UTN uW Translation Notes:

Matthew 23 Chapter Introduction

Structure and Formatting

10. Jesus teaches about the final judgment and salvation (23:1–25:46)
    • Jesus warns his disciples against acting like the Pharisees (23:1–12)
    • Seven woes against the Pharisees and scribes (23:13–36)
      • First woe: shutting the kingdom (23:13)
      • Second woe: making proselytes (23:15)
      • Third woe: rules about swearing (23:16–22)
      • Fourth woe: tithing (23:23–24)
      • Fifth woe: cleaning inside and outside (23:25–26)
      • Sixth woe: whitewashed tombs (23:27–28)
      • Seventh woe: killing the prophets (23:29–36)
    • Lament over Jerusalem (23:37–39)

Religious and Cultural Concepts in This Chapter

Woe

Seven times in this chapter, Jesus says “woe to you.” He is speaking to the scribes and Pharisees, and he is warning them that something bad will happen to them because of how they are acting. Consider how might express such a warning in your language. (See: woe)

Hypocrites

Six times in this chapter, Jesus calls the scribes and Pharisees “hypocrites.” This word describes people who or claim one thing but actually do another. After calling them “hypocrites,” Jesus goes on to illustrate how they act in this way. Consider what you might call someone who says one thing but does another. (See: hypocrite)

Swearing by something

In Jesus’ culture, people would make a promise stronger by swearing by something. This means that they would call upon that thing to witness or guarantee what they promised. Jewish teachers and scholars debated which things most strongly guaranteed a promise. In 23:16–22, Jesus gives his own teaching on this issue.

Translation Issues in This Chapter

Being “blind”

Five times in this chapter, Jesus calls scribes and Pharisees “blind.” He means that they fail to understand what is right and true. He does not mean that they are physically blind. Consider how you might express this idea in your language.

Cleaning cups and plates

In 23:25–26, Jesus refers to cleaning the inside and outside of cups and plates. There are two primary ways to understand these verses. First, Jesus could be using cups and plates as a metaphor to speak about the scribes and Pharisees. In this case, he is saying that they should look righteous and also do what is righteous, just like cups and plates should be clean both on the outside and on the inside. Second, Jesus could be referring to literal cups and plates that the Pharisees use to eat food. In this case, he is saying that how they get the food that they eat from their cups and plates should be as “clean” (that is, righteously acquired) as the cups and plates are. The UST follows the first interpretation, and translation options for the second interpretation are in the notes.

Singular and plural forms of “you”

Most of the forms of “you” in this chapter appear in speeches that Jesus gives to his disciples or to the Jewish leaders. Because of this, most forms of “you” in this chapter are plural. You should assume forms of “you” are plural unless a note specifies that the form is singular. (See: figs-yousingular)

Verse 14

Most of the earliest manuscripts do not include anything for 23:14. Some manuscripts include the following words: “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour the houses of widows, also for a pretext praying at length. For this reason, you will receive greater judgment.” Since the earliest manuscripts do not include these words, the ULT and UST put these words in brackets. If a translation of the Bible exists in your region, you may wish to use the reading that it uses. If a translation of the Bible does not exist in your region, you may wish to omit these words. If it would be helpful, you could put the words in brackets or in a footnote. (See: translate-textvariants)