Matthew 23:13-36 are among the most vicious words in scripture. Christians have used them to justify horrible actions against Jewish people. Such use is not only wrong it also overlooks Matthew's real intent. If you haven't read those verses yet, hold off until we remind ourselves of some things.
While Jesus lived in roughly the first three decades of the first century, Matthew's gospel isn't written until around the year 80. A lot happened in those 50 years, most especially the destruction of Jerusalem in the year 70. That shook Jewish faith to its core. Most of the sects/parties/denominations of Judaism appear to have been wiped out. Only the Pharisee sect remained in any numbers. Late in the first century a new form of Judaism began to emerge. It was the beginnings of "formative Judaism". It would take a few centuries, but current day Judaism eventually emerges. The first decades were chaotic. What was orthodox? What was not? Who had authority and who did not? How could the Jewish faith survive without Jerusalem and central temple? Jews today know those answers. They did not in those days.
In the decades after Jesus many Jews who had accepted him as Savior continued to worship in the synagogues. From the Roman perspective "Christians" were just an emerging sect within Judaism. But after the destruction of Jerusalem many synagogues began to push out those who taught Jesus as the Savior. Whether we agree with it or not, it was part of Jewish attempts to maintain the purity of their faith. The church Matthew is writing for is most likely a community of Christians who had been pushed out. Tensions are high for them. Families are being torn apart over this division; even as they are still reeling from Rome's destruction of Jerusalem. And daily life is hard, very hard!
The emerging Christian church is also facing serious struggles. In fact, they're facing the same struggles as the Jews. What is orthodox? What is not? Who has authority? What does following Jesus look like? There are no rules, no Bible, and no traditions to draw on. Perhaps worst of all, where is Jesus?!? Did he not promise to return soon? Why the delay? Did Jesus lie? Was he a fraud? The original witnesses of his ministry have pretty much all died off.
If you can, immerse yourself in feelings of fear and uncertainty. You just have nothing to go on for right and wrong. You need structure. You need something to make sense. You need to know how to live faithfully as someone who accepts the teachings of Jesus. If you can build that anxiety in your heart you have a perspective to delve into Matthew 23:13-36.
If you have a copy of it, read it now. Or find it online. As always, a good literal translation like NIV or NRSV will get you closer to Matthew and be less about the translator.
Over and over again Jesus says woe to the scribes and Pharisees and calls them hypocrites. These would be the very people trying to put shape to Judaism in Matthew's day. Jesus' words then draw distinctions between his followers and their followers. There are seven sets of these woes:
Woe 1, Vs. 13 - a conflict between the Jewish leadership and the Jesus movement are like two kingdoms conflicting
(Woe 1a, Vs. 14 - Does your Bible have a verse 14? It shouldn't! The oldest copies of Matthew don't include it. Verse 14 was added to Matthew centuries later based on Mark 12:40. It reads, "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows' houses and for the sake of appearance you make long prayers; therefore you will receive the greater condemnation." Most current Bibles recognize this verse does not belong and have removed it. Matthew likes patterns. He also likes numbers. Having 8 woes rather than 7 disrupts the way he likes to structure things!)
Woe 2, Vs. 15 - As first glance this appears to be a conflict between a Christian missionary movement and a Jewish missionary movement. However, there is no historical evidence of a sizable Jewish missionary movement at this time. More likely Matthew is pushing against non-Jews who have converted to Christianity but who are insisting on following the Jewish religious laws; most especially circumcision.
Woe 3, Vs. 16-22 - It seems like people are always looking for loopholes. Jesus' teachings are not meant to be critically studied, loopholes found, and then exploited. Jesus' teachings are about authentic living in love.
Woe 4, Vs. 23-24 - Getting so focused on details that the big picture is lost.
Woe 5, Vs. 25-36 - Inner and outer purity. It is worth noting that the historical Pharisees of this time also had the same concerns. They taught faithfully following God came from the heart and was not about external appearances.
Woe 6, Vs. 27-28 - As a public service tombs were often whitewashed so that unfamiliar visitors would not accidentally contact them and thus make themselves ritually unclean, especially visitors during Passover. This woe is another expression of Woe 5.
Woe 7, Vs. 29-36 - Killing prophets. Jews were very aware that God had often sent messengers to them. Those messengers had frequently been mistreated or even killed; especially when the message God was sending was not popular. The Pharisees showed their repentance from the past deeds by building monuments to the prophets, promising that if they had been in charge then then would have listened. This is the arrogance of history; each generation thinking they are better than the last. Unfortunately, we humans do not really progress as much as we think!
Altogether these woes are not intended for Matthew's readers to start attacking Jewish leaders. They are defining Christianity apart from Judaism. They are establishing authority and calling for authenticity. When we read them today we should realize our own tendencies to be like the scribes and Pharisees. With that knowledge we can return to God and continually seek the purity of heart only God can provide.
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