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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Matthew 23:15 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You traverse land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/matthew/23-15.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/13/40_Mat_23_15.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Matthew 23:15 - Woes to Scribes and Pharisees" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! 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You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when you have succeeded, you make them twice as much a child of hell as you are. <a href="/nlt/matthew/23.htm">New Living Translation</a> “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you cross land and sea to make one convert, and then you turn that person into twice the child of hell you yourselves are! <a href="/esv/matthew/23.htm">English Standard Version</a> 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. <a href="/bsb/matthew/23.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You traverse land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are. <a href="/blb/matthew/23.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you traverse the sea and the dry land to make one convert, and whenever it may happen, you make him twofold more a son of Gehenna than yourselves. <a href="/kjv/matthew/23.htm">King James Bible</a> Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves. <a href="/nkjv/matthew/23.htm">New King James Version</a> “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves. <a href="/nasb_/matthew/23.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you travel around on sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves. <a href="/nasb/matthew/23.htm">NASB 1995</a> &#8220Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you travel around on sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves. <a href="/nasb77/matthew/23.htm">NASB 1977 </a> “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you travel about on sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves. <a href="/lsb/matthew/23.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you travel around on sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves. <a href="/amp/matthew/23.htm">Amplified Bible</a> “Woe to you, [self-righteous] scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you travel over sea and land to make a single proselyte (convert to Judaism), and when he becomes a convert, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are. <a href="/csb/matthew/23.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to make one convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a child of hell as you are! <a href="/hcsb/matthew/23.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> &#8220Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to make one proselyte, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as fit for hell as you are! <a href="/asv/matthew/23.htm">American Standard Version</a> Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he is become so, ye make him twofold more a son of hell than yourselves. <a href="/cev/matthew/23.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> You Pharisees and teachers of the Law of Moses are in for trouble! You're nothing but show-offs. You travel over land and sea to win one follower. And when you have done so, you make that person twice as fit for hell as you are. <a href="/erv/matthew/23.htm">English Revised Version</a> Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he is become so, ye make him twofold more a son of hell than yourselves. <a href="/gwt/matthew/23.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> "How horrible it will be for you, scribes and Pharisees! You hypocrites! You cross land and sea to recruit a single follower, and when you do, you make that person twice as fit for hell as you are. <a href="/gnt/matthew/23.htm">Good News Translation</a> "How terrible for you, teachers of the Law and Pharisees! You hypocrites! You sail the seas and cross whole countries to win one convert; and when you succeed, you make him twice as deserving of going to hell as you yourselves are! <a href="/isv/matthew/23.htm">International Standard Version</a> "How terrible it will be for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to make a single convert, and when this happens you make him twice as fit for hell as you are. <a href="/net/matthew/23.htm">NET Bible</a> "Woe to you, experts in the law and you Pharisees, hypocrites! You cross land and sea to make one convert, and when you get one, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves! <a href="/nheb/matthew/23.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites. For you travel around by sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much of a son of hell as yourselves. <a href="/wbt/matthew/23.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him two-fold more the child of hell than yourselves. <a href="/wey/matthew/23.