Matthew 23:13Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

By the kingdom of heaven is meant the Scriptures, because in them the kingdom of heaven is lodged; the understanding of these is the door. Or the kingdom of heaven is the blessedness of heaven, and the door thereof Christ, by Whom men enter in. The door-keepers are the Priests, to whom is committed the word of teaching or interpreting Scripture, by which the door of truth is opened to men. The opening of this door is right interpretation. And observe that He said not, Woe unto you, for ye open, but, for ye shut up; the Scriptures then are not shut up, though they are obscure.

The Lord expresses that it is not only that you lack belief and act wickedly, but you also lead others away from faith in me, causing their destruction through your conduct. Individuals often model their behavior after their leaders, particularly when those leaders lean towards wrongdoing. Thus, every mentor and educator must be mindful of the goodness they embody. How tragic it is if one's life hinders others from doing what is right.

According to Luke, you have seized the key of comprehension (Luke 11:52), which signifies faith in Christ. This faith serves as the pathway to grasping the truth and teachings of Christ. They deprived those prepared to enter with this key.

The experts in the law and the Pharisees, well-versed in the teachings of the Scriptures, recognize that Christ is the Son of God; however, they fail to grasp that He was born of a virgin. While they exploit the faithful for their own gain, they not only shut themselves out of the kingdom of heaven but also prevent others who could enter. This is echoed by the prophet Hosea, who condemns, "The priests hid the way and killed in Sikim," and further notes, "The priests did not inform where the Lord was." It stands to reason that any teacher who leads his followers astray with immoral actions effectively bars the kingdom of heaven from them.

You have kept it closed to others, specifically to yourselves and your followers, as you lack faith in Me and prevent others from entering as well. He invites those who are willing and capable to come in. This reprimand is severe. While failing to do good to anyone is condemnable, it is even more grievous to hurt and destroy another soul. Luke stated, “Take the key of understanding,” indicating that faith in Him leads to the comprehension of genuine doctrine and profound wisdom; and this key they seized, effectively denying it to the people.

Christ is truly the Son of that God Who gave the Law; after the example of the blessings pronounced in the Law, did Himself pronounce the blessings of them that are saved; and also after the cursings of the Law, He now sets forth a woe against sinners; Woe unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites. They who allow that it is compatible with goodness to utter these denunciations against sinners, should understand that the purpose of God is the same in the cursings of the Law. Both the cursing there and the woe here fall upon the sinner not from Him who denounces, but from themselves who commit the sins which are denounced, and worthily bring upon themselves the inflictions of God’s discipline, appointed for the turning of men to good.

‘Woe’ expresses deep anguish. This is why He states that they obstruct access to the kingdom of heaven for others, as they conceal in the law the solace found in the truth of Christ. They overlook His incarnation, prophesied by the seers, obscured by their own teachings. Not only do they fail to follow the way to eternal life through Christ, but they also prevent others from embarking on that journey.

This message is directed at bishops who fail to guide their congregations along the path to salvation and do not instruct their priests to do the same. It also concerns priests who neglect their responsibilities, leaving parishioners uninformed about what is essential for their spiritual well-being. Consequently, the faithful remain in ignorance: some are complacently confident in their spiritual condition, while others, aware of their spiritual shortcomings, do not seek the right path because they lack knowledge about how or where to find it. This negligence leads to various misguided beliefs among the people, which explains why schismatics, Molokans, and others with erroneous views find acceptance.

After cautioning His disciples against mimicking the Pharisees, the Lord directs His admonitions squarely at the Pharisees themselves. Echoing the prophets of old, He issues repeated declarations, foretelling the severe consequences of divine judgment due to their wickedness and sins. With the authority of the Judge of all creation, He declares upon them the eightfold woe, revealing and condemning the depravity within their hearts. “The first woe,” He calls out against them for their erroneous understanding of God’s Law and Scriptures, distorting the very essence of divine law, thus preventing both themselves and others from entering the Kingdom of Heaven. The “second woe” addresses their insatiable greed camouflaged by false piety.

Jesus, addressing the Pharisees and the scribes, proclaimed: "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, for leading the people to hypocritically bypass God’s laws that reveal His will! You misguide them away from the path that leads to the Kingdom of Heaven, and you obstruct its gates for those who wish to enter. They seek the way to it and come to you, asking for guidance, yet you veil the true path and present a different route that leads to ruin. Woe to you, for through your sinful actions, you close off the Kingdom of Heaven to yourselves and prevent others from entering!" Bishop Theophanes comments on these words of the Savior, stating: "This applies to those in the priesthood who neglect their flocks, failing to instruct them in what is essential for the salvation of their souls.

Enveloped, as was typical, by a multitude of onlookers that included both scribes and Pharisees, the Savior addressed the latter group directly. From His mouth flowed words of admonition that could only stir a conscience long desensitized. "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!" He commenced His condemnation, and with a voice that echoed like thunder, He proclaimed severe and compelling rebukes, highlighting how they, as guardians of the Mosaic law, exemplified its most brazen disregard through their actions.

"Woe to you" signifies the misfortune, disaster, and penitence that you will face. - Scribes and Pharisees: refer to Matthew 3:7 for context. - "Hypocrites": see the commentary on Matthew 7:2. - "You shut up the kingdom of heaven": the kingdom of heaven (see Matthew 3:2) is likened to a structure (see Matthew 16:18-19) with doors meant for entry. The Pharisees and scribes barred access to this kingdom, refusing to enter it themselves and hindering others who wished to do so. They misperceived the Messiah and misled the people with their false teachings, imposing burdens of their own traditions. By standing against the Lord and portraying Him as a sycophant among the masses, they obstructed the eager and willing from entering the kingdom of heaven, meaning the church of Christ, and prevented them from becoming part of it.