After Jesus stymied the efforts of the religious leaders to catch-him-out with questions, they retreat. Jesus redirects His teaching.
Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, . . ."
This is odd, because the address contains seven curses against the religious leaders. But first He reinforces their position, while still calling out their practices.
“The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat, so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice. . . "
The English phrase "doesn't lift a finger" comes from Matthew 23:4, but the assistance they won't render is lifting the accusatory finger that "binds" or "looses" their burden.
The major problem was "They do all their deeds to be seen by others." (Matthew 23:5a). For example, they make their "phylacteries broad and their fringes long":
For a garrison, a phylactery (phylaktērion) is the secure keep of a castle. For the orthodox Jew it is a small box that contains special pieces of scripture and prayer straps (German “Gebetsriemen”) that binds it to their forehead, across their heart, and down their arm (See Josephus “The Antiquities of the Jews” Book IV Chapter 8 Section 13). This was done in reponse to commands of the Law (Exodus 13:16; Deuteronomy 6:8; Deuteronomy 11:18) as a reminder of the Exodus. But something that was to remind them personally was made conspicuous to impress others. (See modern day example).
Because He fulfilled the Law (Numbers 15:37-41), even Jesus had fringes (See Matthew 9:20; Matthew 14:36). But instead of attracting attention, they were simple reminders of the commandments. Unfortunately, why it is a reminder is not recorded. The only specific command is that they were to be bound by a cord of blue. This is a priestly color (Exodus 28:31-38) and bound the signet that said ‘Holy to the Lord’ to the turban of the High Priest.
One of the seven woes reads "you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence". To clean a cup or plate the first step is to empty it. How to empty it is called out by Christ in Luke’s account of a similar interaction (Luke 11:37-54).
But give as alms those things that are within, and behold, everything is clean for you.
The last of the woes, contains the prophetic imperative “Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers”. They should follow in their prophet-killing father’s footsteps. Jesus then rhetorically asks how they would avoid being sentenced to hell, for He knew they that that they would soon willingly, but unknowingly, participate in God’s gracious plan of redemption.
The section ends with a lament by Jesus over Jerusalem, because their resistance to God’s shepherding efforts has left them desolate and without their spiritual inheritance. Only their repentance (using the words of the crowd) would end their spiritual blindness.
See, your house is left to you desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again, until you say, Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’”
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