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> "Alas for you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, for you scour sea and land in order to win one convert--and when he is gained, you make him twice as much a son of Gehenna as yourselves.<div class="vheading2">Majority Text Translations</div><a href="/msb/matthew/23.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You traverse land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are. <a href="/web/matthew/23.htm">World English Bible</a> Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel around by sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of Gehenna as yourselves. <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/matthew/23.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you go around the sea and the dry land to make one proselyte, and whenever it may happen—you make him a son of Gehenna twofold more than yourselves. <a href="/blb/matthew/23.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you traverse the sea and the dry land to make one convert, and whenever it may happen, you make him twofold more a son of Gehenna than yourselves. <a href="/ylt/matthew/23.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> 'Woe to you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye go round the sea and the dry land to make one proselyte, and whenever it may happen -- ye make him a son of gehenna twofold more than yourselves. <a href="/slt/matthew/23.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees hypocrites! for ye go about sea and dry land to make one proselyte, and when he should become, ye make him the son of hell, twofold more than you.<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/matthew/23.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> Woe to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites; because you go round about the sea and the land to make one proselyte; and when he is made, you make him the child of hell twofold more than yourselves. <a href="/cpdv/matthew/23.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! For you travel around by sea and by land, in order to make one convert. And when he has been converted, you make him twice the son of Hell that you are yourselves. <a href="/nabre/matthew/23.htm">New American Bible</a> “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You traverse sea and land to make one convert, and when that happens you make him a child of Gehenna twice as much as yourselves. <a href="/nrsvce/matthew/23.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cross sea and land to make a single convert, and you make the new convert twice as much a child of hell as yourselves.<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/matthew/23.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you traverse sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he becomes one, you make him the son of hell twice more than yourselves. <a href="/aramaic-plain-english/matthew/23.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a> Woe to you Scribes and Pharisees, phonies! For you travel around sea and land to make one convert, and when it has happened, you make him doubly the son of Gehenna that you are!<div class="vheading2">NT Translations</div><a href="/anderson/matthew/23.htm">Anderson New Testament</a> Alas for you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you traverse sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he is made, you make him twofold more a child of hell than yourselves.<CM> <a href="/godbey/matthew/23.htm">Godbey New Testament</a> <FR>Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because you compass the sea and the dry land to make one proselyte, and when it may be done, you make him twofold more the son of hell than yourselves.<Fr> <a href="/haweis/matthew/23.htm">Haweis New Testament</a> Wo unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he is gained, ye make him doubly more the child of hell than yourselves. <a href="/mace/matthew/23.htm">Mace New Testament</a> wo unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, who ransack sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is gain'd, ye make him deserve Gehenna much more than your selves. <a href="/wey/matthew/23.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> "Alas for you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, for you scour sea and land in order to win one convert--and when he is gained, you make him twice as much a son of Gehenna as yourselves. <a href="/worrell/matthew/23.htm">Worrell New Testament</a> <FR>"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte; and, when he is made such, ye make him a son of Hell twofold more than yourselves.<Fr> <a href="/worsley/matthew/23.htm">Worsley New Testament</a> <FR>Wo unto you scribes and pharisees, hypocrites: for ye compass sea and land to make a proselyte, and when he is gained, ye make him more the child of hell than yourselves.<Fr> <a href="/parallel/matthew/23-15.