The seven woes of Matthew 23 are a series of pronouncements by Jesus against the scribes and Pharisees. They are found in Matthew 23:13-29. In this passage, Jesus confronts the religious leaders for their hypocrisy and false teaching that was leading people astray.
Here are the seven woes:
1. Shutting the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 23:13)
Jesus pronounced a woe against the scribes and Pharisees for shutting the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. They presented obstacles and barriers to people seeking to enter God’s kingdom. Though they taught about the kingdom, they themselves refused to enter it or allow others to enter.
“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.” (Matthew 23:13)
2. Devouring widows’ houses (Matthew 23:14)
Jesus pronounced a woe against the scribes and Pharisees for devouring widows’ houses. This likely refers to them taking financial advantage of vulnerable women who had lost their husbands. They seized their property and resources in cruel disregard of God’s law to care for widows.
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses and for a pretense you make long prayers; therefore you will receive the greater condemnation.” (Matthew 23:14)
3. Making converts twice as much children of hell (Matthew 23:15)
Jesus pronounced a woe against the scribes and Pharisees for making their converts twice as much children of hell as themselves through their false teaching. Though they were diligent in evangelism, their converts adopted even worse religious hypocrisy and blindness than their teachers.
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves.” (Matthew 23:15)
4. Blind guides (Matthew 23:16-22)
Jesus pronounced a woe against the blind guides who emphasized minor aspects of the law, like swearing oaths, while neglecting more important matters like justice, mercy and faithfulness. Their distorted priorities displayed their blindness and folly.
“Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.’ You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that has made the gold sacred? And you say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gift that is on the altar, he is bound by his oath.’ You blind men! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that makes the gift sacred? So whoever swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. And whoever swears by the temple swears by it and by him who dwells in it. And whoever swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by him who sits upon it.” (Matthew 23:16-22)
5. Neglecting the weightier provisions of the law (Matthew 23:23-24)
Jesus pronounced a woe against the scribes and Pharisees for being meticulous about small details of the law while neglecting its more important matters like justice, mercy and faithfulness. They distorted God’s priorities.
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel!” (Matthew 23:23-24)
6. Cleansing the outside while leaving the inside full of greed and self-indulgence (Matthew 23:25-26)
Jesus pronounced a woe against the scribes and Pharisees for being preoccupied with external rituals of cleansing while neglecting the internal cleansing of their hearts. They appeared righteous outwardly but inwardly were full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean.” (Matthew 23:25-26)
7. Appearing righteous while being full of hypocrisy and lawlessness (Matthew 23:27-28)
Jesus pronounced a final woe against the scribes and Pharisees for appearing outwardly righteous like whitewashed tombs, while inwardly being full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. Their outward religiosity concealed their inner spiritual corruption.
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness. So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.” (Matthew 23:27-28)
These seven woes highlight the main concerns Jesus had regarding the false teaching and religious hypocrisy of the scribes and Pharisees. They claimed authority but used it to shut people out of God’s kingdom, take advantage of the vulnerable, and burden people with legalism and distorted priorities. Jesus condemned them for caring more about external appearance than internal transformation. These woes serve as a warning against religious hypocrisy and a call to true inward righteousness.
The number seven in the Bible often symbolizes completion and these seven woes represent the totality of Jesus’ condemnation of the scribes and Pharisees’ false religion. They had completely corrupted the purpose of God’s law which was meant to lead to justice, mercy and faithfulness (Matthew 23:23). By pronouncing these seven woes, Jesus made clear the comprehensive extent of the religious leaders’ hypocrisy and falsehood.
These woes conclude Jesus’ public ministry discourse which began in Matthew 23:1-12 where he warned his disciples regarding the scribes and Pharisees. In Matthew 23:13-39, he transitions from warning to direct condemnation, employing intense language and pronouncing these seven woes upon them for their “hypocrisy, blinding legalism, spiritual pride and self-righteousness” that was leading people astray (ESV Study Bible). Jesus, as the Messiah, stood in judgment over those entrusted with teaching God’s truth who had distorted and misapplied it.
The scribes and Pharisees prided themselves in teaching the law and instructing the people regarding obedience to God. But Jesus exposed their hypocrisy: “they preach, but do not practice” (Matthew 23:3). Their teaching was leading people away from rather than toward the kingdom of heaven. Jesus warned his disciples not to follow their example but to humbly serve God and others (Matthew 23:11-12). The seven woes confront the danger of a merely external, performance-based religion devoid of inward transformation by the Spirit.
These woes depict themes that recur throughout Scripture. God cares more about the heart than outward religious ritual (1 Samuel 15:22; Psalm 51:16-17; Hosea 6:6; Micah 6:6-8). He condemns religious leaders who fail to faithfully teach His Word and practice justice, mercy and humility before Him (Isaiah 29:13-14; Jeremiah 5:31; Micah 3:9-12). Jesus’ seven woes continue this prophetic tradition of rebuking hypocrisy and false religion.
The woes emphasize that we must teach as well as practice God’s Word. That we should focus on weighty matters like justice, mercy and faithfulness rather than minor details. That internal righteousness surpasses external religious appearance. And that hypocrisy and falsehood, especially in religious leaders, warrants condemnation in God’s sight.
Ultimately, these woes accentuate our need for the grace and cleansing from sin that only Jesus provides. The Pharisees sought to earn righteousness through precise rule-keeping. But we all fall short of God’s perfect standard (Romans 3:23). We need the spotless righteousness of Christ credited to us (Philippians 3:9). Only through His atoning sacrifice are our hearts truly cleansed and made new (Hebrews 9:14). The seven woes remind us to pursue Christ-centered inward renewal, not just external religious conformity.
Jesus pronounced these woes as part of his righteous judgment against the religious leaders’ hypocrisy. The woes served as a warning and call to repentance before their impending judgment for rejecting Jesus as the Messiah. Though harsh, they reveal Christ’s urgency in confronting false religion that prevents people from entering the kingdom. The seven woes remind us to evaluate our hearts and to place our faith in Jesus alone for salvation.