Click
here to show/hide instructions.
Instructions on how to use the page:
The commentary for the selected verse is is displayed below.
All commentary was produced against the King James, so the same verse from that translation may appear as well. Hovering your mouse over a commentary's scripture reference attempts to show those verses.
Use the browser's back button to return to the previous page.
Or you can also select a feature from the Just Verses menu appearing at the top of the page.
Selected Verse: Matthew 23:31 - Strong Concordance
| Verse |
Translation |
Text |
| Mt 23:31 |
Strong Concordance |
Wherefore [5620] ye be witnesses [3140] unto yourselves [1438], that [3754] ye are [2075] the children [5207] of them which killed [5407] the prophets [4396]. |
| |
King James |
Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets. |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
| Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
Ye be witnesses unto yourselves - The emphasis, here, lies in the words "to yourselves." It is an appeal to their conscience. It was not by their building the tombs that they were witnesses that they were the children of those who killed the prophets; but that, in spite of all this pretence of piety, under all this cloak of profession, they knew in their consciences, and were witnesses to themselves, that it was mere hypocrisy, and that they really approved the conduct of those who slew the prophets.
Children of them ... - Resembling them; approving their conduct; inheriting their feelings. See the notes at Mat 1:1. They not only showed that they were descended from them, but that they possessed their spirit, and that, in similar circumstances, they would have done as they did. |
| Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
Wherefore ye testify against yourselves - By your smooth words as well as devilish actions: that ye are the genuine sons of them who killed the prophets of their own times, while they professed the utmost veneration for those of past ages.
From Mat. 23:3-30 is exposed every thing that commonly passes in the world for religion, whereby the pretenders to it keep both themselves and others from entering into the kingdom of God; from attaining, or even seeking after those tempers, in which alone true Christianity consists. As, Punctuality in attending on public and private prayer, Mat 23:4-14. Zeal to make proselytes to our opinion or communion, though they have less of the spirit of religion than before, Mat 23:15. A superstitious reverence for consecrated places or things, without any for Him to whom they are consecrated, Mat 23:16-22. A scrupulous exactness in little observances, though with the neglect of justice, mercy, and faith, Mat 23:23-24. A nice cautiousness to cleanse the outward behaviour, but without any regard to inward purity, Mat 23:25-26. A specious face of virtue and piety, covering the deepest hypocrisy and villany, Mat 23:27-28 A professed veneration for all good men, except those among whom they live. |
| Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
Ye be witnesses - Ye acknowledge that ye are the children of those murderers, and ye are about to give full proof that ye are not degenerated.
There are many who think that, had they lived in the time of our Lord, they would not have acted towards him as the Jews did. But we can scarcely believe that they who reject his Gospel, trample under foot his precepts, do despite to the Spirit of his grace, love sin, and hate his followers, would have acted otherwise to him than the murdering Jews, had they lived in the same times. |
1 The book [976] of the generation [1078] of Jesus [2424] Christ [5547], the son [5207] of David [1138], the son [5207] of Abraham [11].
27 Woe [3759] unto you [5213], scribes [1122] and [2532] Pharisees [5330], hypocrites [5273]! for [3754] ye are like [3945] unto whited [2867] sepulchres [5028], which [3748] indeed [3303] appear [5316] beautiful [5611] outward [1855], but [1161] are within [2081] full [1073] of dead [3498] men's bones [3747], and [2532] of all [3956] uncleanness [167].
28 Even so [3779] ye [5210] also [2532] [3303] outwardly [1855] appear [5316] righteous [1342] unto men [444], but [1161] within [2081] ye are [2075] full [3324] of hypocrisy [5272] and [2532] iniquity [458].
25 Woe [3759] unto you [5213], scribes [1122] and [2532] Pharisees [5330], hypocrites [5273]! for [3754] ye make clean [2511] the outside [1855] of the cup [4221] and [2532] of the platter [3953], but [1161] within [2081] they are full [1073] of [1537] extortion [724] and [2532] excess [192].
26 Thou blind [5185] Pharisee [5330], cleanse [2511] first [4412] that which is within [1787] the cup [4221] and [2532] platter [3953], that [2443] the outside [1622] of them [846] may be [1096] clean [2513] also [2532].
23 Woe [3759] unto you [5213], scribes [1122] and [2532] Pharisees [5330], hypocrites [5273]! for [3754] ye pay tithe [586] of mint [2238] and [2532] anise [432] and [2532] cummin [2951], and [2532] have omitted [863] the weightier [926] matters of the law [3551], judgment [2920], [2532] mercy [1656], and [2532] faith [4102]: these [5023] ought ye [1163] to have done [4160], and not [3361] to leave [863] the other [2548] undone [863].
