Thoughts on Matthew 23:3

I am not convinced that we should take Jesus words “so practice and observe whatever they tell you-but not what they do” as literal (Matthew 23:3).  That is to say, “take the good in their teaching, but reject the bad of their behavior.”  For the following reasons:

1.  The entire chapter is a blistering critique of their behavior and their teachings.  It would seem contrary to me that Jesus would start off being complimentary to the Pharisees, “so practice and observe whatever they tell you, but not what they do” and then proceed to warn his listeners of the dangerous teaching and conduct of the Pharisees throughout the chapter.

2.  Some would say what Jesus means is any good or truthful saying the Pharisees teach if it corresponds to the Word.  I don’t deny that the Pharisees speak some truth, but that is not what Jesus qualifies here.  He doesn’t say “practice and observe only the good and true things they tell you.”  He says, “Practice and observe whatever they tell you.”  The word in the original language is best translated, “all things” or “each and every thing”.  Surely this isn’t to be taken literally since what follows in the chapter clearly contradicts this.

3.  Prior to this chapter, Jesus has spoken quite clearly on the misguided teachings of the Pharisees and told his disciples in no uncertain terms they are to avoid them (Matthew 7:21-23; 12:33-37; 15:3-14; 16:5-12).

4.  The entire point is that teaching and behavior should correspond; they can never be separated.  Teaching produces behavior (good or bad), and behavior points back to teaching (good or bad).  This is a consistent theme in this chapter and throughout the Bible and even the religious crowd recognize this (Matthew 21:28ff; 28:20; Romans 2:17-24).  This is why I take this reading to be more ironic and sarcastic.  Much like, “practice and observe what they tell you, but not what they do.”  The listener may respond, “But how can they do that?  Wouldn’t they be disqualified as a teacher of the Word?”  Or another response would be, “but how can we do that?  Ignore their life, but embrace their teaching when they don’t even embrace their teaching?” (See Exodus 18:19-20; Deuteronomy 4:5; 5:27; Matthew 7:21ff; 2 Corinthians 11:16; Titus 1:16 which is the exact point, the statement only heighten their hypocrisy.    

I am thankful for the thoughtful scholarship of D.A. Carson from his “Matthew Commentary” in “The Expositors Bible Commentary” and David Garland’s “Reading Matthew” in bringing this alternative view to serious discussion.