharisees had not left …
Matthew Henry
On Matthew 23:13–33
17th Century
Minister
The scribes and Pharisees were enemies of the gospel of Christ, and therefore of the salvation of people's souls. It is bad to keep away from Chris…
Thomas Aquinas
On Matthew 23:13–33
13th Century
Philosopher
After He instructed the disciples and the multitudes about the caution they should have regarding the Jews' doctrine, He now directs His words to t…