24 Ye blind [5185] guides [3595], which strain at [1368] a gnat [2971], and [1161] swallow [2666] a camel [2574].
16 Woe [3759] unto you [5213], ye blind [5185] guides [3595], which [3588] say [3004], Whosoever [3739] [302] shall swear [3660] by [1722] the temple [3485], it is [2076] nothing [3762]; but [1161] whosoever [3739] [302] shall swear [3660] by [1722] the gold [5557] of the temple [3485], he is a debtor [3784] !
17 Ye fools [3474] and [2532] blind [5185]: for [1063] whether [5101] is [2076] greater [3187], the gold [5557], or [2228] the temple [3485] that sanctifieth [37] the gold [5557]?
18 And [2532], Whosoever [3739] [1437] shall swear [3660] by [1722] the altar [2379], it is [2076] nothing [3762]; but [1161] whosoever [3739] [302] sweareth [3660] by [1722] the gift [1435] that is upon [1883] it [846], he is guilty [3784].
19 Ye fools [3474] and [2532] blind [5185]: for [1063] whether [5101] is greater [3187], the gift [1435], or [2228] the altar [2379] that sanctifieth [37] the gift [1435]?
20 Whoso therefore [3767] shall swear [3660] by [1722] the altar [2379], sweareth [3660] by [1722] it [846], and [2532] by [1722] all things [3956] thereon [1883] [846].
21 And [2532] whoso shall swear [3660] by [1722] the temple [3485], sweareth [3660] by [1722] it [846], and [2532] by [1722] him that dwelleth [2730] therein [846].
22 And [2532] he that shall swear [3660] by [1722] heaven [3772], sweareth [3660] by [1722] the throne [2362] of God [2316], and [2532] by [1722] him that sitteth [2521] thereon [1883] [846].
15 Woe [3759] unto you [5213], scribes [1122] and [2532] Pharisees [5330], hypocrites [5273]! for [3754] ye compass [4013] sea [2281] and [2532] land [3584] to make [4160] one [1520] proselyte [4339], and [2532] when [3752] he is made [1096], ye make [4160] him [846] twofold more [1362] the child [5207] of hell [1067] than yourselves [5216].
4 For [1063] they bind [1195] heavy [926] burdens [5413] and [2532] grievous to be borne [1419], and [2532] lay [2007] them on [1909] men's [444] shoulders [5606]; but [1161] they themselves will [2309] not [3756] move [2795] them [846] with one of their [846] fingers [1147].
5 But [1161] all [3956] their [846] works [2041] they do [4160] for [4314] to be seen [2300] of men [444]: [1161] they make broad [4115] their [846] phylacteries [5440], and [2532] enlarge [3170] the borders [2899] of their [846] garments [2440],
6 And [5037] love [5368] the uppermost rooms [4411] at [1722] feasts [1173], and [2532] the chief seats [4410] in [1722] the synagogues [4864],
7 And [2532] greetings [783] in [1722] the markets [58], and [2532] to be called [2564] of [5259] men [444], Rabbi [4461], Rabbi [4461].
8 But [1161] be [2564] not [3361] ye [5210] called [2564] Rabbi [4461]: for [1063] one [1520] is [2076] your [5216] Master [2519], even Christ [5547]; and [1161] all [3956] ye [5210] are [2075] brethren [80].
9 And [2532] call [2564] no [3361] man your [5216] father [3962] upon [1909] the earth [1093]: for [1063] one [1520] is [2076] your [5216] Father [3962], which [3588] is in [1722] heaven [3772].
10 Neither [3366] be ye called [2564] masters [2519]: for [1063] one [1520] is [2076] your [5216] Master [2519], even Christ [5547].
11 But [1161] he that is greatest [3187] among you [5216] shall be [2071] your [5216] servant [1249].
12 And [1161] whosoever [3748] shall exalt [5312] himself [1438] shall be abased [5013]; and [2532] he [3748] that shall humble [5013] himself [1438] shall be exalted [5312].
13 But [1161] woe [3759] unto you [5213], scribes [1122] and [2532] Pharisees [5330], hypocrites [5273]! for [3754] ye shut up [2808] the kingdom [932] of heaven [3772] against [1715] men [444]: for [1063] ye [5210] neither [3761] go in [1525] yourselves, neither [3756] suffer ye [863] them that are entering [1525] to go in [1525].
14 Woe [3759] unto you [5213], scribes [1122] and [2532] Pharisees [5330], hypocrites [5273]! for [3754] ye devour [2719] widows [5503]' houses [3614], and [2532] for a pretence [4392] make [4336] long [3117] prayer [4336]: therefore [1223] [5124] ye shall receive [2983] the greater [4055] damnation [2917].