CINXE.COM

<!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 23:14 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/matthew/23-14.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/12/40_Mat_23_14.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Matthew 23:14 - Woes to Scribes and Pharisees" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head> <script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-LR4HSKRP2H"></script> <script> window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'G-LR4HSKRP2H'); </script><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/matthew/23-14.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/matthew/23-14.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/matthew/">Matthew</a> > <a href="/matthew/23.htm">Chapter 23</a> > Verse 14</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad14.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/matthew/23-13.htm" title="Matthew 23:13">◄</a> Matthew 23:14 <a href="/matthew/23-15.htm" title="Matthew 23:15">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Greek </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv">Verse<a href="/bsb/matthew/23.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"> <a href="/kjv/matthew/23.htm">King James Bible</a> Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation. <a href="/nkjv/matthew/23.htm">New King James Version</a> Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation. <a href="/nasb_/matthew/23.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> <a href="/nasb/matthew/23.htm">NASB 1995</a> &#8220Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you devour widows&#8217 houses, and for a pretense you make long prayers; therefore you will receive greater condemnation. <a href="/nasb77/matthew/23.htm">NASB 1977 </a> [“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you devour widows’ houses, even while for a pretense you make long prayers; therefore you shall receive greater condemnation.] <a href="/lsb/matthew/23.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> [Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense you make long prayers; therefore you will receive greater condemnation.] <a href="/amp/matthew/23.htm">Amplified Bible</a> [Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you swallow up widows’ houses, and to cover it up you make long prayers; therefore you will receive the greater condemnation.] <a href="/hcsb/matthew/23.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> &#8220Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You devour widows&#8217 houses and make long prayers just for show. This is why you will receive a harsher punishment. <a href="/asv/matthew/23.htm">American Standard Version</a> - - - <a href="/erv/matthew/23.htm">English Revised Version</a> <a href="/isv/matthew/23.htm">International Standard Version</a> "How terrible it will be for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You devour widows' houses and say long prayers to cover it up. Therefore, you will receive greater condemnation! <a href="/nheb/matthew/23.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites. For you shut up the kingdom of heaven in front of people; for you do not enter in yourselves, neither do you allow those who are entering in to enter. <a href="/wbt/matthew/23.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation. <a href="/wey/matthew/23.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> <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 shut the kingdom of heaven in men’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let in those who wish to enter. <a href="/web/matthew/23.htm">World English Bible</a> “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you shut up the Kingdom of Heaven against men; for you don’t enter in yourselves, neither do you allow those who are entering in to enter. <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 eat up the houses of the widows, and for a pretense make long prayers, because of this you will receive more abundant judgment.]] <a href="/ylt/matthew/23.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> 'Woe to you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye eat up the houses of the widows, and for a pretence make long prayers, because of this ye shall receive more abundant judgment. <a href="/slt/matthew/23.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> Woe to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for pretence, praying at great lengths; for this shall ye receive more distinguished judgment.<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 devour the houses of widows, praying long prayers. For this you shall receive the greater judgment. <a href="/cpdv/matthew/23.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> Woe to you scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! For you consume the houses of widows, praying long prayers. Because of this, you shall receive the greater judgment.<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 have shut off the kingdom of heaven against men; for you do not enter into it yourselves, and do not permit those who would enter. <a href="/aramaic-plain-english/matthew/23.