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Matthew 23:1-12
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With gratitude for this wonderful resource for ministry
from Sr Elisa and the parish of
Christ Church Anglican Church Melton. Victoria. Australia

• Reading the Text:
  • NRSV (with link to Anglicized NRSV) at Oremus Bible Browser.
  • Greek Interlinear Bible, ScrTR, ScrTR t, Strong, Parsing, CGTS, CGES id, AV.
  • The Bible Gateway: NRSV, RSV, NIV, NASB, CEV, The Message, KJV, etc.
  • The Blue Letter Bible. KJV, alternate versions, Greek text with concordance, commentaries.
  • The World Wide Study Bible includes commentary & sermons.
• Historical References, Commentary and Comparative Texts:
  • The Five Gospels Parallels, John W. Marshall, University of Toronto.
  • Comparative texts about Pharisees & Sadducees from Josephus, Tosefta, Mishnah & Babylonian Talmud; primary comparative texts about Food & Fellowship (including "one who serves"), at (Rutgers University Dept of Religion) Mahlon H. Smith's Into His Own: Perspective on the World of Jesus companion to the historical study of Christian texts.
  • "Leader as Servant," The Jesus Database, an online annotated inventory of the traditions concerning the life and teachings of Jesus. Dr. Gregory C. Jenks, FaithFutures Foundation.
  • Pharisees: New Testament Parallels to the Works of Josephus. From G.J. Goldberg's Flavius Josephus Home Page. (Some of these "parallels" are speculative.)
  • Vision III.9, Shepherd of Hermas. (c.145)
  • XL.26-30, 34-40; Tatian's Diatessaron (c. 150-160).
  • IV.I.2, IV.XII.4, Adversus Haereses, Irenaeus of Lyons. (c. 180)
  • Chapter II, On Prayer,  Tertullian (c. 199)
  • II.4, III.12, VI.6, VI.7, Stromata, Clement of Alexandria (c 200)
  • Chapter VIII, Considering Repentance,  Tertullian (c. 203)
  • Chapter I, On The Veiling of Virgins, Tertullian (c. 205)
  • Chapter VI, Chapter VII, Chapter VIII, On Monogamy, Tertullian (c. 215)
  • I.5, Commentary on the Gospel of John, Origen. (c.228)
  • III.LXIII, Against Celsus, Origen (c. 246)
  • On the Lord's Prayer -- Cyprian of Carthage (c. 252)
  • Latin text of Augustine's Sermon 91 (Mt 22:42 - 23:12).
  • Sermon 91 English text, Augustine
  • Homily LXXII - Matthew 23:1-3, Homilies on the Gospel of St. Matthew, St. Chrysostom (c. 380)
  • From the Catena Aurea, Patristic Commentary by St Thomas Aquinas.
  • From the Geneva Notes.
    • "...they were called Rabbi who, by the laying on of hands, were uttered and declared to the world to be wise men."
  • From Matthew Henry's Commentary.
    • "We can only judge according to outward appearance; but God searches the heart."
  • From Wesley's Notes.
    • "These they supposed, as a kind of charm, would preserve them from danger. And hence they seem to have been called phylacteries, or preservatives. The fringes of their garments - Which God had enjoined them to wear, to remind them of doing all the commandments, Num 15:38. These, as well as their phylacteries, the Pharisees affected to wear broader and larger than other men. Mark 12:38."
  • From the Commentary on the Whole Bible (Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, 1871).
    • "To construe these injunctions into a condemnation of every title by which Church rulers may be distinguished from the flock which they rule, is virtually to condemn that rule itself; and accordingly the same persons do both--but against the whole strain of the New Testament and sound Christian judgment."
  • From The People's New Testament, B.W. Johnson, 1891.
    • "To be called Rabbi. A term which meant the same as Doctor of Divinity now. There were three degrees, Rab, Rabbi, and Rabboni. The last is the greatest, and means, literally, "My great teacher.""
• Contemporary Commentary, Studies, and Exegesis:
  • Commentary, Matthew 23:1-12, Susan Hylen, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2017.
    • "Most of us do not expect to hear Jesus say this: “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat; therefore, do whatever they teach you and follow it!” (Matthew 23:2-3)"
  • "Words for a Time Such As This," Karoline Lewis, Dear Working Preacher, 2017.
    • "For those of you preaching on Jesus’ opening words of the Sermon on the Mount for All Saints’ Sunday, these statements of hope and promise are exactly what people need to hear as they reflect back on those whom they have lost this past year, even on those they might be currently losing or expect to lose."
  • "You Have to Walk the Talk," Todd Weir, With All My Soul, 2017.
    • "You have to walk the talk.  Do what you say or you lose all credibility."
  • "The Paradox of Honor," D Mark Davis, Left Behind and Loving It, 2017.
    • "The challenge that Jesus is addressing is not particular to either early 1st century Jewish leadership or to late 1st century emerging Christian leadership, so this text should not be the warrant for either anti-Semitic or anti-Roman Catholic diatribes. It is a human challenge to embrace that honor is the result of humility, not of exalting oneself."
  • A Provocation, Richard Swanson, Provoking the Gospel, 2017.