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hriiyJYqzvc?start=6791" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/matthew/23.htm">Woes to Scribes and Pharisees</a> … 15<a href="/greek/3759.htm" title="3759: Ouai (I) -- Woe!, alas!, uttered in grief or denunciation. A primary exclamation of grief; woe.">Woe</a> <a href="/greek/4771.htm" title="4771: hymin (PPro-D2P) -- You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.">to you,</a> <a href="/greek/1122.htm" title="1122: grammateis (N-VMP) -- From gramma. A writer, i.e. scribe or secretary.">scribes</a> <a href="/greek/2532.htm" title="2532: kai (Conj) -- And, even, also, namely. ">and</a> <a href="/greek/5330.htm" title="5330: Pharisaioi (N-VMP) -- Of Hebrew origin; a separatist, i.e. Exclusively religious; a Pharisean, i.e. Jewish sectary.">Pharisees,</a> <a href="/greek/5273.htm" title="5273: hypokritai (N-VMP) -- From hupokrinomai; an actor under an assumed character, i.e. a dissembler">you hypocrites!</a> <a href="/greek/3754.htm" title="3754: hoti (Conj) -- Neuter of hostis as conjunction; demonstrative, that; causative, because."></a> <a href="/greek/4013.htm" title="4013: periagete (V-PIA-2P) -- To lead or carry about (or around), go about, traverse. From peri and ago; to take around; reflexively, to walk around.">You traverse</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tēn (Art-AFS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tēn (Art-AFS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/3584.htm" title="3584: xēran (Adj-AFS) -- Dry, withered; noun: dry land. From the base of xestes; arid; by implication, shrunken, earth.">land</a> <a href="/greek/2532.htm" title="2532: kai (Conj) -- And, even, also, namely. ">and</a> <a href="/greek/2281.htm" title="2281: thalassan (N-AFS) -- Probably prolonged from hals; the sea.">sea</a> <a href="/greek/4160.htm" title="4160: poiēsai (V-ANA) -- (a) I make, manufacture, construct, (b) I do, act, cause. Apparently a prolonged form of an obsolete primary; to make or do.">to win</a> <a href="/greek/1520.htm" title="1520: hena (Adj-AMS) -- One. (including the neuter Hen); a primary numeral; one.">a single</a> <a href="/greek/4339.htm" title="4339: prosēlyton (N-AMS) -- From the alternate of proserchomai; an arriver from a foreign region, i.e., an acceder to Judaism.">convert,</a> <a href="/greek/2532.htm" title="2532: kai (Conj) -- And, even, also, namely. ">and</a> <a href="/greek/3752.htm" title="3752: hotan (Conj) -- When, whenever. From hote and an; whenever; also causatively inasmuch as.">when</a> <a href="/greek/1096.htm" title="1096: genētai (V-ASM-3S) -- A prolongation and middle voice form of a primary verb; to cause to be, i.e. to become, used with great latitude.">he becomes one,</a> <a href="/greek/4160.htm" title="4160: poieite (V-PIA-2P) -- (a) I make, manufacture, construct, (b) I do, act, cause. Apparently a prolonged form of an obsolete primary; to make or do.">you make</a> <a href="/greek/846.htm" title="846: auton (PPro-AM3S) -- He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.">him</a> <a href="/greek/1362.htm" title="1362: diploteron (Adj-AMS-C) -- Double, two-fold. From dis and the base of pleion; two-fold.">twice as much</a> <a href="/greek/5207.htm" title="5207: huion (N-AMS) -- A son, descendent. Apparently a primary word; a son, used very widely of immediate, remote or figuratively, kinship.">a son</a> <a href="/greek/1067.htm" title="1067: geennēs (N-GFS) -- Of Hebrew origin; valley of Hinnom; ge-henna, a valley of Jerusalem, used as a name for the place of everlasting punishment.">of hell</a> <a href="/greek/4771.htm" title="4771: hymōn (PPro-G2P) -- You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.">as you are.</a> 16Woe to you, blind guides! You say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.’…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/acts/13-10.htm">Acts 13:10</a> and said, “O child of the devil and enemy of all righteousness, you are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery! Will you never stop perverting the straight ways of the Lord? <a href="/galatians/1-7.htm">Galatians 1:7-9</a> which is not even a gospel. Evidently some people are troubling you and trying to distort the gospel of Christ. / But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be under a curse! / As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be under a curse! <a href="/2_corinthians/11-13.htm">2 Corinthians 11:13-15</a> For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. / And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. / It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their actions. <a href="/romans/10-2.htm">Romans 10:2-3</a> For I testify about them that they are zealous for God, but not on the basis of knowledge. / Because they were ignorant of God’s righteousness and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. <a href="/philippians/3-2.htm">Philippians 3:2</a> Watch out for those dogs, those workers of evil, those mutilators of the flesh! <a href="/2_peter/2-1.htm">2 Peter 2:1-3</a> Now there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. / Many will follow in their depravity, and because of them the way of truth will be defamed. / In their greed, these false teachers will exploit you with deceptive words. The longstanding verdict against them remains in force, and their destruction