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a> Woe to you Scribes and Pharisees, pretenders, for you shut the Kingdom of Heaven before the children of men, for you are not entering, and those who are entering you do not permit to enter!<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 close the kingdom of heaven in the face of men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you suffer those who are entering, to go in. <a href="/godbey/matthew/23.htm">Godbey New Testament</a> <a href="/haweis/matthew/23.htm">Haweis New Testament</a> Wo unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows? houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: wherefore ye shall receive greater condemnation. <a href="/mace/matthew/23.htm">Mace New Testament</a> wo unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, who shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye not only refuse to go in your selves, but hinder those that would. <a href="/wey/matthew/23.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> <a href="/worrell/matthew/23.htm">Worrell New Testament</a> OMITTED TEXT. <a href="/worsley/matthew/23.htm">Worsley New Testament</a> <FR>Wo unto you scribes and pharisees, hypocrites; for ye devour widows houses, and for a cover make long prayers: therefore ye shall receive the heavier judgement.<Fr> <a href="/parallel/matthew/23-14.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=6790" 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> ……<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="/mark/12-40.htm">Mark 12:40</a> They defraud widows of their houses, and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will receive greater condemnation.” <a href="/luke/20-47.htm">Luke 20:47</a> They defraud widows of their houses, and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will receive greater condemnation.” <a href="/isaiah/10-1.htm">Isaiah 10:1-2</a> Woe to those who enact unjust statutes and issue oppressive decrees, / to deprive the poor of fair treatment and withhold justice from the oppressed of My people, to make widows their prey and orphans their plunder. <a href="/ezekiel/22-29.htm">Ezekiel 22:29</a> The people of the land have practiced extortion and committed robbery. They have oppressed the poor and needy and have exploited the foreign resident without justice. <a href="/micah/3-11.htm">Micah 3:11</a> Her leaders judge for a bribe, her priests teach for a price, and her prophets practice divination for money. Yet they lean upon the LORD, saying, “Is not the LORD among us? No disaster can come upon us.” <a href="/jeremiah/7-9.htm">Jeremiah 7:9-11</a> Will you steal and murder, commit adultery and perjury, burn incense to Baal, and follow other gods that you have not known, / and then come and stand before Me in this house, which bears My Name, and say, ‘We are delivered, so we can continue with all these abominations’? / Has this house, which bears My Name, become a den of robbers in your sight? Yes, I too have seen it, declares the LORD. <a href="/amos/8-4.htm">Amos 8:4-6</a> Hear this, you who trample the needy, who do away with the poor of the land, / asking, “When will the New Moon be over, that we may sell grain? When will the Sabbath end, that we may market wheat? Let us reduce the ephah and increase the shekel; let us cheat with dishonest scales. / Let us buy the poor with silver and the needy for a pair of sandals, selling even the chaff with the wheat!” <a href="/malachi/3-5.htm">Malachi 3:5</a> “Then I will draw near to you for judgment. And I will be a swift witness against sorcerers and adulterers and perjurers, against oppressors of the widowed and fatherless, and against those who defraud laborers of their wages and deny justice to the foreigner but do not fear Me,” says the LORD of Hosts. <a href="/james/5-1.htm">James 5:1-6</a> Come now, you who are rich, weep and wail over the misery to come upon you. / Your riches have rotted and moths have eaten your clothes. / Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and consume your flesh like fire. You have hoarded treasure in the last days. ... <a href="/2_peter/2-3.htm">2 Peter 2:3</a> 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="/1_timothy/6-9.htm">1 Timothy 6:9-10</a> Those who want to be rich, however, fall into temptation and become ensnared by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. / For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. By craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows. <a href="/romans/16-18.htm">Romans 16:18</a> For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive. <a href="/2_timothy/3-6.htm">2 Timothy 3:6-7</a> They are the kind who worm their way into households and captivate vulnerable women who are weighed down with sins and led astray by various passions, / who are always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth. <a href="/titus/1-10.htm">Titus 1:10-11</a> For many are rebellious and full of empty talk and deception, especially those of the circumcision, / who must be silenced. For the sake of dishonorable gain, they undermine entire households and teach things they should not. <a href="/matthew/6-5.htm">Matthew 6:5</a> And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. Truly I tell you, they already have their full reward.