    • "What does it mean that Messiah is our instructor?  Think about this question slowly."
  • "The Ending of Fences," Andrew Prior, 2017.
    • "When I face the fear and pull down the fence, I find the fear losing its potency. I find there really is a security in trusting God."
  • Commentary, Matthew 23:1-12, Greg Carey, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2014.
    • "Jesus’ speech sends us back to Augustine’s classic criterion for faithful interpretation: Scripture’s purpose is that we should love God and love our neighbor. How often do we encounter teachers who espouse “correct” doctrine in hateful, demeaning ways? True teaching does not abuse other people."
  • Pulpit Fiction, plus podcast. Reflections of lectionary text, pop culture, current events, etc. Robb Mc Coy and Eric Fistler, 2014.
  • "Doing As We Say," Alan Brehm, The Waking Dreamer.
    • "It's right and good that we use words to express our experience with God's Kingdom. But at the end of the day, what it's all about is doing the profound and beautiful things we say."
  • "The Politics of Exalting the Humble," Richard Beck, Political Theology Today, 2014.
    • "Power affects us. Power tempts us to take more cookies for ourselves. And power tempts us to leave messes for others to clean up."
  • "Celebrity Preachers Beware!" Bob Cornwall, Ponderings on a Faith Journey, 2014.
    • "Every year it seems that a Christian celebrity falls prey to their own ego."
  • "Phylacteries and Fringes, Oh My!" Lia Scholl, Question the Text, 2014.
    • "Are we the new scribes and Pharisees?"
  • "Saints in the hands of a humble heaven," Michael Anthony Howard, The Pacific Pilgrim, 2014.
    • "This God sees something in us worth rescuing, that there is something in us of such unsurpassable value that it is worth going to any length to ensure that we are rescued."
  • "Anger without Pain," Andrew Prior, 2014.
  • Radical Gratitude, lectionary-based stewardship, Northwest United Methodist Foundation. (.pdf)
  • Commentary, Matthew 23:1-12, Sharon H. Ringe, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2011.
    • "To what extent their positions were shaped by the social and economic status of their members, and to what extent those positions stem from particular readings of Torah, we can never know for certain. Suffice it to say that we heirs of Matthew's community soon adopted the culturally more comfortable view that this text is opposing."
  • "The Yoke of the Law," Russell Rathbun, The Hardest Question, 2011.
    • "What burden is it that the Pharisees refuse to lift a finger to move?"
  • "It's Not About Me," Fr. Rick Morley, a garden path, 2011.
  • "Do As I Say, Not As I Do," Alyce M. McKenzie, Patheos, 2011.
    • "The listeners of Jesus' day would have expected the Pharisee to be a careful observer of the Law. They would not have expected the tax collector to go to the temple at all."
  • Holy Textures, Understanding the Bible in its own time and in ours, Matthew 23:1-12, David Ewart, 2011.
    • "Unfortunately, the scribes and Pharisees - like us - were the ones who studied the Bible, who prayed regularly, and who earnestly sought to live in accordance with Biblical teachings. That is, they are who we are now. Are we like them?"
  • "The Mysterious Burden of Freedom," Andrew Prior, First Impressions, 2011.
    • "It is simple to see the self aggrandisement that Matthew warns us about. We all know the temptation. We condemn it in others, and even in ourselves. But do we understand its source?"
  • Comentario del Evangelio por Amaury Tañón-Santos , San Mateo 23:1-12 , Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2011.
  • Comments (commentary) and Clippings (technical notes for in-depth study), Chris Haslam, Anglican Diocese of Montreal.
  • "First Thoughts on Year A Gospel Passages in the Lectionary," Pentecost 21, William Loader, Murdoch University, Uniting Church in Australia.
    • "When we move towards seeing God's interests and our best interests and the best interests of others, when we get in touch with God's being as love, when we see that this is not a distraction from life but being truly in touch with life and the life giver, then we will take a big breath and dive."
  • "Hypocricy of the Pharisees," Gospel Analysis, Sermons from Seattle, Pastor Edward F. Markquart, Grace Lutheran Church, Seattle, Washington. Detailed background and exegesis.
    • "In fact, people will hold fast to their human traditions more than the commandments of God to love God and love one another."
  • Exegetical Notes by Brian P. Stoffregen at CrossMarks.
    • "The first time I remember hearing about Matthew 23 was at a high school church camp. A speaker suggested that Matthew 23 should be shouted rather than just quietly read. Such a shouted reading could bring some life back into the scriptures."
  • Matthew in the Margins, by Brian McGowan, Anglican priest in Western Australia.
  • Dylan's Lectionary Blog, Proper 26. Biblical Scholar Sarah Dylan Breuer looks at readings for the coming Sunday in the lectionary of the Episcopal Church.
    • "The bottom line for Paul, as for Jesus, is that none of us should be treated a certain way in Christian community because of blood ties. ALL of our relationships are defined first, last, and always by our relationship as children of one God."
  • "Controversy in Leadership," Larry Broding's Word-Sunday.Com: A Catholic Resource for This Sunday's Gospel. Adult Study, Children's Story, Family Activity, Support Materials.