does not sleep. <a href="/luke/11-52.htm">Luke 11:52</a> Woe to you experts in the law! For you have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering.” <a href="/john/8-44.htm">John 8:44</a> You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out his desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, refusing to uphold the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, because he is a liar and the father of lies. <a href="/acts/15-1.htm">Acts 15:1</a> Then some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” <a href="/1_timothy/4-1.htm">1 Timothy 4:1-2</a> Now the Spirit expressly states that in later times some will abandon the faith to follow deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons, / influenced by the hypocrisy of liars, whose consciences are seared with a hot iron. <a href="/jeremiah/23-14.htm">Jeremiah 23:14</a> And among the prophets of Jerusalem I have seen a horrible thing: They commit adultery and walk in lies. They strengthen the hands of evildoers, so that no one turns his back on wickedness. They are all like Sodom to Me; the people of Jerusalem are like Gomorrah.” <a href="/isaiah/9-16.htm">Isaiah 9:16</a> For those who guide this people mislead them, and those they mislead are swallowed up. <a href="/ezekiel/13-3.htm">Ezekiel 13:3</a> This is what the Lord GOD says: Woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit yet have seen nothing. <a href="/micah/3-5.htm">Micah 3:5</a> This is what the LORD says: “As for the prophets who lead My people astray, who proclaim peace while they chew with their teeth, but declare war against one who puts nothing in their mouths: <a href="/hosea/4-6.htm">Hosea 4:6</a> My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you as My priests. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children.</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, you make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.for.<a href="/galatians/4-17.htm">Galatians 4:17</a> They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them.<a href="/galatians/6-12.htm">Galatians 6:12</a> As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ.proselyte.<a href="/esther/8-17.htm">Esther 8:17</a> And in every province, and in every city, whithersoever the king's commandment and his decree came, the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and a good day. And many of the people of the land became Jews; for the fear of the Jews fell upon them.<a href="/acts/2-10.htm">Acts 2:10</a> Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,<a href="/acts/13-43.htm">Acts 13:43</a> Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.ye make.<a href="/john/8-44.htm">John 8:44</a> Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.<a href="/acts/13-10.htm">Acts 13:10</a> And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?<a href="/acts/14-2.htm">Acts 14:2,19</a> But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil affected against the brethren… <div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/matthew/23-13.htm">Alas</a> <a href="/matthew/21-28.htm">Child</a> <a href="/habakkuk/1-4.htm">Compass</a> <a href="/matthew/18-9.htm">Gehenna</a> <a href="/matthew/18-9.htm">Hell</a> <a href="/matthew/23-14.htm">Hypocrites</a> <a href="/matthew/23-2.htm">Law</a> <a href="/matthew/21-4.htm">Order</a> <a href="/matthew/23-14.htm">Pharisees</a> <a href="/acts/6-5.htm">Proselyte</a> <a href="/proverbs/20-30.htm">Scour</a> <a href="/matthew/23-14.htm">Scribes</a> <a href="/matthew/21-21.htm">Sea</a> <a href="/matthew/12-11.htm">Single</a> <a href="/matthew/23-13.htm">Teachers</a> <a href="/isaiah/35-8.htm">Travel</a> <a href="/psalms/48-13.htm">Traverse</a> <a href="/zechariah/9-12.htm">Twice</a> <a href="/jeremiah/17-18.htm">Twofold</a> <a href="/matthew/19-16.htm">Win</a> <a href="/matthew/23-14.htm">Woe</a> <a href="/matthew/23-14.htm">Yourselves</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/matthew/23-16.htm">Alas</a> <a href="/matthew/24-19.htm">Child</a> <a href="/luke/19-43.htm">Compass</a> <a href="/matthew/23-33.htm">Gehenna</a> <a href="/matthew/23-33.htm">Hell</a> <a href="/matthew/23-23.htm">Hypocrites</a> <a href="/matthew/23-23.htm">Law</a> <a href="/matthew/23-29.htm">Order</a> <a href="/matthew/23-23.htm">Pharisees</a> <a href="/acts/6-5.htm">Proselyte</a> <a href="/proverbs/20-30.htm">Scour</a> <a href="/matthew/23-23.htm">Scribes</a> <a href="/mark/1-16.htm">Sea</a> <a href="/matthew/26-40.htm">Single</a> <a href="/matthew/23-25.htm">Teachers</a> <a href="/acts/19-21.htm">Travel</a> <a href="/psalms/48-13.htm">Traverse</a> <a href="/mark/14-30.htm">Twice</a> <a href="/2_corinthians/1-15.htm">Twofold</a> <a href="/matthew/28-14.htm">Win</a> <a href="/matthew/23-16.htm">Woe</a> <a href="/matthew/23-31.htm">Yourselves</a><div class="vheading2">Matthew 23</div>1. <a href="/matthew/23-1.htm">Jesus admonishes the people to follow good doctrine, not bad examples</a> 5. <a href="/matthew/23-5.htm">His disciples must beware of their ambition.</a> 13. <a href="/matthew/23-13.htm">He denounces eight woes against their hypocrisy and blindness,</a> 34. <a href="/matthew/23-34.htm">and prophesies of the destruction of Jerusalem.