</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayer: therefore you shall receive the greater damnation.for ye.<a href="/exodus/22-22.htm">Exodus 22:22-24</a> Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child… <a href="/job/22-9.htm">Job 22:9</a> Thou hast sent widows away empty, and the arms of the fatherless have been broken.<a href="/job/31-16.htm">Job 31:16-20</a> If I have withheld the poor from their desire, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail; … long.therefore.<a href="/matthew/23-33.htm">Matthew 23:33</a> Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?<a href="/matthew/11-24.htm">Matthew 11:24</a> But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.<a href="/luke/12-48.htm">Luke 12:48</a> But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.<div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/matthew/9-37.htm">Abundant</a> <a href="/matthew/23-13.htm">Allow</a> <a href="/matthew/23-13.htm">Condemnation</a> <a href="/2_peter/2-3.htm">Damnation</a> <a href="/matthew/23-13.htm">Devour</a> <a href="/matthew/23-13.htm">Enter</a> <a href="/matthew/23-13.htm">Entering</a> <a href="/matthew/23-13.htm">Greater</a> <a href="/matthew/23-13.htm">Heaven</a> <a href="/matthew/23-13.htm">Houses</a> <a href="/matthew/23-13.htm">Hypocrites</a> <a href="/matthew/12-42.htm">Judgment</a> <a href="/matthew/23-13.htm">Kingdom</a> <a href="/matthew/23-13.htm">Pharisees</a> <a href="/matthew/21-22.htm">Prayer</a> <a href="/matthew/23-13.htm">Prayers</a> <a href="/philippians/1-18.htm">Pretence</a> <a href="/matthew/23-13.htm">Pretense</a> <a href="/matthew/23-13.htm">Receive</a> <a href="/matthew/23-13.htm">Scribes</a> <a href="/matthew/23-13.htm">Shut</a> <a href="/matthew/23-13.htm">Widows</a> <a href="/matthew/11-21.htm">Wo</a> <a href="/matthew/23-13.htm">Woe</a> <a href="/matthew/23-13.htm">Yourselves</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/mark/8-8.htm">Abundant</a> <a href="/mark/1-34.htm">Allow</a> <a href="/matthew/23-33.htm">Condemnation</a> <a href="/matthew/23-33.htm">Damnation</a> <a href="/mark/4-4.htm">Devour</a> <a href="/matthew/25-21.htm">Enter</a> <a href="/matthew/26-58.htm">Entering</a> <a href="/matthew/23-17.htm">Greater</a> <a href="/matthew/23-22.htm">Heaven</a> <a href="/mark/8-3.htm">Houses</a> <a href="/matthew/23-15.htm">Hypocrites</a> <a href="/matthew/23-23.htm">Judgment</a> <a href="/matthew/24-7.htm">Kingdom</a> <a href="/matthew/23-15.htm">Pharisees</a> <a href="/matthew/24-20.htm">Prayer</a> <a href="/mark/5-10.htm">Prayers</a> <a href="/mark/12-40.htm">Pretence</a> <a href="/mark/12-40.htm">Pretense</a> <a href="/matthew/25-16.htm">Receive</a> <a href="/matthew/23-15.htm">Scribes</a> <a href="/matthew/25-10.htm">Shut</a> <a href="/mark/12-40.htm">Widows</a> <a href="/matthew/23-16.htm">Wo</a> <a href="/matthew/23-15.htm">Woe</a> <a href="/matthew/23-15.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 righteousness was not matched by their inner spiritual state. This critique aligns with Old Testament prophets like Isaiah, who condemned similar hypocrisy (<a href="/isaiah/29-13.htm">Isaiah 29:13</a>).You shut the kingdom of heaven in men’s faces. The "kingdom of heaven" refers to the reign and rule of God, which Jesus came to proclaim. By their actions and teachings, the scribes and Pharisees were preventing people from understanding and entering this kingdom. Their legalistic interpretations and additional burdens made it difficult for people to experience the grace and truth of God. This echoes Jesus' earlier teachings in <a href="/matthew/5-20.htm">Matthew 5:20</a>, where He states that righteousness must exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees to enter the kingdom.You yourselves do not enter, Despite their religious status, the scribes and Pharisees were not part of the kingdom they claimed to represent. Their focus on external rituals and self-righteousness blinded them to the true nature of God's kingdom, which requires humility and repentance. This is reminiscent of Jesus' parable of the two sons in <a href="/matthew/21-28.htm">Matthew 21:28-32</a>, where those who initially refuse to obey God but later repent are contrasted with those who claim obedience but do not follow through.nor will you let in those who wish to enter. The religious leaders not only failed to enter the kingdom themselves but also hindered others from doing so. Their teachings and practices created barriers rather than pathways to God. This reflects a broader biblical theme where leaders are held accountable for leading others astray, as seen in <a href="/ezekiel/34.htm">Ezekiel 34</a>, where God condemns the shepherds of Israel for failing to care for His flock. Jesus, as the Good Shepherd, contrasts with these leaders by offering Himself as the way to the Father (<a href="/john/10-9.htm">John 10:9</a>).<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/s/scribes.htm">Scribes</a> Jewish scholars and teachers of the Law, responsible for copying and interpreting the Scriptures. They held significant religious authority and were often associated with the Pharisees. 