Matthew 23:15Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

For a disciple imitates a virtuous master, but goes beyond a vicious one.

Not only do you lead the Jewish people astray, but you also misguide those who abandon idolatry to embrace the Jewish faith, known as proselytes. You seek to persuade individuals to adopt the Jewish customs and the rite of circumcision, yet when someone becomes Jewish, they face ruin, tainted by your corruption. A 'son of Gehenna' refers to one deserving of being cast into the depths of Gehenna, sharing a spiritual connection with that place of judgment.

This He said not because proselytes were circumcised, but because they imitated the lives of those from following whom He had prohibited His disciples, saying, Do ye not after their works. Two things are observable in this command; first, the honour shewn to Moses’ teaching, (Matt. 23:3.) that even wicked men when sitting in his seat are compelled to teach good things; and that the proselyte is made a child of hell, not by hearing the words of the Law, but by following their doings. And twofold more than they for this reason, that he neglects to fulfil what he had undertaken of his own choice, having been not born a Jew, but of free will become a Jew.

Or otherwise; The Scribes and Pharisees compassed the whole world to make proselytes of the Gentiles, that is, to mix the uncircumcised stranger with the people of God.

Cross over - navigate through. The law identifies as a foreigner those who turn from paganism to embrace the Jewish faith. Therefore, Christ remarks, "You gain one foreigner after immense effort, yet you fail to retain him; you are ineffective in bringing salvation to idolaters and negligent in nurturing the foreigner; furthermore, you act as traitors, leading him astray through your unsuitable conduct and transforming him into a child of Gehenna, that is, similar to Gehenna and deserving of it. I mentioned subhubeisha, for anyone with an inappropriate mentor typically does not remain at the same level of moral decay but often descends further.

For all who Judaize since the coming of the Saviour, are taught to follow the temper of those who cried at that time, Crucify, crucify him.

That they compass sea and land signifies that throughout the whole world they shall be enemies of Christ’s Gospel, and shall bring men under the yoke of the Law against the justification of faith. There were proselytes made into the Synagogue from among the Gentiles, the small number of whom is here denoted by what is said one proselyte. For after the preaching of Christ there was no faith left in their doctrine, but whoever was gained to the faith of the Jews became a child of hell.

But forasmuch as hypocrites though they do ever crooked things, yet cease not to speak right things, and thus by their good instructions beget sons, but are not able to bring them up by good life, but the more they give themselves up to worldly works, the more willingly do they suffer those whom they have begotten to work the same. And because their hearts are hardened, these very sons whom they have begotten they do not own by any sign of the affection due. Wherefore it is here said of the hypocrites, And when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.

While you strive to project a fervent devotion to the glory of the God of Israel, woe to you, O scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites. You traverse both the sea and the dry land, seemingly exerting every effort to convert even a single Gentile to your faith. Yet despite all your toil, you fail to guide the convert to salvation. And WHEN THAT OCCURS, when he embraces Judaism, you transform him into a child of Gehenna, making him twice as wretched as yourselves. Your hypocritical conduct taints his understanding, leading him to be deserving of the fires of Gehenna, twice as lost as you! He becomes unable to grasp the truth of God and faces eternal ruin. Furthermore, it is your actions that contribute to this downfall, as you distort God's commandments, instructing him to evade the divine law.

The scribes and Pharisees, who were highly committed to converting Gentiles to Judaism, did not pursue this for the genuine purpose of guiding individuals away from idol worship towards devotion to the one true God for their inner transformation. Instead, the Pharisees, along with their followers, aimed to enlarge the ranks of those who superficially identified with Judaism, thereby broadening their spiritual influence. This led to a blending of pagan elements with Jewish beliefs and practices within these converts.

Beware, scribes and Pharisees, pretenders, for your efforts to convert even a single outsider often lead to destruction. Do you believe that you are performing a righteous act? In truth, you are inflicting great harm upon the convert, as you guide him along a misguided path that ultimately results in everlasting condemnation.

"Travel across the land and the sea," indicating a full commitment to bring someone to faith. The aim is to secure even a single convert, known as a proselyte, who transitions from paganism to belief in the Jewish faith. There are two categories of proselytes: 1) proselytes of righteousness, who fully embrace the Jewish faith, undergo circumcision or baptism, and adhere entirely to the Mosaic law, and 2) proselytes of the gate, who, while renouncing their former pagan practices, do not fully accept the Mosaic law and remain uncircumcised and unbaptized.

The third lamentation pertains to the moral decay and demise of those they led from paganism to Judaism. The scribes and Pharisees, fervently seeking to acquire new followers, showed little concern for the ethical guidance and spiritual growth of their converts. Instead, through their hypocritical behavior, they misled these individuals towards inevitable ruin. "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because ye pass over sea and land to make one convert, and when he is made, ye make him the child of Gehenna," as it is noted that “when a disciple,” in the words of St.