</a> </div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/matthew/23.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/matthew/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/matthew/23.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div>Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! This phrase is a direct rebuke from Jesus to the religious leaders of His time. The term "woe" is a strong expression of judgment and lament. The scribes and Pharisees were influential Jewish leaders known for their strict adherence to the Law and traditions. However, Jesus calls them "hypocrites," indicating that their outward appearance of piety masked inner corruption and insincerity. This critique aligns with Old Testament prophets like Isaiah, who condemned similar hypocrisy (<a href="/isaiah/29-13.htm">Isaiah 29:13</a>).You traverse land and sea to win a single convert, The phrase highlights the zeal and effort the Pharisees put into proselytizing. In the first-century Jewish context, proselytizing involved converting Gentiles to Judaism, which required adherence to Jewish laws and customs. The geographical reference to "land and sea" underscores the lengths to which they would go, reflecting a missionary zeal that was commendable in effort but flawed in execution.and when he becomes one, This indicates the success of their efforts in making converts. However, the focus is not on the conversion itself but on the outcome of such conversions. The process of becoming a proselyte involved significant changes, including circumcision and adherence to Jewish law, which were burdensome and often missed the heart of true faith.you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are. This severe indictment suggests that the converts were led into a form of legalism and self-righteousness that was even more damaging than that of their teachers. The term "son of hell" (Gehenna) refers to a state of spiritual ruin and separation from God. This reflects the danger of religious hypocrisy, where external conformity to religious practices leads to spiritual blindness and condemnation. The phrase echoes Jesus' broader teaching on the dangers of leading others astray (<a href="/matthew/18-6.htm">Matthew 18:6</a>) and the importance of genuine faith over mere ritual (<a href="/matthew/15-8.htm">Matthew 15:8-9</a>).<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/s/scribes_and_pharisees.htm">Scribes and Pharisees</a> Religious leaders in Jewish society known for their strict adherence to the Law and traditions. They are often criticized by Jesus for their hypocrisy and legalism. 2. <a href="/topical/c/convert.htm">Convert (Proselyte)</a> A person who converts from one belief or religion to another. In this context, it refers to a Gentile who converts to Judaism. 3. <a href="/topical/s/son_of_hell.htm">Son of Hell (Gehenna)</a> A term used to describe someone destined for destruction or judgment. Gehenna was a valley outside Jerusalem associated with idolatry and later, a symbol of divine judgment.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/h/hypocrisy_in_leadership.htm">Hypocrisy in Leadership</a> Jesus condemns the religious leaders for their hypocrisy. As Christians, we must ensure our actions align with our teachings, especially when leading others. <a href="/topical/t/the_dangers_of_legalism.htm">The Dangers of Legalism</a> The Pharisees' focus on converting others to their legalistic practices rather than a genuine relationship with God serves as a warning against prioritizing rules over faith. <a href="/topical/t/true_conversion.htm">True Conversion</a> Conversion should lead to a transformation of the heart and life, not just adherence to external rituals or traditions. <a href="/topical/e/evangelism_with_integrity.htm">Evangelism with Integrity</a> When sharing the Gospel, our goal should be to lead others to Christ, not to a set of rules or a particular denomination. <a href="/topical/s/self-examination.htm">Self-Examination</a> Regularly examine your own life for areas of hypocrisy or legalism, seeking to align more closely with Christ's teachings.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_matthew_23.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Matthew 23</a> <a href="/q/what_defines_being_a_child_of_hell.htm">What defines being a child of hell?</a> <a href="/q/who_was_e._w._kenyon_and_his_influence.htm">Are you already clean?</a> <a href="/q/who_was_grigori_rasputin.htm">What is the Bible's perspective on justice?</a> <a href="/q/what_does_'take_the_plank_out'_mean.htm">What did Jesus mean by 'whitewashed tombs'?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/matthew/23.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(15) To make one proselyte.--The zeal of the earlier Pharisees had showed itself in a propagandism which reminds us rather of the spread of the religion of Mahomet than of that of Christ. John Hyrcanus, the last of the Maccabean priest-rulers, had offered the Idumeans the alternative of death, exile, or circumcision (Jos. Ant. xiii. 9, ? 