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 23:15KJV
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Matthew 23:15 (KJV)

What does Matthew 23:15 mean?

Matthew 23:15 describes Jesus warning the scribes and Pharisees that their efforts to convert others actually lead those converts even further away from God, making them "twofold more the child of hell" than the Pharisees themselves. Jesus calls out their hypocrisy, saying their missionary zeal results in spiritual harm rather than good.

In this verse, Jesus is speaking directly to the religious leaders of his day, criticizing their actions and motives in front of the crowds. The scribes and Pharisees were known for their strict religious practices and for trying to win converts ("proselytes"). Jesus accuses them of traveling great distances to make a single convert, but then teaching that person in a way that makes them even more trapped in hypocrisy and spiritual danger.

The Greek behind Matthew 23:15

  • "Woe" (οὐαί, ouai): This Greek word is a strong expression of grief or warning, not just mild disapproval. Jesus is pronouncing serious trouble or judgment on the religious leaders.
  • "Proselyte" (προσήλυτος, prosēlytos): This word means a convert, specifically someone who has adopted the Jewish faith from another background. The verse points out that the Pharisees' influence on these converts is negative.
  • "Child of hell" (υἱὸς γεέννης, huios geennēs): The phrase uses "child" (υἱὸς, huios) to mean someone who belongs to or is destined for a certain fate, and "hell" (γεέννα, geenna) refers to a place of judgment. Jesus is saying the converts become even more deserving of judgment than their teachers.

Why Matthew 23:15 matters

  • Matthew 23:15 clears up the idea that religious zeal alone is not enough—what matters is the truth and spirit behind it. Even passionate efforts can be harmful if they lead people away from genuine faith.
  • The verse highlights Jesus's strong criticism of hypocrisy, especially among those in spiritual authority. It shows that leading others astray is a serious offense.
  • This warning fits into the larger context of Matthew 23, where Jesus delivers a series of rebukes to the religious leaders, exposing the gap between their outward appearance and their inner reality.

Where else these words appear

“more” Greek G1362 · used in 3 verses

  • 1 Timothy 5:17 Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.
  • Revelation 18:6 Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double.

“proselyte” Greek G4339 · used in 4 verses

  • Acts 2:10 Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,
  • Acts 6:5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:
  • Acts 13:43 Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.

“compass” Greek G4013 · used in 6 verses

  • Matthew 4:23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.
  • Matthew 9:35 And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.
  • Acts 13:11 And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand.

“land” Greek G3584 · used in 7 verses

  • Matthew 12:10 And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him.
  • Luke 6:8 But he knew their thoughts, and said to the man which had the withered hand, Rise up, and stand forth in the midst. And he arose and stood forth.
  • John 5:3 In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water.