The Meaning of Matthew 23:15 Explained

Matthew 23:15

KJV: Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.

YLT: Woe to you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye go round the sea and the dry land to make one proselyte, and whenever it may happen -- ye make him a son of gehenna twofold more than yourselves.

Darby: Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, for ye compass the sea and the dry land to make one proselyte, and when he is become such, ye make him twofold more the son of hell than yourselves.

ASV: Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he is become so, ye make him twofold more a son of hell than yourselves.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Woe  unto you,  scribes  and  Pharisees,  hypocrites!  for  ye compass  sea  and  land  to make  one  proselyte,  and  when  he is made,  ye make  him  twofold more  the child  of hell  than yourselves. 

What does Matthew 23:15 Mean?

Study Notes

hell
Gehenna.
hell fire
Gr. "Geenna" = Gehenna, the place in the valley of Hinnom where, anciently, human sacrifices were offered. 2 Chronicles 33:6 ; Jeremiah 7:31 The word occurs,; Matthew 5:22 ; Matthew 5:29 ; Matthew 5:30 ; Matthew 10:28 ; Matthew 18:9 ; Matthew 23:15 ; Matthew 23:33 ; Mark 9:43 ; Mark 9:45 ; Mark 9:47 ; Luke 12:5 ; James 3:6 . In every instance except the last the word comes from the lips of Jesus Christ in most solemn warning of the consequences of sin. He describes it as the place where "their" worm never dies and of fire never to be quenched. The expression is identical in meaning with "lake of fire".; Revelation 19:20 ; Revelation 20:10 ; Revelation 20:14 ; Revelation 20:15 .
See "Death, the second" ( John 8:24 ; Revelation 21:8 ); also (See Scofield " Revelation 21:8 ") See Scofield " Luke 16:23 ".

Verse Meaning

The scribes and Pharisees were very zealous to get Jews to subscribe to their doctrinal convictions. Some commentators stress that the Pharisees made disciples to Judaism. This may have been true, but their chief offense was bringing Jews under their corrupt theology. [1] Jesus did not criticize them for their zeal. He criticized them because of what they taught their converts and the effect that this "conversion" had on their converts.
As noted previously, what marked the teaching of these leaders was that they gave the oral traditional interpretations and teachings of the rabbis at least the same authority as the Old Testament, if not more authority. Practically they twisted the Old Testament when it did not harmonize with the accepted teachings of the rabbis (cf. Matthew 5:21-48).
The converts to Pharisaism became more zealous for the traditions of the fathers than their teachers were. This is often the result of conversion. Students sometimes take the views of their teachers farther than their teachers do. The dynamic nature of the Pharisees" view of the authority of the fathers" interpretations increased this problem. When a person believes that Scriptural authority extends beyond the statements of Scripture there is no limit to what else may be authoritative. The Pharisees" interpretation of Messiah locked Jesus out of this role.
The proselytes were the sons of hell (Gehenna) in the sense that they belonged to hell and would go there eventually (cf. Matthew 8:12; Matthew 13:38). Rather than leading them to heaven, the Pharisees and teachers of the law led them to hell. Gehenna represented the place of eternal damnation, the lake of fire (cf. Matthew 25:51). Hades is the temporary abode of the wicked from which God will raise them for judgment at the great white throne and final damnation in the lake of fire ( Revelation 20:11-15).

Context Summary

Matthew 23:13-26 - Woes For The False-Hearted
These repeated woes may be translated, Alas for you! Our Lord with unfailing accuracy indicates the inevitable doom which such conduct as that of the Pharisees and scribes must incur. He forewarned them that they could expect nothing in the dread future but the judgment of Gehenna-the metaphor being taken from the valley of Hinnom, south of Jerusalem, where fires were kept burning to consume rubbish and refuse.
Hypocrisy is hiding under a cloak of religion the sins which the ordinary moralist and worldling would condemn. It is very injurious, because it hinders men from entering the Kingdom, Matthew 23:13. It is punctilious in its exactions, because while it strains out gnats, it swallows camels, Matthew 23:23-24. It expends itself on outward ritual-the Pharisees would not enter Pilate's hall on the day before the Passover, but they murdered the holy Savior. Above all things, let us be true, professing to be no more than we are! [source]

Chapter Summary: Matthew 23

1  Jesus admonishes the people to follow good doctrine, not bad examples
5  His disciples must beware of their ambition
13  He denounces eight woes against their hypocrisy and blindness,
34  and prophesies of the destruction of Jerusalem

Greek Commentary for Matthew 23:15

Twofold more a son of hell than yourselves [υιον γεεννης διπλοτερον μων]
It is a convert to Pharisaism rather than Judaism that is meant by “one proselyte” The Pharisees claimed to be in a special sense sons of the kingdom (Matthew 8:12). They were more partisan than pious. Διπλους — Diplous (twofold, double) is common in the papyri. The comparative here used, as if from διπλος — diplos appears also in Appian. Note the ablative of comparison hūmōn It was a withering thrust. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Matthew 23:15

