Matthew 23:13 Meaning and Explanation
“But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Jesus pronounces the first woe: the leaders bar the way to the kingdom, refusing to enter and blocking others who would.
What Does Matthew 23:13 Mean?
Here begins a series of solemn 'woes,' the counterpart to the blessings of the Beatitudes. A woe is a lament and a warning at once. Jesus charges the leaders with hypocrisy, meaning a gap between the outward role and the inward reality, and with closing the door to the kingdom of heaven.
The gravest failure of a guide is to lead people away from God rather than toward him. By rejecting Jesus and discouraging those drawn to him, the leaders kept others from the very life they were meant to open. This is a sober word for all who teach: the responsibility to point others toward God is sacred. The door to the kingdom stands open in Christ; no one should ever be the one who shuts it.
Matthew 23:13 in the Original Language
hypokrites (ὑποκριτής), 'hypocrite' -- originally an actor who plays a part behind a mask, one whose outward role hides the true self.
Frequently Asked Questions About Matthew 23:13
What does Matthew 23:13 mean?
Jesus pronounces the first woe: the leaders bar the way to the kingdom, refusing to enter and blocking others who would.