    • "Why is it easy to criticize leaders in the heat of controversy?"
  • "Jesus Warns against False Teachers," Rev. Bryan Findlayson, Lectionary Bible Studies and Sermons, Pumpkin Cottage Ministry Resources. Includes detailed textual notes.
  • Wellspring of the Gospel, Ordinary 31A, Catherine McElhinney and Kathryn Turner, Weekly Wellsprings.
  • "Scribe," "Pharisees," wikipedia.
  • "Phylacteries" from Halacha Overview at Project Genesis.
  • "Did Jesus Get Angry?" Selected passages from the Gospels, at Beliefnet.
• Recommended articles from ATLAS, an online collection of religion and theology journals, are linked below. ATLAS Access options are available for academic institutions, alumni of selected theological schools, and clergy/church offices.Annotated list of "starting place" articles at ATLAS for this week's texts (includes direct links).
  • Blomberg, Craig L., "The New Testament Definition of Heresy (or When Do Jesus and the Apostles Really Get Mad?)," Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, 2002.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Krentz, Edgar, "Lifelong Learning," The Christian Century, 1996.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Mason, Steve, "Pharisaic Dominance before 70 CE and the Gospels' Hypocrisy Charge (Matt 23:2-3)," Harvard Theological Review, 1990.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Powell, Mark Allan, "Do and Keep What Moses Says (Matthew 23:2-7)," Journal of Biblical Literature, 1995.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Rabbinowitz, Noel S., "Matthew 23:2-4: Does Jesus Recognize the Authority of the Pharisees and Does He Endorse Their Halakah?" Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, 2003.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Robinson, Anthony B., "Reforming the House of God," The Christian Century, 1993.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Saldarini, Anthony J., "Delegitimation of Leaders in Matthew 23," The Catholic Biblical Quarterly, 1992.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Siker, Judith Yates, "Unmasking the Enemy: Deconstructing the 'Other' in the Gospel of Matthew," Perspectives in Religious Studies, 2005.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Viviano, Benedict, "Social World and Community Leadership: The Case of Matthew 23:1-12, 34," Journal for the Study of the New Testament, 1990.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Winter, Bruce W., "The Messiah as the Tutor: The Meaning of KATHEGETES in Matthew 23:10," Tyndale Bulletin, 1991.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
• Sermons:
  • Practice What You Preach, the Rev. Dr. Kris Lewis, Day 1, 2011.
  • "Hypocricy of the Pharisees," Sermons from Seattle, Pastor Edward F. Markquart, Grace Lutheran Church, Seattle, Washington.
  • "Charades and Reality," the Rev. Roy T. Lloyd, Day 1, 2002.
  • Father Andrew M. Greeley, "Priest, Author, Sociologist," Commentary and Homily
    • Ordinary 31, 2005
    • Ordinary 31, 2002
    • Ordinary 31, 1999
• With Children:
  • Worshiping with Children, Proper 26A, Including children in the congregation's worship, using the Revised Common Lectionary, Carolyn C. Brown, 2014. 2011.
  • "Storypath Lectionary Links: Connecting Children's Literature with our Faith Story," November 2, 2014, Union Presbyterian Seminary. Connections: Joshua 3:7-17 and The Name Jar by Yangsook Choi, 1 Thessalonians 2:9-13 Clever Jack Takes the Cake, by Candace Fleming, Matthew 23:1-12 and The Giver by Lois Lowry. 2011.
  • Gathering, from the United Church of Canada. Includes sermon seeds, liturgical ideas, "with children," hymn suggestions, choral suggestions etc, 2014. .rtf file at this link. (Terms of Use)
  • "All Puffed Up!" Charles Kirkpatrick, Sermons4kids.com.
  • "A Widow Gives Everything that She Has," Sunday School Lessons: Family Bible Study, art projects, music, stories, etc.
• Drama:
  • "With a Whip in His Hand," from A Certain Jesus by Jose Ignacio and Maria Lopez Vigil. Ideal for catechetical and liturgical dramatization of today's gospel. Claretian Publications.
• Graphics & Bulletin Materials:
  • Clip Art Images: Matthew 23:1-12, Misioneros Del Sagrado Corazón en el Perú.
  • Matthew 23:1-12, Liturgical Drawing, Maria d.c. Zamora, Claretian Resources, Philippines. ("Download and use these for free.")
  • Matthew 23:1-12, at Cerezo Barredo's weekly gospel illustration. Liberation emphasis.
• Hymns and Music:
  • Lord, You Teach Us To Be Humble, Carolyn Winfrey Gillette's new hymn celebrates Jesus' teaching on humility in Matthew 23:1-12. Tune: NETTLETON ('Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing').
  • Hymnary.org, hymns, scores, media, information.
  • Contemporary/Praise Song suggestions, Together to Celebrate, David MacGregor.
  • Hymns with Scripture Allusions: Matthew 23:8. The Cyber Hymnal.
• Fine Arts Images Linked at The Text This Week's Art Index:
• Movies scenes with the following themes, listed at The Text This Week's Movie Concordance:
• Study Links and Resources for the Book of Matthew

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