Matthew 23:6 - Printer Friendly

ESV: and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues

NIV: they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues;

NASB: And they love the place of honor at banquets, and the seats of honor in the synagogues,

CSB: They love the place of honor at banquets, the front seats in the synagogues,

NLT: And they love to sit at the head table at banquets and in the seats of honor in the synagogues.

KJV: And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues,

NKJV: They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues,

The motive behind the public image of the scribes and Pharisees is selfishness, says Jesus. They do their good deeds to be seen and applauded by others. The actions are good, in and of themselves, but are done to gain the approval of men. To be noticed for their religiosity, they make sure the required articles of worship they wear are oversized (Matthew 23:1–5).

Further, these religious leaders love being recognized for their religiosity, including special privileges. The most honored seats at banquets were those closest to the host. Similarly, the esteemed positions in the synagogue were probably those closest to the scrolls of the law, or the most visible. At another time, Jesus responded to some who were jockeying for the most honored seats at a banquet by telling the people this in Luke 14:8–11:

"When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in a place of honor, lest someone more distinguished than you be invited by him, and he who invited you both will come and say to you, 'Give your place to this person,' and then you will begin with shame to take the lowest place. But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you, 'Friend, move up higher.' Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

The Pharisees looked for ways to exalt themselves, rather than for ways to express humility.

Matthew 23:1–12 begins Jesus' condemnation of Israel's religious leaders, summarized with the phrase "the scribes and the Pharisees." He warns those listening not to follow their example, since they don't practice what they preach. Their words imply heavy burdens, but their actions don't reflect the same. They make no effort to help others fulfill those requirements. In fact, everything they do is for show: only to be seen and approved of by others. They make a great show of religious clothes and symbols, jockey for the seats of honor everywhere they go, and take enormous pride in their prestigious spiritual titles.

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.