Matthew 23 · Verse 1

Matthew 23:1

Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples,
Matthew 23:1, King James Version

Matthew 23:1 in other translations

BSBThen Jesus spoke to the crowds and to His disciples:
WEBThen Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to his disciples,
ASVThen spake Jesus to the multitudes and to his disciples,
YLTThen Jesus spake to the multitudes, and to his disciples,
DARBYThen Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples,
BBEThen Jesus said to the people and to his disciples:
WebsterThen Jesus spoke to the multitude, and to his disciples,

What does Matthew 23:1 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

Mt 23:1-39. Denunciation of the Scribes and Pharisees--Lamentation over Jerusalem, and Farewell to the Temple. ( = Mr 12:38-40; Lu 20:45-47).

For this long and terrible discourse we are indebted, with the exception of a few verses in Mark and Luke, to Matthew alone. But as it is only an extended repetition of denunciations uttered not long before at the table of a Pharisee, and recorded by Luke (Lu 11:37-54), we may take both together in the exposition. Denunciation of the Scribes and Pharisees (Mt 23:1-36). The first twelve verses were addressed more immediately to the disciples, the rest to the scribes and Pharisees. 1. Then spake Jesus to the multitude--to the multitudes, "and to his disciples."

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
MATTHEW CHAPTER 23.

Verse 1.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Introduction

The character of the scribes and Pharisees, and directions to the people and the disciples to receive the law from them, but not to follow their bad example, Mat 23:1-7. The disciples exhorted to humility, Mat 23:8-12. Different woes pronounced against the scribes and Pharisees for their intolerance, Mat 23:13; rapacity, Mat 23:14; false zeal, Mat 23:15; superstition in oaths and tithes, Mat 23:16-23; hypocrisy, Mat 23:24-28. Their cruelty, Mat 23:29-32. Their persecution of the apostles, etc. Their destruction foretold, Mat 23:33-36. Christ's lamentation over Jerusalem, Mat 23:37-39.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Matthew 23:1-12
The scribes and Pharisees explained the law of Moses, and enforced obedience to it. They are charged with hypocrisy in religion. We can only judge according to outward appearance; but God searches the heart. They made phylacteries. These were scrolls of paper or parchment, wherein were written four paragraphs of the law, to be worn on their foreheads and left arms, Ex 13:2-10; 13:11-16; De 6:4-9; 11:13-21. They made these phylacteries broad, that they might be thought more zealous for the law than others. God appointed the Jews to make fringes upon their garments, Nu 15:38, to remind them of their being a peculiar people; but the Pharisees made them larger than common, as if they were thereby more religious than others. Pride was the darling, reigning sin of the Pharisees, the sin that most easily beset them, and which our Lord Jesus takes all occasions to speak against. For him that is taught in the word to give respect to him that teaches, is commendable; but for him that teaches, to demand it, to be puffed up with it, is sinful. How much is all this against the spirit of Christianity! The consistent disciple of Christ is pained by being put into chief places. But who that looks around on the visible church, would think this was the spirit required? It is plain that some measure of this antichristian spirit prevails in every religious society, and in every one of our hearts.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Matthew 23:1 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ΤότεToteThenG5119
ὁho<the>G3588
ἸησοῦςIēsousJesusG2424
ἐλάλησενelalēsenspokeG2980
τοῖςtoisto theG3588
ὄχλοιςochloiscrowdsG3793
καὶkaiandG2532
τοῖςtoisto theG3588
μαθηταῖςmathētaisdisciplesG3101
αὐτοῦautouof HimG846

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Matthew 23:1

  • Luke 20:45-46

    Then in the audience of all the people he said unto his disciples, Beware of the scribes, which desire to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the markets, and the highest seats in the synagogues, and the chief rooms at feasts;

  • Matthew 15:10-20

    And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand: Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man. Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying? But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. …

  • Luke 12:1

    In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

  • Luke 12:57

    Yea, and why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right?

  • Mark 12:38-39

    And he said unto them in his doctrine, Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long clothing, and love salutations in the marketplaces, And the chief seats in the synagogues, and the uppermost rooms at feasts:

  • Mark 7:14

    And when he had called all the people unto him, he said unto them, Hearken unto me every one of you, and understand:

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1 Christ admonishes the people to follow the good doctrine, not the evil examples, of the Scribes and Pharisees.
5 His disciples must beware of their ambition.
13 He denounces eight woes against their hypocrisy and blindness,
34 and prophesies of the destruction of Jerusalem.

15:10-20; Mr 7:14; Lu 12:1,57; 20:45

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Matthew 23:1

    Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples,

  • Matthew 23:2

    Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat:

Read all of Matthew 23

Matthew 23:1 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		ENTONCES habló Jesús á las gentes y á sus discípulos,
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Alors Jésus parla aux foules et à ses disciples,
German
Elberfelder 1871		Dann redete Jesus zu der Volksmenge und zu seinen Jüngern
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Tunc Jesus locutus est ad turbas, et ad discipulos suos,