Matthew 23:16

"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 a son of Gehenna as yourselves."

Key Reflection

In Matthew 23:16, Jesus addresses the scribes and Pharisees, labeling them hypocrites for their legalistic approach to religion. He criticizes their efforts to convert individuals into proselytes, yet once they are converted, these new members become even more devoted to strict adherence, which Jesus sees as a form of doubled hypocrisy. This verse highlights Jesus' frustration with the religious leaders who prioritize external rituals over genuine spiritual transformation and highlights the Pharisees’ tendency to create stricter standards for others than for themselves.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

Verse 16. Whosoever shall swear, etc. See Barnes "Mt 5:33-37". The temple. See Barnes "Mt 21:12". It is nothing. It amounts to nothing. It is not binding. The gold of the temple. Either the golden vessels in the temple, the candlestick, etc., or the gold with which the doors and other parts of the temple were covered; or the gold in the treasury. This, it seems, they considered far more sacred than any other part of the temple, but it is not known why. He is a debtor. He is bound to keep his oath. He is guilty if he violates it.

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