Matthew 23:29
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous,
Original Language Analysis
καὶ
and
G2532
καὶ
and
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
4 of 18
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
Φαρισαῖοι
Pharisees
G5330
Φαρισαῖοι
Pharisees
Strong's:
G5330
Word #:
5 of 18
a separatist, i.e., exclusively religious; a pharisean, i.e., jewish sectary
ὑποκριταί
hypocrites
G5273
ὑποκριταί
hypocrites
Strong's:
G5273
Word #:
6 of 18
an actor under an assumed character (stage-player), i.e., (figuratively) a dissembler ("hypocrite"
ὅτι
! because
G3754
ὅτι
! because
Strong's:
G3754
Word #:
7 of 18
demonstrative, that (sometimes redundant); causative, because
οἰκοδομεῖτε
ye build
G3618
οἰκοδομεῖτε
ye build
Strong's:
G3618
Word #:
8 of 18
to be a house-builder, i.e., construct or (figuratively) confirm
τοὺς
G3588
τοὺς
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
9 of 18
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
τῶν
G3588
τῶν
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
11 of 18
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
προφητῶν
of the prophets
G4396
προφητῶν
of the prophets
Strong's:
G4396
Word #:
12 of 18
a foreteller ("prophet"); by analogy, an inspired speaker; by extension, a poet
καὶ
and
G2532
καὶ
and
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
13 of 18
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
κοσμεῖτε
garnish
G2885
κοσμεῖτε
garnish
Strong's:
G2885
Word #:
14 of 18
to put in proper order, i.e., decorate (literally or figuratively); specially, to snuff (a wick)
τὰ
G3588
τὰ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
15 of 18
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
μνημεῖα
the sepulchres
G3419
μνημεῖα
the sepulchres
Strong's:
G3419
Word #:
16 of 18
a remembrance, i.e., cenotaph (place of interment)
Historical Context
Second Temple period Jews built elaborate tomb monuments, especially for prophets and righteous figures. Absalom's Pillar and the Tomb of Zechariah in Kidron Valley date to this era. These monuments demonstrated supposed reverence for God's messengers. But Jesus spoke this days before the Sanhedrin (composed largely of Pharisees and Sadducees) would illegally try Him, suborn false witnesses, and demand Roman crucifixion—exactly what their ancestors did to the prophets.
Questions for Reflection
- How do we honor past spiritual heroes while rejecting current prophetic voices that challenge our comfort and compromise?
- What monuments, institutions, or traditions have you built to commemorate past faithfulness while ignoring present calls to repentance?
- In what ways does celebrating historical Christian courage serve as substitute for present obedience to costly discipleship?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous (οἰκοδομεῖτε τοὺς τάφους τῶν προφητῶν καὶ κοσμεῖτε τὰ μνημεῖα τῶν δικαίων)—kosmeite means "to adorn, decorate, beautify." The Pharisees constructed elaborate monuments honoring martyred prophets—likely including Isaiah (tradition says sawn in two, Hebrews 11:37), Jeremiah (stoned in Egypt, tradition), Zechariah (2 Chronicles 24:20-22). This appeared pious: honoring God's messengers their ancestors killed.
But Jesus exposes the irony: they honor dead prophets while preparing to kill the Prophet standing before them. They've turned martyrdom memorials into monuments to their own imagined righteousness—"We would never do what our ancestors did." This self-congratulation while plotting Jesus's murder reveals that honoring past prophets can camouflage rejection of present ones.