Matthew 23:13
“But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Jesus uses the powerful image of a locked door to show the scribes and Pharisees’ destructive role. They didn’t just fail to enter the Kingdom of Heaven themselves, but they actively blocked others, essentially standing guard at the entrance and denying access to those who were ready to believe.
Jesus unleashes a series of "woes" on the scribes and Pharisees, directly confronting their hypocrisy. He accuses them of acting like gatekeepers, actively preventing people from entering the Kingdom of Heaven, both by their own example and by their teachings that misinterpret God's will. This condemnation marks the climax of Jesus' public ministry in Jerusalem, delivered with righteous anger before his departure.
Jesus calls the religious leaders 'hypocrites.' What does that word really mean, and how did their 'acting' lock away God's kingdom?
The word 'hypocrite' comes from an ancient Greek word for an actor, someone who plays a part. For the scribes and Pharisees, this wasn't just about putting on a show; it was a fundamental way they lived and led.
Jesus accused them of shutting up the kingdom of heaven 'in people's faces.' This wasn't a passive act; it was active opposition. Imagine someone blocking the entrance to a place, refusing entry to everyone. That’s what Jesus saw.
They weren't just ignorant; they were actively preventing others from understanding and entering God's reign, acting like gatekeepers who had lost or intentionally hidden the key.
It's bad enough to lock others out, but what does it reveal when the gatekeepers refuse to enter themselves?
Jesus makes a devastating two-part accusation: 'For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in.' The scribes and Pharisees weren't just preventing others; they were also personally excluded from the very kingdom they were supposed to represent.
This highlights a profound spiritual reality: genuine faith isn't just about knowledge or outward practice, but an inward transformation that allows one to enter God's presence. Their meticulous adherence to rules and traditions had become a substitute for true relationship with God, leaving them on the outside looking in.
Their inability or unwillingness to enter meant they couldn't possibly guide others in. They had become ineffective and dangerous leaders, holding a position of authority without possessing the very thing they were meant to impart.
Understand the original words
ouai · Greek Interjection
An exclamation of grief, sorrow, or impending judgment, signifying severe divine displeasure or curse upon a person or group for their conduct.
grammateus/Pharisaios · Greek Noun
Jewish religious leaders and teachers of the Law (scribes) and those who strictly adhered to a legalistic interpretation of the Law (Pharisees), often criticized for their outward piety masking inward corruption.
hypokritēs · Greek Noun
An actor or pretender; one who masks their true character by acting out a role of righteousness, used by Jesus to describe those who display external piety while lacking internal transformation.
basileia · Greek Noun
Jesus' powerful words in Matthew 23 were directed at the religious leaders of His day, a group whose interpretations and practices had, in His view, become a barrier to God's kingdom rather than a gateway. This was a crucial moment, occurring in the Temple itself, just before His crucifixion, and it highlights the deep conflict between His message of radical inclusion and the exclusionary practices of the religious establishment.
c. 450 BC - 150 BC
Rise of Pharisaic and Scribe Traditions
During this period, the roles of scribes (experts in the Law) and Pharisees (a devout sect emphasizing strict observance) became increasingly prominent within Judean society. They developed traditions and interpretations of the Law that would shape Jewish life and religious practice for centuries.
c. 20 BC - AD 30— this verse
Jesus' Ministry and Public Teachings
Jesus' public ministry occurred during a time of Roman occupation and significant religious and political tension in Judea. His teachings often challenged the established religious authorities, particularly the scribes and Pharisees.
c. AD 30-33
Jesus' Confrontations in Jerusalem
In the final week of His earthly ministry, Jesus delivered strong condemnations, including the 'woes' to the scribes and Pharisees in the Temple. This occurred shortly before His crucifixion.
AD 70
This passage directly echoes Jesus' accusation, stating that the Pharisees 'have taken away the key of knowledge,' which parallels shutting the kingdom of heaven by withholding understanding.
Acts 5:18This verse shows the religious authorities imprisoning the apostles, demonstrating a pattern of actively preventing others from following Jesus, similar to how the Pharisees hindered those wanting to enter the kingdom.
Galatians 4:17Paul describes some trying to exclude believers from the community, which reflects the same spirit of obstruction seen in the Pharisees who kept people from spiritual truth and entry into God's kingdom.
John 9:40-41When Jesus asks the Pharisees if they too are blind, they respond that they can see, but Jesus states their 'blindness' is spiritual, implying they are culpable for their own lack of entry and for leading others astray, much like the charge in Matthew 23:13.
vincentMatthew 23:13: "But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in."
Hypocrites (ὑποκριταί)From ὑποκρίνω, to separate gradually; so of separating the truth from a mass of falsehood, and thence to subject to inquiry, and, as a result of this, to expound or interpret what is elicited. Then, to reply to inquiry, and so to answer on the stage, to speak in dialog…
calvinMatthew 23:13-15: "But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in."
- But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you do not enter yourselves, and do not permit those who come to enter. 14. And woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you devour widows' houses, and that under the disgu…
Jesus uses the powerful image of a locked door to show the scribes and Pharisees’ destructive role. They didn’t just fail to enter the Kingdom of Heaven themselves, but they actively blocked others, essentially standing guard at the entrance and denying access to those who were ready to believe.
Jesus unleashes a series of "woes" on the scribes and Pharisees, directly confronting their hypocrisy. He accuses them of acting like gatekeepers, actively preventing people from entering the Kingdom of Heaven, both by their own example and by their teachings that misinterpret God's will. This condemnation marks the climax of Jesus' public ministry in Jerusalem, delivered with righteous anger before his departure.
Jesus unleashes a series of "woes" on the scribes and Pharisees, directly confronting their hypocrisy. He accuses them of acting like gatekeepers, actively preventing people from entering the Kingdom of Heaven, both by their own example and by their teachings that misinterpret God's will. This condemnation marks the climax of Jesus' public ministry in Jerusalem, delivered with righteous anger before his departure.
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Destruction of the Second Temple
The Roman destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem marked a pivotal moment, leading to the end of the sacrificial system and a reorientation of Jewish religious life, further solidifying the influence of Rabbinic Judaism which evolved from Pharisaic traditions.
"“But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in." — Jesus uses the powerful image of a locked door to show the scribes and Pharisees’ destructive role. They didn’t just fail to enter the Kingdom of Heaven themselves, but they actively blocked others,…
