Focused Passage

Matthew 23:1-12

Woes upon Hypocritical Leadership and the Lament over Jerusalem

Matthew 23 moves from Jesus’ instruction to crowds and disciples about hypocritical teachers, to a warning against status-seeking titles, to the principle that greatness is servanthood and exaltation belongs to the humble, to seven major woes exposing Pharisaic hypocrisy, to the announcement of coming persecution of Jesus’ messengers, and finally to Jesus’ lament over Jerusalem’s unwillingness and coming desolation.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

1 Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to His disciples:

2 “The scribes and Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat.

3 So practice and observe everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.

4 They tie up heavy, burdensome loads and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.

5 All their deeds are done for men to see. They broaden their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels.

6 They love the places of honor at banquets, the chief seats in the synagogues,

7 the greetings in the marketplaces, and the title of ‘Rabbi’ by which they are addressed.

8 But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers.

9 And do not call anyone on earth your father, for you have one Father, who is in heaven.

10 Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Christ.

11 The greatest among you shall be your servant.

12 For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 1

Original words

Then Τότε G5119 Adverb - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular Jesus Ἰησοῦς G2424 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular spoke ἐλάλησεν G2980 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular to the τοῖς G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Plural crowds ὄχλοις G3793 Noun - Dative Masculine Plural and καὶ G2532 Conjunction to τοῖς G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Plural His αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular disciples μαθηταῖς G3101 Noun - Dative Masculine Plural
Verse 2

Original words

- λέγων G3004 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular The οἱ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Plural scribes γραμματεῖς G1122 Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural and καὶ G2532 Conjunction - οἱ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Plural Pharisees Φαρισαῖοι G5330 Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural sit ἐκάθισαν G2523 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural in Ἐπὶ G1909 Preposition Moses’ Μωϋσέως G3475 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular - τῆς G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Singular seat καθέδρας G2515 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Verse 3

Original words

So οὖν G3767 Conjunction practice ποιήσατε G4160 Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural and καὶ G2532 Conjunction observe τηρεῖτε G5083 Verb - Present Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural everything πάντα G3956 Adjective - Accusative Neuter Plural . . . ὅσα G3745 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Plural . . . ἐὰν G1437 Conjunction they tell εἴπωσιν G2036 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Plural you ὑμῖν G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Plural But δὲ G1161 Conjunction {do} not μὴ G3361 Adverb do ποιεῖτε G4160 Verb - Present Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural what κατὰ G2596 Preposition they αὐτῶν G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Plural - τὰ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Plural do ἔργα G2041 Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural for γὰρ G1063 Conjunction vvv οὐ G3756 Adverb they do not practice ποιοῦσιν G4160 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural what καὶ G2532 Conjunction they preach λέγουσιν G3004 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Verse 4

Original words

- δὲ G1161 Conjunction They tie up δεσμεύουσιν G1195 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural heavy βαρέα G926 Adjective - Accusative Neuter Plural - καὶ G2532 Conjunction burdensome δυσβάστακτα G1419 Adjective - Accusative Neuter Plural loads φορτία G5413 Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural and καὶ G2532 Conjunction lay [them] ἐπιτιθέασιν G2007 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural on ἐπὶ G1909 Preposition - τῶν G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Plural men’s ἀνθρώπων G444 Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural - τοὺς G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Plural shoulders ὤμους G5606 Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural but δὲ G1161 Conjunction they themselves αὐτοὶ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative Masculine 3rd Person Plural vvv οὐ G3756 Adverb are not willing θέλουσιν G2309 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural vvv τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Singular vvv αὐτῶν G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Plural to lift a finger δακτύλῳ G1147 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular to move κινῆσαι G2795 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active them αὐτά G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Neuter 3rd Person Plural

