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Mat_23:13. Here begins the direct and withering apostrophe of Jesus to His adversaries themselves who are still present, this part of the address consisting of seven woes, and extending to Mat_23:36. For the spurious Mat_23:14, Elz., concerning the devouring of widows’ houses, see the critical remarks. The characteristic feature in this torrent of woes is its intense righteous indignation, such as we meet with in the prophets of old (comp. Isa_5:8; Isa_10:1; Hab_2:6 ff.),—an indignation which abandons the objects of it as past all hope of amendment, and cuts down every bridge behind them. To Celsus (in Origen, ii. 76) all this sounded as mere empty threat and scolding.
ὅτι ] assigns the reason of this οὐαί .
κλείετε , κ . τ . λ .] The approaching kingdom of the Messiah is conceived of under the figure of a palace, the doors of which have been thrown open in order that men may enter. But such is the effect of the opposition offered to Christ by the scribes and Pharisees, that men withhold their belief from the Messiah who has appeared among them, and show themselves indifferent to the δικαιοσύνη , necessary in order to admission into the kingdom from which they are consequently excluded. Comp. Luk_11:52. They thus shut the door of the kingdom in men’s faces.
ὑμεῖς γὰρ , κ . τ . λ .] explanatory reason.
τοὺς εἰσερχομ .] who are trying, who are endeavouring to obtain admission. See Bernhardy, p. 370 f.