Woes Against the Scribes and Pharisees (Matthew 23; Mark 12:38–40; Luke 20:45–47)

The texts below are quoted verbatim from public-domain English translations; nothing is paraphrased.

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St. John Chrysostom (c. 347–407)

Homilies on the Gospel of Matthew, Homilies 72–74 (on Matthew 23:1–39) Source: trans. in the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series, Vol. 10. Public domain. Full text: https://ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf110

On "The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat," that His hearers should not despise the teachers even while shunning their works:

So much at any rate did He establish their authority, although they were wicked men, as even after so heavy an accusation to say, "All whatsoever they command you to do, do." For they speak not their own words, but God's, what He appointed for laws by Moses.

On the love of the chief seats and the greetings and the title Rabbi:

And it comes upon me now even to weep, when I hear of the first seats, and the greetings, and consider how many ills were hence engendered to the churches of God

On the repeated cry, "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem," as the voice of one who pities and loves the city He must punish:

What meaneth the repetition? this is the manner of one pitying her, and bemoaning her, and greatly loving her.

On the hen that would gather her chickens, the image of His protecting affection:

And this He saith, to show that they were ever scattering themselves by their sins. And His affection He indicates by the similitude; for indeed the creature is warm in its love towards its brood.

St. Cyril of Alexandria (c. 376–444)

Commentary on the Gospel of Luke, Sermon 137 (on Luke 20:45–47) Source: trans. R. Payne Smith, Library of Fathers, 1859. Public domain. Full text: https://www.tertullian.org/fathers/cyril_on_luke_13_sermons_135_145.htm

On "Beware of the scribes," lest the disciples share the vices hidden behind a show of piety:

Usefully therefore, that He may keep the company of the holy disciples free from faults so disgraceful, He testifies, saying, "Beware of the Scribes and Pharisees;" that is, expose not yourselves to be the prey of their vices, nor be you partakers of their disregard of God. For what was their custom? To walk in the streets beautifully attired, dragging with them a pompous dignity, to catch thereby the praises of those who saw them.

On the root of their refusal to be taught, love of praise and greed of gain:

It was their determination not to depart from their inbred love of praise, nor to abandon their accursed lust of lucre.

Origen of Alexandria (c. 185–254)

Commentary on Matthew (on Matthew 23:25–26) As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Matthew. Public domain. Full text: https://www.ccel.org/ccel/aquinas/catena1.ii.xxiii.html

(Origen is cited here only for this moral reading; some of his speculations were condemned in 553, and his name is used with that caution.)

On cleansing the outside of the cup while the inside is full of extortion:

This discourse instructs us that we should hasten to become righteous, not to seem so. For whoso seeks to be thought so, cleanses the outside, and has care of the things that are seen, but neglects the heart and conscience.

St. Jerome (c. 347–420)

Commentary on Matthew (on Matthew 23:23–27) As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Matthew. Public domain. Full text: https://www.ccel.org/ccel/aquinas/catena1.ii.xxiii.html

On tithing mint and anise while omitting the weightier matters of the law:

The Lord had commanded, that for the maintenance of the Priests and Levites, whose portion was the Lord, tithes of every thing should be offered in the temple. Accordingly, the Pharisees (to dismiss mystical expositions) concerned themselves about this alone, that these trifling things should be paid in, but lightly esteemed other things which were weighty.

On the whited sepulchres, fair without and full of uncleanness within:

Sepulchres are whitened with lime without, and decorated with marble painted in gold and various colours, but within are full of dead men's bones. Thus crooked teachers who teach one thing and do another, affect purity in their dress, and humility in their speech, but within are full of all uncleanness, covetousness, and lust.

St. Hilary of Poitiers (c. 310–367)

Commentary on Matthew (on Matthew 23:17–19) As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Matthew. Public domain. Full text: https://www.ccel.org/ccel/aquinas/catena1.ii.xxiii.html

On the blind guides who swear by the gold rather than the temple that sanctifies the gold:

For since Christ is come, reliance upon the Law is vain; for not Christ by the Law, but the Law by Christ, is sanctified, in whom it rests as on a seat or throne; so are they fools and blind, who, overlooking the sanctifier, pay honour to the things sanctified.

St. Gregory the Great (c. 540–604)

Moralia in Job (on Matthew 23:24) As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Matthew. Public domain. Full text: https://www.ccel.org/ccel/aquinas/catena1.ii.xxiii.html

On straining out the gnat and swallowing the camel:

The gnat stings while it hums; the camel bows its back to receive its load. The Jews then "strained off the gnat," when they prayed to have the seditious robber released to them; and they swallowed the camel, when they sought with shouts the death of Him who had voluntarily taken on Him the burden of our mortality.