BSB notes

  • SBL, NE, and WH They tie up heavy loads
Verse 5

Original words

- δὲ G1161 Conjunction All Πάντα G3956 Adjective - Accusative Neuter Plural their αὐτῶν G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Plural - τὰ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Plural deeds ἔργα G2041 Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural are done ποιοῦσιν G4160 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural for πρὸς G4314 Preposition - τοῖς G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Plural men ἀνθρώποις G444 Noun - Dative Masculine Plural - τὸ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Singular to see θεαθῆναι G2300 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Passive - γὰρ G1063 Conjunction They broaden πλατύνουσιν G4115 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural their αὐτῶν G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Plural - τὰ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Plural phylacteries φυλακτήρια G5440 Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural and καὶ G2532 Conjunction lengthen μεγαλύνουσιν G3170 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural their τὰ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Plural tassels κράσπεδα G2899 Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural
Verse 6

Original words

- δὲ G1161 Conjunction They love φιλοῦσιν G5368 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural the τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular places of honor πρωτοκλισίαν G4411 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular at ἐν G1722 Preposition - τοῖς G3588 Article - Dative Neuter Plural banquets δείπνοις G1173 Noun - Dative Neuter Plural - καὶ G2532 Conjunction the τὰς G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Plural chief seats πρωτοκαθεδρίας G4410 Noun - Accusative Feminine Plural in ἐν G1722 Preposition the ταῖς G3588 Article - Dative Feminine Plural synagogues συναγωγαῖς G4864 Noun - Dative Feminine Plural
Verse 7

Original words

- καὶ G2532 Conjunction the τοὺς G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Plural greetings ἀσπασμοὺς G783 Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural in ἐν G1722 Preposition the ταῖς G3588 Article - Dative Feminine Plural marketplaces ἀγοραῖς G58 Noun - Dative Feminine Plural and καὶ G2532 Conjunction the title καλεῖσθαι G2564 Verb - Present Infinitive Middle or Passive of ‘Rabbi Ῥαββί G4461 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular by ὑπὸ G5259 Preposition - τῶν G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Plural [which they are addressed] ἀνθρώπων G444 Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural

BSB notes

  • Literally and to be called ‘Rabbi’ by men
Verse 8

Original words

But δὲ G1161 Conjunction you Ὑμεῖς G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person Plural vvv μὴ G3361 Adverb are not to be called κληθῆτε G2564 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Passive - 2nd Person Plural Rabbi Ῥαββί G4461 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular for γάρ G1063 Conjunction you ὑμῶν G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Plural [have] ἐστιν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular one εἷς G1520 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular Teacher διδάσκαλος G1320 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular and δὲ G1161 Conjunction you ὑμεῖς G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person Plural are ἐστε G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural all πάντες G3956 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural brothers ἀδελφοί G80 Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural
Verse 9

Original words

And καὶ G2532 Conjunction do not call anyone καλέσητε G2564 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 2nd Person Plural . . . μὴ G3361 Adverb on ἐπὶ G1909 Preposition - τῆς G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Singular earth γῆς G1093 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular your ὑμῶν G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Plural father πατέρα G3962 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular for γάρ G1063 Conjunction you ὑμῶν G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Plural [have] ἐστιν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular one εἷς G1520 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular Father Πατὴρ G3962 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular who [is] G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular in heaven οὐράνιος G3770 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular
Verse 10

Original words

Nor μηδὲ G3366 Conjunction are you to be called κληθῆτε G2564 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Passive - 2nd Person Plural instructors καθηγηταί G2519 Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural for ὅτι G3754 Conjunction you ὑμῶν G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Plural [have] ἐστιν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular one εἷς G1520 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular Instructor καθηγητὴς G2519 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular the G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular Christ Χριστός G5547 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Verse 11

Original words

- δὲ G1161 Conjunction The G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular greatest μείζων G3173 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular - Comparative among you ὑμῶν G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Plural shall be ἔσται G1510 Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular your ὑμῶν G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Plural servant διάκονος G1249 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Verse 12

Original words

For δὲ G1161 Conjunction whoever Ὅστις G3748 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular exalts ὑψώσει G5312 Verb - Future Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular himself ἑαυτὸν G1438 Reflexive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular will be humbled ταπεινωθήσεται G5013 Verb - Future Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction whoever ὅστις G3748 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular humbles ταπεινώσει G5013 Verb - Future Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular himself ἑαυτὸν G1438 Reflexive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular will be exalted ὑψωθήσεται G5312 Verb - Future Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.