And in the hearing of all the people he said to his disciples,
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus’s warning to his disciples about the scribes wasn’t just a quiet word to his inner circle; he spoke it out loud, "in the hearing of all the people." This public pronouncement reveals Jesus’s bold desire to expose hypocrisy and protect the crowds, not just from false teachers, but from the corrosive influence of pride and power.
And in the hearing of all the people he said to his disciples,
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus has just finished a series of challenging questions and confrontations with the religious leaders, particularly the Pharisees and scribes, in Jerusalem. This verse marks Jesus' public denouncement of their hypocrisy and misuse of authority, delivered in the hearing of everyone present so that the warning would be clear to both his disciples and the crowds. He then turns to his own followers to caution them about the dangerous example set by these religious elites, a warning detailed at length in Matthew's Gospel.
Jesus didn't shy away from speaking truth, even when it was difficult. This moment was no exception, happening right in front of a crowd.
Jesus chose to speak about the scribes' hypocrisy in a very public setting. This wasn't a private whisper; it was a bold declaration made "in the hearing of all the people." This public nature served several purposes:
Jesus directly warns his disciples about a specific group of people. What made them so dangerous?
The core of Jesus' public address in this passage is a stern warning against the scribes. While the verse itself is a summary, the surrounding context (especially in Matthew's Gospel) reveals that the danger lay in their hypocrisy:
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Understand the original words
mathētēs · Greek Noun
Refers to the followers of Jesus, characterized by their commitment to learn from Him, follow His teachings, and imitate His life. They are the community that receives His private instruction.
Jesus' public denunciation of the scribes and Pharisees occurred during his final week in Jerusalem, in the hearing of the crowds, signaling a definitive break with the religious establishment and a clear warning to his followers.
Early 1st century AD— this verse
Jesus' Public Ministry in Jerusalem
During Jesus' final week, he entered Jerusalem and began a series of public confrontations with religious leaders. These events were observed by large crowds.
Early 1st century AD
Jesus' Teaching in the Temple
Jesus taught daily in the Temple courts, drawing large crowds of listeners and challenging the authority of the chief priests and elders. This led to escalating tension.
Early 1st century AD
Jesus' Confrontation with Religious Leaders
Jesus engaged in sharp debates with Pharisees, Sadducees, and scribes, exposing their hypocrisy and challenging their interpretations of the Law. This public critique angered them.
Early 1st century AD
Jesus Denounces Scribes and Pharisees
Jesus delivered a powerful public condemnation of the religious elite, highlighting their pride, greed, and false piety. This marked a significant break and a public warning.
This passage describes Jesus speaking to the crowds and His disciples, delivering a strong warning against the scribes and Pharisees, mirroring the public nature of the warning in Luke 20:45.
Mark 12:38Mark also records Jesus' public teaching and denunciation of the scribes in the hearing of the people, highlighting their love for public recognition and their exploitation of others.
Luke 11:43Luke previously recorded Jesus denouncing the Pharisees, focusing on their desire for prominent seats and public honor, which aligns with the context of Jesus warning His disciples about them.
Matthew 23:6This verse directly addresses the scribes' love for the best places at feasts and the chief seats in the synagogues, which is a specific behavior Jesus warns His disciples about in the context of Luke 20:45.
pulpitLuke 20:45: "Then in the audience of all the people he said unto his disciples,"
Verses 45-47. - St. Luke's brief summary of the Lord's denunciation of the scribes and others. Verses 45, 46. - Then in the audience of all the people he said unto his disciples, Beware of the scribes. Here, in St. Matthew, follows the great denunciation of the Sanhedrist authorities with the other rabbis, Pharisees, and public teachers and leaders of the people. It fills the whole of the twenty-third chapter of th…
meyerLuke 20:45: "Then in the audience of all the people he said unto his disciples,"
Luke 20:45-47 . See on Matthew 23:1 ; Matthew 23:6-7 ; Matthew 23:14 ; Mark 12:38-40 ; which latter Luke closely follows after he has proceeded with considerable abbreviation in Luke 20:41-44 .
Jesus’s warning to his disciples about the scribes wasn’t just a quiet word to his inner circle; he spoke it out loud, "in the hearing of all the people." This public pronouncement reveals Jesus’s bold desire to expose hypocrisy and protect the crowds, not just from false teachers, but from the corrosive influence of pride and power.
Jesus has just finished a series of challenging questions and confrontations with the religious leaders, particularly the Pharisees and scribes, in Jerusalem. This verse marks Jesus' public denouncement of their hypocrisy and misuse of authority, delivered in the hearing of everyone present so that the warning would be clear to both his disciples and the crowds. He then turns to his own followers to caution them about the dangerous example set by these religious elites, a warning detailed at length in Matthew's Gospel.
Jesus has just finished a series of challenging questions and confrontations with the religious leaders, particularly the Pharisees and scribes, in Jerusalem. This verse marks Jesus' public denouncement of their hypocrisy and misuse of authority, delivered in the hearing of everyone present so that the warning would be clear to both his disciples and the crowds. He then turns to his own followers to caution them about the dangerous example set by these religious elites, a warning detailed at length in Matthew's Gospel.
"And in the hearing of all the people he said to his disciples," — Jesus’s warning to his disciples about the scribes wasn’t just a quiet word to his inner circle; he spoke it out loud, "in the hearing of all the people." This public pronouncement reveals Jesus’s bo…
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Last reviewed October 2026