Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the NT [Matthew: Chapter 23].
on the Sabbath is as guilty as if he killed a camel" (Jer.
_Shabb._ 107).
23:25 {From extortion and excess} (\ex harpag•s kai akrasias\). A
much more serious accusation. These punctilious observers of the
external ceremonies did not hesitate at robbery (\harpages\) and
graft (\akrasias\), lack of control. A modern picture of
wickedness in high places both civil and ecclesiastical where the
moral elements in life are ruthlessly trodden under foot. Of
course, the idea is for both the outside \ektos\ and the inside
(\entos\) of the cup and the platter (fine side dish). But the
inside is the more important. Note the change to singular in
verse 26 as if Jesus in a friendlier tone pleads with a
Pharisee to mend his ways.
23:27 {Whited sepulchre} (\taphois kekoniamenois\). The perfect
passive participle is from \konia•\ and that from \konia\, dust
or lime. Whitened with powdered lime dust, the sepulchres of the
poor in the fields or the roadside. Not the rock-hewn tombs of
the well-to-do. These were whitewashed a month before the
passover that travellers might see them and so avoid being
defiled by touching them (Nu 19:16). In Ac 23:3 Paul called
the high priest a whited wall. When Jesus spoke the sepulchres
had been freshly whitewashed. We today speak of whitewashing
moral evil.
23:29 {The tombs of the prophets} (\tous taphous t•n proph•t•n\).
Cf. Lu 11:48-52. They were bearing witness against themselves
(\heautois\, verse 31) to "the murder-taint in your blood"
(Allen). "These men who professed to be so distressed at the
murdering of the Prophets, were themselves compassing the death
of Him who was far greater than any Prophet" (Plummer). There are
four monuments called Tombs of the Prophets (Zechariah, Absalom,
Jehoshaphat, St. James) at the base of the Mount of Olives. Some
of these may have been going up at the very time that Jesus
spoke. In this seventh and last woe Jesus addresses the Jewish
nation and not merely the Pharisees.
23:32 {Fill ye up} (\pl•r•sate\). The keenest irony in this
command has been softened in some MSS. to the future indicative
(\pl•r•sete\). "Fill up the measure of your fathers; crown their
misdeeds by killing the prophet God has sent to you. Do at last
what has long been in your hearts. The hour is come" (Bruce).
http://www.ccel.org/r/robertson_at/wordpictures/htm/MT23.RWP.html (6 of 7) [28/08/2004 09:03:22 a.m.]