Matthew 23:15

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.

Matthew 23:15 (KJV)

Context

This verse belongs to the series of “woes” Jesus pronounces on the scribes and Pharisees in Matthew 23. The preceding woe condemns them for devouring widows’ houses while making long prayers for show; the following woe calls them “blind guides.” Together these lines show that Jesus is exposing the hypocrisy of religious leaders who appear devout but lead others astray.

Meaning

Jesus first names the offenders: “scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites.” Then he describes their missionary zeal: they “compass sea and land to make one proselyte,” meaning they travel great distances to gain a single convert to their religious system. Yet the result is tragic: when the convert is made, they make him “twofold more the child of hell” than themselves. The phrase “child of hell” (literally “son of Gehenna”) is a Hebrew idiom for someone deserving of divine judgment. The accusation is that their teaching and influence do not lead to true righteousness but actually increase the convert’s condemnation.

Biblical connections

The warning echoes Jesus’ earlier charge that the Pharisees “shut up the kingdom of heaven against men” (Matthew 23:13). Their zeal is misdirected because it promotes human tradition over the weightier matters of the law, such as justice, mercy, and faith (Matthew 23:23).

Application

This verse warns against religious zeal that is not grounded in the knowledge of God. It is possible to be active in evangelism or teaching and yet lead people away from Christ by hypocrisy. True discipleship must point others to Jesus, not to a system of human rules. The passage calls for self-examination: does our influence make others more like Christ, or more like the hypocritical leaders Jesus rebukes?

Reflection

Jesus’ strong language reveals the seriousness of leading others astray. Yet the same Jesus who pronounces this woe also weeps over Jerusalem (Matthew 23:37), showing that his rebuke is meant to call sinners to repentance. The proper response is to humble ourselves, receive his correction, and follow him in sincere faith.