Matthew 23:1 kjv
Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples,
Matthew 23:1 nkjv
Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples,
Matthew 23:1 niv
Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples:
Matthew 23:1 esv
Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples,
Matthew 23:1 nlt
Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples,
Matthew 23 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Matt 5:1-2 | When Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain... His disciples came to Him. And He opened His mouth and taught them... | Jesus teaches both disciples and crowds. |
| Matt 7:28-29 | When Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at His teaching, for He was teaching them as one who had authority... | Jesus' teaching authority noted by the crowds. |
| Matt 13:1-3 | That day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the sea... And great crowds gathered about Him... And He told them many things in parables... | Jesus speaking publicly to large crowds. |
| Matt 15:10 | And He called the crowd to Him and said to them, "Hear and understand..." | Jesus calls the crowds to listen to His words. |
| Matt 16:24 | Then Jesus told His disciples, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross..." | Jesus teaching disciples and wider audience on discipleship. |
| Mark 12:38 | And in His teaching He said, "Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes and love greetings in the marketplaces..." | Parallel account, warning against scribes publicly. |
| Luke 20:45 | And in the hearing of all the people, He said to His disciples, "Beware of the scribes..." | Parallel account, emphasizing the public address to disciples. |
| John 8:47 | "Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God." | Importance of hearing and obeying divine words. |
| John 14:24 | "Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father's who sent me." | Listening to Jesus' words is key to discipleship. |
| Matt 21:23-27 | When He entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came up to Him... and said, "By what authority are you doing these things...?" | Immediate preceding context: conflict with authorities. |
| Matt 22:41-46 | Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them a question... | Immediate preceding context: Jesus silences Pharisees. |
| Acts 20:28-30 | Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God... | Paul's warning to future leaders about internal dangers. |
| 2 Peter 2:1-3 | But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you... | Warning against false teachers within the community. |
| Rom 2:21-23 | you then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal? You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? | Exposes hypocrisy in religious teaching. |
| Isa 1:10-17 | Hear the word of the LORD, you rulers of Sodom! Give ear to the teaching of our God, you people of Gomorrah!... cease to do evil, learn to do good... | Old Testament denunciation of empty religious ritual. |
| Jer 7:1-11 | "Stand in the gate of the house of the LORD, and proclaim there this word... amend your ways and your deeds, and I will let you dwell in this place. Do not trust in these deceptive words: 'This is the temple of the LORD...'" | Prophetic warning against misplaced religious trust and hypocrisy. |
| Ezek 34:1-10 | The word of the LORD came to me: "Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy, and say to them, even to the shepherds, Thus says the Lord GOD: Ah, shepherds of Israel who have been feeding yourselves!" | Denunciation of corrupt religious leaders in the OT. |
| Deut 4:10 | How on the day when you stood before the LORD your God at Horeb, the LORD said to me, ‘Gather the people to Me, that I may let them hear My words..." | The concept of people hearing God's word publicly. |
| Matt 28:18-20 | And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations..." | Jesus' ultimate authority to teach and command disciples. |
| Phil 2:5-8 | Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant... | Contrast to leaders seeking honor and positions. |
| 1 Pet 5:2-3 | shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. | New Testament instruction for humble spiritual leadership. |
Matthew 23 verses
Matthew 23 1 Meaning
Matthew 23:1 marks a significant transition in Jesus' public ministry during Passion Week. After having intensely debated and silenced the religious authorities, Jesus now turns His attention to deliver a crucial discourse, directly addressing both the general crowds gathered around Him and His inner circle of disciples. This verse sets the stage for His sternest public indictment of the Scribes and Pharisees, preparing His listeners to understand the nature of true spiritual authority and the dangers of hypocrisy within religious leadership.
Matthew 23 1 Context
Matthew 23:1 immediately follows a series of intense theological confrontations between Jesus and various Jewish religious factions (Pharisees, Sadducees, Herodians) in the Temple precincts during what is known as Passion Week (Matthew 21-22). In these preceding chapters, Jesus demonstrates His divine authority by clearing the Temple, teaches with unparalleled wisdom, and repeatedly silences His opponents with unanswerable questions (e.g., Matt 22:41-46).
