Matthew 23:13

Woe. Gr. ouai, an exclamation of grief or denunciation (see on ch. 11:21). The seven woes (eight if that of ch. 23:14 be included; see on v. 14) illustrate the observations made in vs. 3-5 concerning the scribes and Pharisees. For Jesus’ purpose in uttering these scathing denunciations of the religious leaders of the nation see on v. 1.

Hypocrites. See on chs. 6:2; 7:5. The epithet appears seven times in ch. 23:13-29.

Shut up the kingdom. Primarily, the kingdom of divine grace, but eventually the kingdom of divine glory as well (see on chs. 4:17; 5:2). The scribes and Pharisees had made it almost impossible for the sincere in heart to find their way to salvation, first, by making religion an insufferable burden (ch. 23:4), and second, by their own hypocritical example (v. 3). Instead of illuminating the way of salvation, rabbinical tradition so obscured it that at best men could only grope their way along, as in a dense fog (see on Mark 7:5-13).

Ye neither go in. Their hypocritical way of life would bar them from entering.

Neither suffer ye. That is, neither permit ye. It was as if the scribes and Pharisees stood outside the gateway (see on ch. 7:13, 14) to keep men from entering in, and as if after bolting and barricading the door, they had thrown away the key, determined that none should enter. They were so exclusive as to think that the kingdom of heaven was a sort of private club into which only men who measured up to their standards might secure admission.