Matthew 23 29

Matthew 23:29 kjv

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous,

Matthew 23:29 nkjv

"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the monuments of the righteous,

Matthew 23:29 niv

"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous.

Matthew 23:29 esv

"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and decorate the monuments of the righteous,

Matthew 23:29 nlt

"What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you build tombs for the prophets your ancestors killed, and you decorate the monuments of the godly people your ancestors destroyed.

Matthew 23 verses

Matthew 23 29 Meaning

Matthew 23:29 is part of a series of severe condemnations Jesus pronounces against the scribes and Pharisees for their hypocrisy and spiritual blindness. In this verse, Jesus specifically condemns them for building and adorning the tombs of past prophets and righteous individuals, claiming that if they had lived in their ancestors' time, they would not have participated in their murder. This accusation exposes their pretense of honoring God's messengers in the past while rejecting and persecuting God's messenger (Jesus Himself) in their present, revealing a deep-seated spiritual opposition to divine truth. It highlights the stark contrast between outward religious devotion and genuine righteousness of heart.

Matthew 23 29 Context

Matthew 23 records the last major public discourse of Jesus before His crucifixion, a scathing indictment of the scribes and Pharisees, the religious leaders of Israel. This entire chapter serves as Jesus's most forceful condemnation of their hypocrisy, spiritual pride, and opposition to the truth. Leading up to verse 29, Jesus has already denounced them for their burdens on the people (v. 4), their love of titles and honor (v. 5-7), and their shutting of the kingdom of heaven (v. 13). The 'woes' are not mere rebukes but pronouncements of judgment.

Verse 29 is part of the seventh and final 'woe' (verses 29-36), which directly accuses them of continuing the pattern of their ancestors by persecuting and killing God's messengers. Historically, the Jews honored figures like Isaiah and Jeremiah, sometimes building memorial tombs for them. This particular woe targets their attempt to distance themselves from their forefathers' actions while, in fact, mirroring and even exceeding their guilt by rejecting the Messiah himself. The scribes and Pharisees presented an outward show of respect for ancient prophets, but their actions demonstrated hostility toward living prophets, especially Jesus.

Matthew 23 29 Word analysis

• "Woe" (Greek: Ouai, οὐαί): More than a mere expression of pity or regret, it's a grave lament, a denunciation, or an announcement of divine judgment. It indicates the dire consequences of their spiritual state and actions, functioning as a severe condemnation. It is an expression of sorrow combined with a threat.

• "to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!" (Greek: hymin, grammateis kai Pharisaios hypokritai, ὑμῖν, γραμματεῖς καὶ Φαρισαῖοι, ὑποκριταί):

  • Scribes (grammateis): Professional interpreters and teachers of the Mosaic Law, influential figures in Jewish society.
  • Pharisees (Pharisaoi): A prominent religious party emphasizing strict adherence to the Law, both written and oral traditions. They were known for their external piety.
  • Hypocrites (hypokritai): Literally "stage actors" or "pretenders." Jesus repeatedly uses this term to expose their feigned piety and moral pretense. They outwardly appear righteous but inwardly are corrupt and lacking genuine faith.

• "for you build" (Greek: hoti oikodomeite, ὅτι οἰκοδομεῖτε): "You build" is present tense, indicating an ongoing or current activity. The act of building memorial tombs was seen as an act of piety and honoring the dead.

• "the tombs of the prophets" (Greek: taphous tōn prophētōn, τάφους τῶν προφητῶν): Prophets were God's messengers, often suffering persecution for speaking divine truth. Building their tombs suggests respect for those who brought God's word in the past. These were literal structures that people would erect or beautify as memorials.

• "and decorate the monuments" (Greek: kai kosmeite ta mnēmeia, καὶ κοσμεῖτε τὰ μνημεῖα): "Decorate" (kosmeite) means to adorn, beautify, arrange, or honor. "Monuments" (mnēmeia) can be a broader term for memorials, often specifically for tombs, marking a place of remembrance for the dead. This highlights the outward beautification, a visible act of reverence.

• "of the righteous" (Greek: tōn dikaiōn, τῶν δικαίων): Refers to those who were morally upright, conformed to God's will, and often, by extension, God's messengers like the prophets. The term dikaioi can also refer to Old Testament figures who were deemed righteous by God.

Matthew 23 29 Bonus section

The condemnation in Matthew 23:29-36 foreshadows the imminent persecution of Jesus's disciples and future prophets (Matt 23:34). By honoring dead prophets and persecuting living ones, the religious leaders demonstrated an enduring, tragic pattern in Israel's history of rejecting God's direct revelation. This verse serves as a chilling indictment that religious devotion, when lacking true repentance and a humble heart towards God's current truth, can become a most dangerous form of spiritual deception, leading not only to self-condemnation but also to hostility towards God Himself and His appointed messengers. Their actions revealed that their real issue was not just a dislike of particular individuals, but an animosity towards the message of repentance and submission to God's will. This is a perpetual warning against substituting outward religiosity and pride in historical heritage for genuine faith and obedience to Christ.

Matthew 23 29 Commentary

Matthew 23:29 presents a stinging paradox that encapsulates the central indictment against the scribes and Pharisees: their external acts of piety, such as building and beautifying the tombs of prophets and righteous people, masked an inner rejection of God's present-day messengers. They believed themselves distinct from their ancestors who persecuted and murdered God's prophets, stating in the very next verse (Matt 23:30) that they would not have shared in their fathers' bloodguilt. However, Jesus immediately counters this by calling them "sons of those who murdered the prophets" (Matt 23:31), implying they inherited their fathers' nature. Their outward veneration of past prophets was an empty gesture because their hearts were hardened against the Living Word. They honored dead prophets while actively plotting to kill the greatest Prophet, Jesus Himself. This pattern reflects a spiritual blindness that values external appearance and tradition over divine truth and genuine repentance. It's a profound warning against hypocritical religiosity that pays lip service to God's past works while actively resisting His current call and His living truth in the present. The danger lies not in honoring the righteous dead, but in doing so as a self-justifying act to cover a rebellious heart and persecutory spirit.

• Example: A religious person meticulously observes old traditions and admires figures from past centuries (like honoring a famous reformer) but dismisses or criticizes modern-day teachings that challenge their comfort zones or convict them of sin.
• Example: Someone speaks highly of ancient martyrs but shows no courage to stand for their faith when facing present-day ridicule or opposition.
• Example: A group prides itself on its rich history and past leaders but stifles new spiritual movements or dismisses legitimate calls for reform within their own community.