Matthew 23:13 Hypocrites [υποκριται]
This terrible word of Jesus appears first from him in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 6:2, Matthew 6:5, Matthew 6:16; Matthew 7:5), then in Matthew 15:7 and Matthew 22:18. Here it appears “with terrific iteration” (Bruce) save in the third of the seven woes (Matthew 23:13, Matthew 23:15, Matthew 23:23, Matthew 23:25, Matthew 23:27, Matthew 23:29). The verb in the active The MSS. that insert it put it either before Matthew 23:13 or after Matthew 23:13. Plummer cites these seven woes as another example of Matthew‘s fondness for the number seven, more fancy than fact for Matthew‘s Gospel is not the Apocalypse of John. These are all illustrations of Pharisaic saying and not doing (Allen). [source]
Matthew 8:12 The sons of the kingdom [οι υιοι της βασιλειας]
A favourite Hebrew idiom like “son of hell” (Matthew 23:15), “sons of this age” (Luke 16:8). The Jews felt that they had a natural right to the privileges of the kingdom because of descent from Abraham (Matthew 3:9). But mere natural birth did not bring spiritual sonship as the Baptist had taught before Jesus did. [source]
John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil [υμεις εκ του πατρος του διαβολου]
Certainly they can “understand” It was like a bombshell in spite of the preliminary preparation. Your will to do Present active indicative of τελω — thelō and present active infinitive, “Ye wish to go on doing.” This same idea Jesus presents in Matthew 13:38 (the sons of the evil one, the devil) and Matthew 23:15 (twofold more a son of Gehenna than you). See also 1 John 3:8 for “of the devil” He even called them “broods of vipers” as Jesus did later (Matthew 12:34). A murderer Old and rare word (Euripides) from αντρωπος — anthrōpos man, and κτεινω — kteinō to kill. In N.T. only here and 1 John 3:15. The Jews were seeking to kill Jesus and so like their father the devil. Stood not in the truth Since ουκ — ouk not ουχ — ouch is genuine, the form of the verb is εστεκεν — esteken the imperfect of the late present stem στηκω — stēkō (Mark 11:25) from the perfect active εστηκα — hestēka (intransitive) of ιστημι — histēmi to place. No truth in him Inside him or outside (environment). The devil and truth have no contact. When he speaketh a lie Indefinite temporal clause with οταν — hotan and the present active subjunctive of λαλεω — laleō But note the article το — to “Whenever he speaks the lie,” as he is sure to do because it is his nature. Hence “he speaks out of his own” For he is a liar Old word for the agent in a conscious falsehood See 1 John 1:10; Romans 3:4. Common word in John because of the emphasis on αλητεια — alētheia (truth). And the father thereof (και ο πατηρ αυτου — kai ho patēr autou). Either the father of the lie or of the liar, both of which are true as already shown by Jesus. Autou in the genitive can be either neuter or masculine. Westcott takes it thus, “because he is a liar and his father (the devil) is a liar,” making “one,” not the devil, the subject of “whenever he speaks,” a very doubtful expression. [source]
John 8:44 Your will to do [τελετε ποιειν]
Present active indicative of τελω — thelō and present active infinitive, “Ye wish to go on doing.” This same idea Jesus presents in Matthew 13:38 (the sons of the evil one, the devil) and Matthew 23:15 (twofold more a son of Gehenna than you). See also 1 John 3:8 for “of the devil” He even called them “broods of vipers” as Jesus did later (Matthew 12:34). A murderer Old and rare word (Euripides) from αντρωπος — anthrōpos man, and κτεινω — kteinō to kill. In N.T. only here and 1 John 3:15. The Jews were seeking to kill Jesus and so like their father the devil. Stood not in the truth Since ουκ — ouk not ουχ — ouch is genuine, the form of the verb is εστεκεν — esteken the imperfect of the late present stem στηκω — stēkō (Mark 11:25) from the perfect active εστηκα — hestēka (intransitive) of ιστημι — histēmi to place. No truth in him Inside him or outside (environment). The devil and truth have no contact. When he speaketh a lie Indefinite temporal clause with οταν — hotan and the present active subjunctive of λαλεω — laleō But note the article το — to “Whenever he speaks the lie,” as he is sure to do because it is his nature. Hence “he speaks out of his own” For he is a liar Old word for the agent in a conscious falsehood See 1 John 1:10; Romans 3:4. Common word in John because of the emphasis on αλητεια — alētheia (truth). And the father thereof (και ο πατηρ αυτου — kai ho patēr autou). Either the father of the lie or of the liar, both of which are true as already shown by Jesus. Autou in the genitive can be either neuter or masculine. Westcott takes it thus, “because he is a liar and his father (the devil) is a liar,” making “one,” not the devil, the subject of “whenever he speaks,” a very doubtful expression. [source]
Acts 13:43 Of the devout proselytes [των σεβομενων προσηλυτων]
Of the worshipping proselytes described in Acts 13:16, Acts 13:25 as “those who fear God” (cf. Acts 16:14) employed usually of the uncircumcised Gentiles who yet attended the synagogue worship, but the word προσηλυτοι — prosēlutoi Yet the rabbis used it also of proselytes of the gate who had not yet become circumcised, probably the idea here. In the N.T. the word occurs only in Matthew 23:15; Acts 2:10; Acts 6:5; Acts 13:43. Many (both Jews and proselytes) followed Imperfect active of peithō either descriptive (were persuading) or conative (were trying to persuade). Paul had great powers of persuasion (Acts 18:4; Acts 19:8, Acts 19:26; Acts 26:28; Acts 28:23; 2 Corinthians 5:11; Galatians 1:10). These Jews “were beginning to understand for the first time the true meaning of their national history” (Furneaux), “the grace of God” to them. [source]
Revelation 18:6 Double the double [διπλωσατε τα διπλα]
First aorist imperative of διπλοω — diploō old verb (from διπλοος — diploos double, Matthew 23:15), here only in N.T. Διπλα — Diplā is simply the neuter plural accusative (cognate) contract form for διπλοα — diploa (not διπλω — diplō). Requite here in double measure, a full requital (Exodus 22:4, Exodus 22:7, Exodus 22:9; Isaiah 40:2; Jeremiah 16:18; Jeremiah 17:18; Zechariah 9:12). The double recompense was according to the Levitical law.Which she mingled (ωι εκερασεν — hōi ekerasen). First aorist active indicative of κεραννυμι — kerannumi The relative ωι — hōi is attracted to the locative case of its antecedent ποτηριωι — potēriōi (cup), for which see Revelation 14:8, Revelation 14:10; Revelation 17:4; Revelation 18:3.Mingle unto her double First aorist active imperative of the same verb κεραννυμι — kerannumi with the same idea of double punishment. [source]