2. <a href="/topical/p/pharisees.htm">Pharisees</a> A religious and political group in Judaism known for strict adherence to the Law and traditions. They were influential in the synagogues and often clashed with Jesus over interpretations of the Law. 3. <a href="/topical/w/widows.htm">Widows</a> Vulnerable members of society in ancient Israel, often without financial support. The Law commanded care and protection for widows, making their exploitation particularly egregious. 4. <a href="/topical/j/jerusalem.htm">Jerusalem</a> The central city of Jewish worship and the location of the Temple. It was a focal point for Jesus' ministry and the setting for many of His confrontations with religious leaders. 5. <a href="/topical/c/condemnation.htm">Condemnation</a> A divine judgment pronounced by Jesus, indicating severe disapproval and the consequences of the scribes' and Pharisees' actions.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/h/hypocrisy_in_religious_practice.htm">Hypocrisy in Religious Practice</a> Jesus condemns the scribes and Pharisees for their outward show of piety while exploiting the vulnerable. True faith is demonstrated through genuine love and justice, not mere appearances. <a href="/topical/r/responsibility_to_the_vulnerable.htm">Responsibility to the Vulnerable</a> The exploitation of widows highlights a failure to uphold God's command to care for the needy. Believers are called to protect and support those who are vulnerable in society. <a href="/topical/t/the_danger_of_pride_and_pretense.htm">The Danger of Pride and Pretense</a> Lengthy prayers for show reveal a heart focused on self-glorification rather than God. Believers must guard against pride and ensure their worship is sincere and God-centered. <a href="/topical/g/greater_accountability_for_leaders.htm">Greater Accountability for Leaders</a> Religious leaders are held to a higher standard due to their influence. Those in positions of authority must lead with integrity and humility, aware of the greater judgment they face.<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/is_tithing_necessary_for_christians.htm">Is tithing necessary for Christians?</a> <a href="/q/bible's_view__mercy_vs._justice.htm">What does the Bible say about mercy versus justice?</a> <a href="/q/what_does_the_bible_say_on_vain_repetition.htm">What does the Bible say about vain repetitions?</a> <a href="/q/why_does_jesus_say_not_to_call_anyone_'father'.htm">Why does Jesus tell people not to call anyone 'father' (Matthew 23:9), yet the Bible refers to Abraham as 'our father' (Romans 4:16)?</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>(14) Ye devour widows' houses.--The avarice thus described may have attained its end either (1) by using the advantages which they possessed, as the jurists and notaries of the time, to press unjust claims against wealthy widows, or to become their heirs, or (2) by leading devout women, under the show of piety, to bestow on them their estates or houses. To minister to the maintenance of a scribe was, they taught, the best use of wealth. The "long prayer" refers probably to the well-known Eighteen Prayers, which formed the standard of the Pharisee's devotion. The whole verse, it may be noted, is wanting in many MSS., and may have been inserted here from <a href="/mark/12-40.htm" title="Which devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation.">Mark 12:40</a> or <a href="/luke/20-47.htm" title="Which devour widows' houses, and for a show make long prayers: the same shall receive greater damnation.">Luke 20:47</a>.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/matthew/23.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verse 14. - Second woe - against rapacity and hypocrisy. There is some doubt about the genuineness of this verse, and our Revisers have expunged it from their text, relegating it to the margin. It is omitted by א, B, D, L, Z, some copies of the Vulgate and some versions; on the other hand, it is found in E, F, G, H, K, M, and other later uncials, and in the received Vulgate and Syriac Versions. Critics reject it as a supposed interpolation from <a href="/mark/12-40.htm">Mark 12:40</a>; <a href="/luke/20-47.htm">Luke 20:47</a>. At any rate, whether spoken now or at another time, it is undoubtedly an utterance of Christ, and to be received with all reverence. Ye devour widows' houses. Women who have lost their natural protector become their prey. To these they attach themselves, winning them over by flattery and fraud, and persuading them to assist them with their substance to the ruin of their fortunes. God had always defended the cause of widows, and had urged his people to deal gently and mercifully with them (see <a href="/deuteronomy/10-18.htm">Deuteronomy 10:18</a>; <a href="/deuteronomy/27-19.htm">Deuteronomy 27:19</a>; <a href="/psalms/68-5.htm">Psalm 68:5</a>; <a href="/isaiah/1-17.htm">Isaiah 1:17</a>; <a href="/luke/18-3.htm">Luke 18:3-7</a>). This woe is followed in St. Luke by the episode of the widow's mite (<a href="/luke/20-47.htm">Luke 20:47</a>; <a href="/luke/21-1.htm">Luke 21:1-4</a>). And for a pretence make long prayer; or, and that, making long prayers for a pretence. They put on an appearance of extraordinary devotion, that they might more easily secure the favour of the widows; or else they exacted large sums of money, engaging to offer continual prayers for the donors (compare St. Paul's words in <a href="/2_timothy/3-6.htm">2 Timothy 3:6</a>). Thus these hypocrites made a gain of godliness at the expense of the most helpless members of the community. Greater (περισσότερον, more abundant) damnation. No condemnation in this world or the next can be more justly awarded than to him who adds hypocrisy to covetousness, and makes religion a cloke for cruel rapacity. The comparative may refer to "the lengthened hypocritical prayers which went before" (Lange). <a href="/commentaries/matthew/23-14.