Matthew 23:32 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers.

NIV: Go ahead, then, and complete what your ancestors started!

NASB: Fill up, then, the measure of the guilt of your fathers.

CSB: Fill up, then, the measure of your ancestors’ sins!

NLT: Go ahead and finish what your ancestors started.

KJV: Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers.

NKJV: Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers’ guilt.

The Pharisees and scribes of Christ's day are the literal sons of those who persecuted God's messengers in the past (Acts 7:52). They are also the spiritual sons of Satan: those who reject and defy God and His Son (John 8:43–44). Their own claims prove this (Matthew 23:31), since they have rejected John the Baptist (Matthew 23:21–27) and are plotting to have Jesus killed (John 11:53; Mark 3:6; Luke 22:2).

Christ's biting command here can be interpreted in two simultaneous ways. Since these men frequently make claims to their heritage (Matthew 3:9), Jesus is harshly telling them to follow through fully: to live up to the example of their predecessors who killed the prophets. At the same time, He is dismissing them to continue in sin until God's wrath has built up in anticipation of judgment. In either sense, these men are close to the "tipping point." Christ's words here are both condemnation and contempt.

Matthew 23:13–36 contains seven layers of condemnation, from Jesus, towards the religious leaders of His era. Each of these is introduced with the word "woe," which is an exclamation like "oh!" or "alas!" Pronouncing God's judgment on these men, He repeatedly describes them as "blind" and "hypocrites." Convincing others of their views only adds victims to hell. They follow the letters of manmade law to the tiniest detail but miss the real meaning of Scripture: God's heart for justice, mercy, and faithfulness. Their outer appearance of righteousness hides inner lives full of greed, self-indulgence, hypocrisy, and lawlessness. Those in Jesus' generation will pay for many of the righteous people unjustly killed in the past.

After thoroughly dismantling scribes, Pharisees, and Sadducees in debate, Jesus even more thoroughly condemns these religious leaders for their religious hypocrisy. They do all their religious acts and works to be seen and approved of by other people. Jesus pronounces God's judgment on the scribes and Pharisees in a series of seven "woe to you" statements. He repeatedly calls them "blind" and "hypocrites." He concludes with a lament for Jerusalem and her children who rejected His protection. God's judgment is coming.

Matthew 23 concludes Matthew's multi-chapter account of all of Jesus' interactions in the temple during the last week before His arrest and crucifixion. After silencing the religious leaders with parables and brilliant responses (Matthew 21—22), He pronounces God's judgment on the scribes and Pharisees in a series of seven "woe to you" statements. Jesus mourns for the judgment that will come on Jerusalem for her rejection of God. This leads Jesus to leave the temple, sadly remarking on its impending destruction (Matthew 24:1–2). As the disciples ask about this, Jesus begins an extended teaching on the end times in chapter 24.

The Gospel of Matthew clearly shows the influence of its writer's background, and his effort to reach a specific audience. Matthew was one of Jesus' twelve disciples, a Jewish man, and a former tax collector. This profession would have required literacy, and Matthew may have transcribed some of Jesus' words as they were spoken. This book is filled with references to the Old Testament, demonstrating to Israel that Jesus is the Promised One. Matthew also includes many references to coins, likely due to his former profession. Matthew records extensive accounts of Jesus' teaching, more than the other three Gospels.

Accessed 12/4/2024 3:21:47 AM