What do the individual words in Matthew 23:15 mean?

Woe to you scribes and Pharisees hypocrites For you traverse the sea dry [land] to make one convert when he has become [so] you make him a son of hell twofold more than yourselves
Οὐαὶ ὑμῖν γραμματεῖς καὶ Φαρισαῖοι ὑποκριταί ὅτι περιάγετε τὴν θάλασσαν ξηρὰν ποιῆσαι ἕνα προσήλυτον ὅταν γένηται ποιεῖτε αὐτὸν υἱὸν γεέννης διπλότερον ὑμῶν

Οὐαὶ  Woe 
Parse: Interjection
Root: οὐαί  
Sense: alas, woe.
ὑμῖν  to  you 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative 2nd Person Plural
Root: σύ  
Sense: you.
γραμματεῖς  scribes 
Parse: Noun, Vocative Masculine Plural
Root: γραμματεύς  
Sense: a clerk, scribe, esp.
Φαρισαῖοι  Pharisees 
Parse: Noun, Vocative Masculine Plural
Root: Φαρισαῖος  
Sense: A sect that seems to have started after the Jewish exile.
ὑποκριταί  hypocrites 
Parse: Noun, Vocative Masculine Plural
Root: ὑποκριτής  
Sense: one who answers, an interpreter.
περιάγετε  you  traverse 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: περιάγω  
Sense: to lead around, to lead about with one’s self.
θάλασσαν  sea 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: θάλασσα  
Sense: the sea.
ξηρὰν  dry  [land] 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: ξηρός  
Sense: dry.
ποιῆσαι  to  make 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Infinitive Active
Root: ποιέω  
Sense: to make.
ἕνα  one 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: εἷς  
Sense: one.
προσήλυτον  convert 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: προσήλυτος  
Sense: a newcomer.
γένηται  he  has  become  [so] 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Subjunctive Middle, 3rd Person Singular
Root: γίνομαι  
Sense: to become, i.
ποιεῖτε  you  make 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: ποιέω  
Sense: to make.
υἱὸν  a  son 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: υἱός  
Sense: a son.
γεέννης  of  hell 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root: γέεννα  
Sense: Hell is the place of the future punishment call “Gehenna” or “Gehenna of fire”.
διπλότερον  twofold  more 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Masculine Singular, Comparative
Root: διπλόος 
Sense: twofold, double.
ὑμῶν  than  yourselves 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive 2nd Person Plural
Root: σύ  
Sense: you.