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. to you, ὑμῖν (hymin) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_4771.htm">Strong's 4771: </a> You. scribes γραμματεῖς (grammateis) Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_1122.htm">Strong's 1122: </a> (a) in Jerusalem, a scribe, one learned in the Jewish Law, a religious teacher, (b) at Ephesus, the town-clerk, the secretary of the city, (c) a man of learning generally. and καὶ (kai) Conjunction <a href="/greek/strongs_2532.htm">Strong's 2532: </a> And, even, also, namely. Pharisees, Φαρισαῖοι (Pharisaioi) Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_5330.htm">Strong's 5330: </a> A Pharisee, one of the Jewish sect so called. hypocrites! ὑποκριταί (hypokritai) Noun - Vocative Masculine Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_5273.htm">Strong's 5273: </a> (literal: a stage-player), a hypocrite, dissembler, pretender. For ὅτι (hoti) Conjunction <a href="/greek/strongs_3754.htm">Strong's 3754: </a> That, since, because; may introduce direct discourse. you devour κατεσθίετε (katesthiete) Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_2719.htm">Strong's 2719: </a> To eat up, eat till it is finished, devour, squander, annoy, injure. the τὰς (tas) Article - Accusative Feminine Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> The, the definite article. houses οἰκίας (oikias) Noun - Accusative Feminine Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_3614.htm">Strong's 3614: </a> A house, household, dwelling; goods, property, means. of widows, χηρῶν (chērōn) Adjective - Genitive Feminine Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_5503.htm">Strong's 5503: </a> A widow. and καὶ (kai) Conjunction <a href="/greek/strongs_2532.htm">Strong's 2532: </a> And, even, also, namely. as a pretext προφάσει (prophasei) Noun - Dative Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_4392.htm">Strong's 4392: </a> A pretext, an excuse. are praying προσευχόμενοι (proseuchomenoi) Verb - Present Participle Middle - Nominative Masculine Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_4336.htm">Strong's 4336: </a> To pray, pray for, offer prayer. at great length. μακρὰ (makra) Adjective - Accusative Neuter Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_3117.htm">Strong's 3117: </a> Long, distant, far; of long duration. Because of διὰ (dia) Preposition <a href="/greek/strongs_1223.htm">Strong's 1223: </a> (a) genitive: through, throughout, by the instrumentality of, (b) accusative: through, on account of, by reason of, for the sake of, because of. this, τοῦτο (touto) Demonstrative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3778.htm">Strong's 3778: </a> This; he, she, it. you shall receive λήψεσθε (lēpsesthe) Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 2nd Person Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_2983.htm">Strong's 2983: </a> (a) to receive, get, (b) to take, lay hold of. greater περισσότερον (perissoteron) Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular - Comparative <a href="/greek/strongs_4053.htm">Strong's 4053: </a> More, greater, excessive, abundant, exceedingly, vehemently; noun: preeminence, advantage. condemnation. κρίμα (krima) Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_2917.htm">Strong's 2917: </a> (a) a judgment, a verdict; sometimes implying an adverse verdict, a condemnation, (b) a case at law, a lawsuit. <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/matthew/23-14.htm">Matthew 23:14 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/matthew/23-14.htm">Matthew 23:14 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/matthew/23-14.htm">Matthew 23:14 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/matthew/23-14.htm">Matthew 23:14 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/matthew/23-14.htm">Matthew 23:14 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/matthew/23-14.htm">Matthew 23:14 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/matthew/23-14.htm">Matthew 23:14 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/matthew/23-14.htm">Matthew 23:14 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/matthew/23-14.htm">Matthew 23:14 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/matthew/23-14.htm">Matthew 23:14 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/matthew/23-14.htm">NT Gospels: Matthew 23:14 But woe to you scribes and Pharisees (Matt. Mat Mt) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/matthew/23-13.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Matthew 23:13"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Matthew 23:13" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/matthew/23-15.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Matthew 23:15"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Matthew 23:15" /></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>