3). When the government of Rome rendered such measures impossible, they resorted to all the arts of persuasion, and exulted when they succeeded in enrolling a heathen convert as a member of their party. But the proselytes thus made were too often a scandal and proverb of reproach. There was no real conversion, and those who were most active in the work of proselytising were, for the most part, blind leaders of the blind. The vices of the Jew were engrafted on the vices of the heathen. The ties of duty and natural affection were ruthlessly snapped asunder. The popular Jewish feeling about them was like that of the popular Christian feeling about a converted Jew. Proselytes were regarded as the leprosy of Israel, hindering the coming of the Messiah. It became a proverb that no one should trust a proselyte, even to the twenty-fourth generation. Our Lord was, in part at least, expressing the judgment of the better Jews when He taught that the proselyte thus made was "two-fold more the child of hell"--i.e., of Gehenna--than his masters.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/matthew/23.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verse 15. - Third woe - against evil proselytizing. Ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte. The word προσήλυτος is used in the Septuagint to signify "a stranger" or "sojourner" (<a href="/exodus/12-48.htm">Exodus 12:48, 49</a>, etc.), and at this time was applied to a convert to Judaism (<a href="/acts/2-10.htm">Acts 2:10</a>; <a href="/acts/6-5.htm">Acts 6:5</a>), whether circumcised, "a proselyte of righteousness;" or uncircumcised, "a proselyte of the gate." To compass sea and land is a proverbial expression, denoting the employment of every means, the exercise of the utmost effort. One might have thought that, in its proud isolation and exclusiveness, Judaism would not have exposed itself to this reproach. But what says Josephus? In more than one passage of his histories he testifies to the zealous propagation of the Jewish religion, and in some cases the enforcement of circumcision on vanquished enemies (see 'Ant.,' 18:03. 5; 20:2. 4; 'Bell. Jud.,' 2:17. 10; 'Vita,' § 23). Tacitus ('Hist.,' 5:5) gives a most unfavourable account of the numerous converts which Hebrews made throughout the Roman provinces; and St. Augustine ('De Civit.,' 6:11) quotes Seneca saying, "Cum interim usque eo sceleratissimae gentis consuetudo convaluit, ut per omnes jam terras recepta sit, victi victoribus leges dederunt" (Edersheim). For similar testimony, we may refer to Horace, 'Sat.,' 1:4. 142, 143; and Juvenal, 'Sat.,' 6:541, etc. But it was not proselytizing in itself that the Lord censured. As possessing revelation and the only true religion in the world, the Jews might well have deemed it their business to enlighten the gross darkness of heathenism, and to endeavour to shed abroad the pure light which was confided to their care to tend and cherish. That they were not expressly commanded to do this, and that little blessing attended their efforts in this direction, was dependent upon the transitory and imperfect character of the old covenant, and the many evils which would be consequent upon association with alien peoples. In making converts, the Pharisees sought rather to secure outward conformity than inward piety, change of external religion than change of heart. There was no love of souls, no burning zeal for the honour of God, in their proselytism. They were prompted only by selfish and base motives - vain glory, party spirit, covetousness; and if they converted men to their own opinions, with their false tenets, gross externalism, and practical immorality, they had far better have left them in their irresponsible ignorance. When he is made; when he is become a proselyte. Twofold more the child of hell; a son of Gehenna; i.e. worthy of hell fire. So we have <a href="/2_samuel/12-5.htm">2 Samuel 12:5</a>, "a son of death;" <a href="/john/17-12.htm">John 17:12</a>, "the son of perdition" (comp. <a href="/2_thessalonians/2-3.htm">2 Thessalonians 2:3</a>). The converts became doubly the children of hell because, seeing the iniquities of their teachers, they learned an evil lesson from them, "engrafted the vices of the Jews on the vices of the heathen," distrusted all goodness, discarded their old religion and disbelieved the new, making utter shipwreck of their moral life. "Ita natura comparati sumus," says an old commentator, "ut vitia potius quam virtutes imitemur, et in rebus malis a discipulis magistri facile superentur." <a href="/commentaries/matthew/23-15.