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George Haydock

George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary - Matthew 23:9-10

Call none your father ... Neither be ye called masters, &c. The meaning is, that our Father in heaven is incomparably more to be regarded, than any father upon earth: and no master is to be followed, who would lead us away from Christ. But this does not hinder but that we are by the law of God to have a due respect both for our parents and spiritual fathers, (1 Corinthians iv. 15,) and for our masters and teachers. (Challoner) --- This name was a title of dignity: the presidents of the... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 23:1-12

1-12 The scribes and Pharisees explained the law of Moses, and enforced obedience to it. They are charged with hypocrisy in religion. We can only judge according to outward appearance; but God searches the heart. They made phylacteries. These were scrolls of paper or parchment, wherein were written four paragraphs of the law, to be worn on their foreheads and left arms, Exodus 13:2-10; Exodus 13:11-16; Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Deuteronomy 11:13-21. They made these phylacteries broad, that they might... read more

Frank Binford Hole

F. B. Hole's Old and New Testament Commentary - Matthew 23:1-99

Matthew 23 THIS CHAPTER RECORDS his burning words. In a few days the multitude, influenced by these men, would be shouting for His death. Their responsibility and guilt was greatly increased by this warning the Lord gave them as to the true character of their leaders. He began by according to them the place they claimed as the exponents of the law of Moses. Therefore the people were to keep and do the law as they heard it from their lips. Yet they were to carefully avoid taking them as... read more

Paul E. Kretzmann

The Popular Commentary by Paul E. Kretzmann - Matthew 23:8-12

Humility required: v. 8. But be not ye called Rabbi; for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. v. 9. And call no man your father upon the earth; for one is your Father, which is in heaven. v. 10. Neither be ye called masters; for one is your Master, even Christ. v. 11. But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. v. 12. And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted. With emphasis Christ singles out... read more

Johann Peter Lange

Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures: Critical, Doctrinal and Homiletical - Matthew 23:1-39

SEVENTH SECTIONFINAL JUDJEMENT OF CHRIST UPON THE PHARISEES AND SCRIBES. CHRIST OF HIS OWN ACCORD LEAVES THE TEMPLE23–24:1( Matthew 23:34-39, Scripture Lesion for St. Stephen’s Day.)1Then spake Jesus to the multitude [multitudes, τοῖς ὄχλοις], and to his disciples,A. The Reproof generally. Matthew 23:2-7. (The law, Matthew 23:3; the inconsistency and falsehood, Matthew 23:3 : “but do not;” the traditional statutes, Matthew 23:4; the hypocritical sanctimoniousness and unholy ambition, Matthew... read more

Frederick Brotherton Meyer

F.B. Meyer's 'Through the Bible' Commentary - Matthew 23:1-12

Humbling the Self-exalted Matthew 23:1-12 These words were addressed to the disciples and the crowds that had gathered around. The Jewish religious leaders divorced morality and religion, and insisted that men should respect their office, whatever might be their personal character. The craving for this has been the temptation and bane of Christ’s ministers in every age. But how evidently our Lord condemns clerical and priestly assumption! With the two-edged sword, which pierces to the... read more

G. Campbell Morgan

G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible - Matthew 23:1-39

This chapter is one of the most sublime and awful in the whole inspired volume. It records the last words of Jesus to the crowds. He summed up, He reached His verdict, He pronounced sentence. It is awful in its majesty, terrible in its resistless force. With what relentless persistence and unfailing accuracy He revealed the true condition of the leaders of the people, their occupation with externalities and pettiness, and their neglect of inward facts and weightier matters. Here, indeed, if... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 23:1-12

Exhortation to His Disciples and The Crowds Not To Be Like the Scribes and Pharisees, But to Be Doers and Not Hearers Only, and Rather to Be Humble and Lowly, Treating Each Other As Being As Good If Not Better Than Themselves (23:1-12). The chapter begins with an exhortation to His disciples, and to the crowds gathered round Him in the Temple courtyard. He wants them to be clear that in indicting the Scribes and Pharisees as He is about to do He is not condemning the Law for which they claimed... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 23:1-25

Jesus Passes Judgment On The Scribes And Pharisees And Describes the Devastations Coming On The World Prior To His Coming Again And The Judgment That Will Follow (23:1-25). Having made clear that He has come to establish a new ‘congregation’ and a new ‘nation’ Jesus will now reveal what is to happen to the old nation that has rejected Him, and why. In chapter 23 He brings His severe indictment on ‘the Scribes and the Pharisees’. While His words appear to be fierce they are nothing less than we... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 23:1-39

Words in the Temple: Exhortation to His Disciples And Indictment of The Scribes and Pharisees (23:1-39). It is an open question as to whether chapter 23 should be seen as part of the ‘fifth dissertation’ made up of chapters 23-25 (see introduction), or whether it should be seen as a connecting passage between 19-22 and 24-25 made up of secondary dissertations on their own (compare chapter 11; Matthew 16:17-28 for similar dissertations). The fact that it forms a separate chiasmus on its own... read more

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