Having decisively won the rhetorical battles, Jesus now turns from directly engaging the leaders to publicly exposing their spiritual failings and hypocrisy to the broader community. This discourse (Matthew 23) represents Jesus' final public condemnation of the religious elite before His arrest, trial, and crucifixion. The setting is likely still the Temple area in Jerusalem, a place of significant religious authority, allowing both the crowds who regularly gathered there and His disciples to hear His pivotal message. This specific address serves to both warn the common people against being misled by blind guides and to instruct His disciples on the true nature of God-honoring leadership—a crucial lesson as they would soon become the leaders of the early church. The shift from answering their questions to making declarations about them marks a critical escalation in Jesus' public ministry.
Matthew 23 1 Word analysis
- Then (Τότε - Tote): This Greek adverb signifies a sequential connection, indicating a change of subject or emphasis from the preceding narrative. Here, it marks a significant pivot from Jesus' defensive and counter-questioning mode with the religious leaders (Matt 21-22) to an offensive, declaratory denouncement to a wider audience.
- Jesus (Ἰησοῦς - Iēsous): The subject of the action. His identity as the authoritative teacher and Messiah lends immense weight to His pronouncements. The subsequent discourse, His final public one, is presented as direct teaching from divine authority.
- spoke (ἐλάλησεν - elalēsen): This verb in the aorist tense implies a decisive and complete action of speaking. It signifies that Jesus initiated a deliberate and comprehensive discourse, not a casual remark. It emphasizes the formal and public nature of this address.
- to the crowds (τοῖς ὄχλοις - tois ochlois): The term ochlois refers to the multitude, the common people. This indicates a public address, underscoring that Jesus intended His critique of the religious leaders to be heard and understood by the general populace who often looked to these leaders for spiritual guidance. It serves as a public warning and discernment guide.
- and to His disciples (καὶ τοῖς μαθηταῖς αὐτοῦ - kai tois mathētais autou): The addition of "and to His disciples" (mathētais meaning 'learners' or 'students') signifies a dual audience with specific intentions. While the public address was for general awareness, it also provided crucial instruction and warning for His followers, particularly those who would soon become spiritual leaders themselves. This teaching was vital for them to understand true spiritual authority, avoid hypocrisy, and navigate leadership in the coming Christian community.
- Words-Group analysis:
- "Then Jesus spoke": This phrase emphasizes that Jesus, as the central authoritative figure, is purposefully initiating this critical public discourse. It is not an interruption or a continuation of prior debates, but a fresh, divinely purposed revelation.
- "to the crowds and to His disciples": This pairing of audiences is crucial. It highlights that the message was both a public proclamation meant to inform and guide the general populace on discerning true spiritual authority, and simultaneously, a direct lesson for the future leaders (His disciples) on what true spiritual leadership is not and is meant to be. It teaches the people to recognize danger and equips the disciples to be righteous shepherds.
Matthew 23 1 Bonus section
- This verse subtly underscores Jesus' final public effort to guide the Jewish people. Having offered reconciliation and confrontation, He now issues a public, unreserved warning, cementing the charges against the religious leadership before their rejection of Him becomes final.
- The fact that Jesus addresses both crowds and disciples indicates that the coming teaching is applicable to everyone—to be received by the laity as guidance and by future leaders as principles for their conduct and discernment. This emphasizes a universal call to genuine faith and spiritual integrity.
Matthew 23 1 Commentary
Matthew 23:1 is far more than a simple narrative transition; it sets the authoritative and prophetic tone for Jesus' most searing indictment of the religious establishment. Having systematically discredited His opponents in the previous chapters, Jesus shifts from debate to public pronouncement. This intentional dual audience—the curious "crowds" and the deeply invested "disciples"—reveals His multifaceted purpose. For the common people, this discourse serves as a critical warning: do not simply follow external piety or tradition, but seek true internal righteousness and authentic authority rooted in God's heart, not human pride. For His disciples, who were watching and learning how to build God's Kingdom, it was a foundational lesson in discerning false teachers, avoiding hypocrisy, embracing humility in leadership, and prioritizing true service over societal acclaim. This verse underlines Jesus' divine prerogative to speak truth to power and to train His followers to discern and exemplify true spiritual integrity, preparing them for the profound responsibility they would soon carry.