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Greek</div>Woe Οὐαὶ (Ouai) Interjection <a href="/greek/strongs_3759.htm">Strong's 3759: </a> Woe!, alas!, uttered in grief or denunciation. A primary exclamation of grief; 'woe'. to you, ὑμῖν (hymin) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_4771.htm">Strong's 4771: </a> You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou. scribes γραμματεῖς (grammateis) Noun - Vocative Masculine Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_1122.htm">Strong's 1122: </a> From gramma. A writer, i.e. scribe or secretary. and καὶ (kai) Conjunction <a href="/greek/strongs_2532.htm">Strong's 2532: </a> And, even, also, namely. Pharisees, Φαρισαῖοι (Pharisaioi) Noun - Vocative Masculine Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_5330.htm">Strong's 5330: </a> Of Hebrew origin; a separatist, i.e. Exclusively religious; a Pharisean, i.e. Jewish sectary. you hypocrites! ὑποκριταί (hypokritai) Noun - Vocative Masculine Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_5273.htm">Strong's 5273: </a> From hupokrinomai; an actor under an assumed character, i.e. a dissembler You traverse περιάγετε (periagete) Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_4013.htm">Strong's 4013: </a> To lead or carry about (or around), go about, traverse. From peri and ago; to take around; reflexively, to walk around. [land] ξηρὰν (xēran) Adjective - Accusative Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3584.htm">Strong's 3584: </a> Dry, withered; noun: dry land. From the base of xestes; arid; by implication, shrunken, earth. and καὶ (kai) Conjunction <a href="/greek/strongs_2532.htm">Strong's 2532: </a> And, even, also, namely. sea θάλασσαν (thalassan) Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_2281.htm">Strong's 2281: </a> Probably prolonged from hals; the sea. to win ποιῆσαι (poiēsai) Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active <a href="/greek/strongs_4160.htm">Strong's 4160: </a> (a) I make, manufacture, construct, (b) I do, act, cause. Apparently a prolonged form of an obsolete primary; to make or do. a single ἕνα (hena) Adjective - Accusative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_1520.htm">Strong's 1520: </a> One. (including the neuter Hen); a primary numeral; one. convert, προσήλυτον (prosēlyton) Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_4339.htm">Strong's 4339: </a> From the alternate of proserchomai; an arriver from a foreign region, i.e., an acceder to Judaism. and καὶ (kai) Conjunction <a href="/greek/strongs_2532.htm">Strong's 2532: </a> And, even, also, namely. when ὅταν (hotan) Conjunction <a href="/greek/strongs_3752.htm">Strong's 3752: </a> When, whenever. From hote and an; whenever; also causatively inasmuch as. he becomes [one], γένηται (genētai) Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Middle - 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_1096.htm">Strong's 1096: </a> A prolongation and middle voice form of a primary verb; to cause to be, i.e. to become, used with great latitude. you make ποιεῖτε (poieite) Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_4160.htm">Strong's 4160: </a> (a) I make, manufacture, construct, (b) I do, act, cause. Apparently a prolonged form of an obsolete primary; to make or do. him αὐτὸν (auton) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_846.htm">Strong's 846: </a> He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons. twice as much διπλότερον (diploteron) Adjective - Accusative Masculine Singular - Comparative <a href="/greek/strongs_1362.htm">Strong's 1362: </a> Double, two-fold. From dis and the base of pleion; two-fold. a son υἱὸν (huion) Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_5207.htm">Strong's 5207: </a> A son, descendent. Apparently a primary word; a 'son', used very widely of immediate, remote or figuratively, kinship. of hell γεέννης (geennēs) Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_1067.htm">Strong's 1067: </a> Of Hebrew origin; valley of Hinnom; ge-henna, a valley of Jerusalem, used as a name for the place of everlasting punishment. as you are. ὑμῶν (hymōn) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_4771.htm">Strong's 4771: </a> You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou. <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/matthew/23-15.htm">Matthew 23:15 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/matthew/23-15.htm">Matthew 23:15 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/matthew/23-15.htm">Matthew 23:15 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/matthew/23-15.htm">Matthew 23:15 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/matthew/23-15.htm">Matthew 23:15 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/matthew/23-15.htm">Matthew 23:15 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/matthew/23-15.htm">Matthew 23:15 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/matthew/23-15.htm">Matthew 23:15 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/matthew/23-15.htm">Matthew 23:15 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/matthew/23-15.htm">Matthew 23:15 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/matthew/23-15.htm">NT Gospels: Matthew 23:15 Woe to you scribes and Pharisees hypocrites! (Matt. Mat Mt) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/matthew/23-14.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Matthew 23:14"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Matthew 23:14" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/matthew/23-16.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Matthew 23:16"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Matthew 23:16" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>