Explanation of Scripture read by Orthodox Christians on the 11th Monday after Pentecost - Matthew 23:13-22 2 Corinthians 2:4-15

Questions only

Questions - list of Topics
Answers only: HTML   Plain Text

QUESTION 1

"Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation." Matthew 23:14

How did the Pharisees "devour widows' houses"?

QUESTION 2

What made the Pharisees' criminal conduct even more abominable than that of a common criminal?

QUESTION 3

Were all the Pharisees hypocrites? Name at least two that were saved.

QUESTION 4

"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." (Vs 15)

According to one of the fathers, when Jesus mentions "for ye compass sea and land", it is a sort of prophesy. What?

QUESTION 5

"Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor!" (Vs 16

What false custom is Jesus describing? What was the primary motivation of this custom?

QUESTION 6

{15} For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:" (A Corinthians 2:15)

St. Paul's statements brings to mind Old Testament imagery, where he links to "sweet savour" unto God and Christ. What is he alluding to?