SEV Biblia, Chapter 23:3
Así que, todo lo que os dijeren que guardis, guardadlo y hacedlo; mas no hagis conforme a sus obras; porque dicen, y no la hacen.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Matthew 23:3
Verse 3. All therefore whatsoever] That is, all those things which they read out of the law and prophets, and all things which they teach consistently with them. This must be our Lord's meaning: he could not have desired them to do every thing, without restriction, which the Jewish doctors taught; because himself warns his disciples against their false teaching, and testifies that they had made the word of God of none effect by their traditions. See chap. xv. 6, &c. Besides, as our Lord speaks here in the past tense-whatsoever they HAVE commanded, osa eipwsin, he may refer to the teaching of a former period, when they taught the way of God in truth, or were much less corrupted than they were now.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 3. All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe , etc.] This must be restrained to things that were agreeable to the chair of Moses, in which they sat, to the law of Moses, which they read and explained, to other parts of Scripture and truth in general; for otherwise many of their glosses and traditions were repugnant to the law, and ought not to be observed, as appears from ( Matthew 5:1-48, 15:6). The word observe, in this clause, is omitted by the Vulgate Latin, Arabic, and Ethiopic versions, and in Munsters Hebrew Gospel; and Beza says, it is wanting in one ancient copy, but is in others; and is retained in the Syriac and Persic versions that observe and do ; hearken to what they say, give diligent heed unto it, take notice of it, and act according to it: but do not ye after their works ; let their doctrine be the rule of your lives, so far as it agrees with the law of Moses; but let not their actions be drawn into an example by you; conform to their instructions, but do not imitate their practices: for they say, and do not ; they talk of good works, but do none; they bid others do them, but do not practise them themselves; they very strictly and severely enjoin them on others, but are very careless themselves to observe them; and of this the Jews are so conscious, that they suggest the same doctrine f1222 . The daughter of Ahar (a wicked man) came before Rabbi; she said to him, Rabbi, supply me with the necessaries of life: he replied to her, daughter, who art thou? she answered him, the daughter of Ahar: he said to her, is there any of his seed in the world? for lo! it is written, ( Job 18:19). He shall neither have son, nor nephew, among his people, nor any remaining, in his dwellings: she replied to him, wy[m rwkzt law wtrwtl rwkz , remember his law, or doctrine, but do not remember his works. Says R. Jochanan, what is that which is written, ( Malachi 2:7). For the priests lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth; for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts. If the doctor is like to an angel, or messenger of the Lord of hosts, they should seek the law at his mouth; and if not, they should not seek the law at his mouth. Says Resh Lekish, R. Meir found and explained that Scripture, ( Proverbs 22:17). Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart to my knowledge: to their knowledge it is not said, but to my knowledge. R. Chanina says, hence, ( Psalm 45:10). Hearken, O daughter! and consider, incline thine ear, forget thine own people, and thy fathers house: on which the gloss is, forget their works, and do not learn them: he that knows how to take care not to learn their works, may learn the law from their mouths. And a little after, the disciples of the wise men are like to a nut; as a nut, though it is defiled with mire and filth, yet that which is within it is not to be rejected; so a scholar, or a disciple of a wise man, though he act wickedly, his law, or doctrine, is not to be despised. Good doctrine is not the worse for being taught by bad men; nor are good works to be slighted and neglected, because they are not done by all that teach them; but it must be owned that examples are very useful and forcible, and practice greatly recommends doctrine; and it is to be wished, that they both always went together.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-12 - The scribes and Pharisees explained the law of Moses, and enforce obedience to it. They are charged with hypocrisy in religion. We can only judge according to outward appearance; but God searches the heart They made phylacteries. These were scrolls of paper or parchment wherein were written four paragraphs of the law, to be worn on their foreheads and left arms, Ex 13:2-10; 13:11-16; De 6:4-9; 11:13-21. The made these phylacteries broad, that they might be thought more zealou for the law than others. God appointed the Jews to make fringes upo their garments, Nu 15:38, to remind them of their being a peculia people; but the Pharisees made them larger than common, as if they wer thereby more religious than others. Pride was the darling, reigning sin of the Pharisees, the sin that most easily beset them, and which ou Lord Jesus takes all occasions to speak against. For him that is taugh in the word to give respect to him that teaches, is commendable; but for him that teaches, to demand it, to be puffed up with it, is sinful How much is all this against the spirit of Christianity! The consisten disciple of Christ is pained by being put into chief places. But wh that looks around on the visible church, would think this was the spirit required? It is plain that some measure of this antichristia spirit prevails in every religious society, and in every one of ou hearts.
Greek Textus Receptus
παντα 3956 A-APN ουν 3767 CONJ οσα 3745 K-APN αν 302 PRT ειπωσιν 2036 5632 V-2AAS-3P υμιν 5213 P-2DP τηρειν 5083 5721 V-PAN τηρειτε 5083 5720 V-PAM-2P και 2532 CONJ ποιειτε 4160 5720 V-PAM-2P κατα 2596 PREP δε 1161 CONJ τα 3588 T-APN εργα 2041 N-APN αυτων 846 P-GPM μη 3361 PRT-N ποιειτε 4160 5720 V-PAM-2P λεγουσιν 3004 5719 V-PAI-3P γαρ 1063 CONJ και 2532 CONJ ου 3756 PRT-N ποιουσιν 4160 5719 V-PAI-3P
Robertson's NT Word Studies
23:3 {For they say and do not} (legousin kai ou poiousin). "As teachers they have their place, but beware of following their example" (Bruce). So Jesus said: "Do not ye after their works " (m poieite). Do not practice their practices. They are only preachers. Jesus does not here disapprove any of their teachings as he does elsewhere. The point made here is that they are only teachers (or preachers) and do not practice what they teach as God sees it.
