Luke 11:43Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The Pharisees desired to be greeted by others and sought to be addressed with the title of teacher when among the people, as indicated in Matthew 23:7; these terms convey the sense of 'greeting' and 'leading.'

He pronounces another woe in addition to His previous statements, declaring, ‘Woe to you Pharisees who desire the best places in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces!’ Is this condemnation relevant solely to the Pharisees? Certainly not, as it serves our edification as well: by rebuking them, He aims for our improvement. Indeed, those who possess a mature understanding and cherish righteous conduct find in the admonishments directed at others a means of safeguarding their own conduct. They consciously steer clear of emulating such behaviors and avoid becoming ensnared by similar faults.

The Lord also rebuked the pride and self-importance of the Jews, who continually vie for the most prominent positions at banquets. This admonition extends to the legal scholars, who are like concealed graves—impressive in appearance but deceptive in essence—beautiful outwardly but filled with decay within. Such is the nature of many instructors; they impose expectations on others that they themselves fail to meet, resembling coffins, as stated in Scripture: Their throat is an open grave (Psalm 5:10).

Greetings in the public spaces. In the fifty-fifth chapter of the Gospel according to Matthew, it is stated that they ‘love to feast at banquets and occupy the seats of honor in the synagogues, and to be greeted in the public squares,’ and the meaning of these words is revealed.

The Lord addressed them regarding their sinful behavior. He criticized their focus on external appearances while ignoring the internal state of their hearts, emphasizing that true purification of sin is achieved not through mere ritual cleansing but through acts of generosity. He chastised their small-mindedness, as they meticulously gave a tenth of their garden herbs to the temple yet overlooked the greater ethical demands placed upon them. He condemned their pride in seeking honor and reverence from others, likening them to whitewashed tombs—deceptively attractive yet fundamentally dead, causing others to become spiritually contaminated without recognizing the danger.

The Pharisees sought to receive respect in all places and to occupy prominent positions, not only within the synagogues but also during celebrations. They desired to be greeted and recognized as teachers whenever they gathered or assembled among the people.

Following these events, it became clear to everyone that there was an insurmountable divide between the ruling authorities of the Jewish community and Christ. The Pharisees and scribes had resolved to eliminate Christ by any means necessary, making it impossible to continue treating them with the same leniency as before. It was imperative to publicly denounce them, which the Saviour accomplished in His final significant rebuke. Surrounded by a familiar throng, including both scribes and Pharisees, He directly addressed the latter and pronounced words of condemnation that could only penetrate a hardened heart.

Where love reigns, as noted in Matthew 23:6-7, the actions of these individuals manifest their arrogance and self-importance, which are the chief obstacles to moral excellence. Consequently, they are met with a pronouncement of woe.

The Mosaic Law instructed that a tithe be offered for the temple, specifically a tenth of the produce from the land (Lev. 27:30; Deut. 14:22). The Pharisees went beyond this requirement, tithing even from the most trivial plants, yet they neglected the fundamental precepts of righteousness. Thus, the Lord proclaimed: Woe unto you, O Pharisees, for you give a tithe of mint, rue, and every herb, but you disregard justice and the love of God: these are the essential things you should practice, without neglecting the others.