Condemnation of Pharisaic Hypocrisy in Matthew's Gospel
Jesus' condemnation of the Pharisees and scribes in Matthew's Gospel centers on their hypocrisy, a theme that runs throughout his ministry [9, 12]. The term "hypocrite" refers to one who feigns to be what they are not, a dissembler in religion [8]. Jesus frequently rebuked the scribes and Pharisees for this trait, particularly in Matthew 23, where he pronounces a series of "woes" against them [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9].
The Pharisees were a prominent Jewish sect known for their strict observance of the Mosaic ritual and zeal for the law and tradition [6]. While outwardly moral, they were also characterized by self-righteousness, avarice, and ambition for precedence and distinguished titles [6]. Jesus' criticisms highlight a profound disconnect between their outward religious performance and their inward spiritual state [9].
One key aspect of their hypocrisy was their obstruction of others from entering the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus declared, "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you shut up the Kingdom of Heaven against men; for you don’t enter in yourselves, neither do you allow those who are entering in to enter" [3]. This suggests that their teachings and practices, rather than guiding people toward God, actively hindered them.
Jesus also condemned their avarice, stating, "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses, and as a pretense you make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation" [1]. This accusation points to a deeper moral corruption beneath their religious facade, where their piety was used as a cover for exploitation [6].
Their meticulous attention to outward appearance while neglecting inner purity was another point of contention. Jesus likened them to cups and platters that are clean on the outside but "within they are full of extortion and unrighteousness" [2]. Similarly, he compared them to "whitened tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but inwardly are full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness" [4]. This imagery powerfully conveys the idea that their religious practices were superficial, masking an internal decay [7]. The "whitened tombs" metaphor emphasizes their outward show of righteousness that concealed inner corruption and spiritual death [4].
Furthermore, Jesus criticized their zealous proselytizing efforts, which paradoxically led to worse outcomes for their converts. He said, "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel around by sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much of a son of Gehenna as yourselves" [5]. This suggests that their converts adopted their hypocritical ways, becoming even more entrenched in spiritual error [10]. Josephus provides historical evidence of the Pharisees' active proselytizing [10].
The condemnation of the Pharisees' hypocrisy is not merely a critique of their moral failings but also a warning against misperceiving God's will and leading others astray, which incurs divine judgment [9]. Matthew Henry notes that Jesus warned his disciples against the "corrupt practices" of the scribes and Pharisees, specifically highlighting their hypocrisy and worldly-mindedness [11]. Jesus' teachings consistently contrasted the outward show of piety with the true inward transformation required by God [7]. He knew and detected their hypocrisy, even when others did not [7]. The Pharisees' focus on tradition over the word of God, their exactness in minor duties while neglecting important ones, and their having only a "form of godliness" are all aspects of their hypocrisy that Jesus addressed [7].
Sources
- Matthew ““Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses, and as a pretense you make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation. -- Matthew 23:13”
- Matthew ““Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and unrighteousness. -- Matthew 23:25”
- Matthew ““But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you shut up the Kingdom of Heaven against men; for you don’t enter in yourselves, neither do you allow those who are entering in to enter. -- Matthew 23:14”
- Matthew ““Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitened tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but inwardly are full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. -- Matthew 23:27”
- Matthew “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel around by sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much of a son of Gehennaas yourselves. -- Matthew 23:15”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Pharisees, The — A sect of the Jews -- Ac 15:5. The strictest observers of the Mosaic ritual -- Ac 26:5. By descent, especially esteemed -- Ac 23:6. Character of Zealous of the law. -- Ac 15:5; Php 3:5. Zealous of tradition. -- Mr 7:3,5-8; Ga 1:14. Outwardly moral. -- Lu 18:11; Php 3:5,6. Rigid in fasting. -- Lu 5:33; 18:12. Active in proselytising. -- Mt 23:15. Self-righteous. -- Lu 16:15; 18:9. Avaricious. -- Mt 23:14; Lu 16:14. Ambitious of precedence. -- Mt 23:6. Fond of public salutations. -- Mt 23:7. Fond of distinguished titles. -- Mt 23:7-10. Particular in pa”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Hypocrites — God knows and detects -- Isa 29:15,16. Christ knew and detected -- Mt 22:18. God has no pleasure in -- Isa 9:17. Shall not come before God -- Job 13:16. Described as Wilfully blind. -- Mt 23:17,19,26. Vile. -- Isa 32:6. Self-righteous. -- Isa 65:5; Lu 18:11. Covetous. -- Eze 33:31; 2Pe 2:3. Ostentatious. -- Mt 5:2,5,16; 23:5. Censorious. -- Mt 7:3-5; Lu 13:14,15. Regarding tradition more than the word of God. -- Mt 15:1-3. Exact in minor, but neglecting important duties. -- Mt 23:23,24. Having but a form of godliness. -- 2Ti 3:5. Seeking only outward pur”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Hypocrite — One who puts on a mask and feigns himself to be what he is not; a dissembler in religion. Our Lord severely rebuked the scribes and Pharisees for their hypocrisy (Matt. 6:2, 5, 16). "The hypocrite's hope shall perish" (Job 8:13). The Hebrew word here rendered "hypocrite" rather means the "godless" or "profane," as it is rendered in Jer. 23:11, i.e., polluted with crimes.”
- Matthew (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Matthew 23:13: 23:13-36 Matthew collected seven statements of what sorrow awaits you (literally woe to you), drawing upon similar Old Testament listings (Isa 5:8-23; Hab 2:6-20), and he arranged them to climax in the murder of the prophets. 23:13 What sorrow awaits you: A stark warning of judgment from God. • Hypocrites! In English, hypocrisy describes a contradiction between reality and appearance. But in biblical usage, hypocrisy is misperceiving God’s will, leading people astray, and thus incurring God’s judgment. Coupled with this is often a desire for prestige and power (”
- Matthew (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Matthew 23:15: Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte--from heathenism. We have evidence of this in JOSEPHUS. and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves--condemned, for the hypocrisy he would learn to practice, both by the religion he left and that he embraced.”
- Matthew (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Matthew 6 (introduction): Christ having, in the former chapter, armed his disciples against the corrupt doctrines and opinions of the scribes and Pharisees, especially in their expositions of the law (that was called their leaven, Mat 16:12), comes in this chapter to warn them against their corrupt practices, against the two sins which, though in their doctrine they did not justify, yet in their conversation they were notoriously guilty of, and so as even to recommend them to their admirers: these were hypocrisy and worldly-mindedness, sins which, of all others, the professors”
- Matthew (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Matthew 23:12: But woe unto you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites,.... It seems from hence, that the Scribes and Pharisees had not left him, at least not all of them, notwithstanding the confusion they were thrown into; but were still about him, observing what he said to the people, and watching an opportunity to take every advantage against him; whom he addresses in a very awful manner, calling them "hypocrites", as he truly might; for they were such, both to God and men: he had detected them already before the people, in several instances of hypocrisy; and gives sufficient reaso”