Matthew 23

Master

Master — Teacher, Guide

But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. Matthew 23:8–10

Jesus tells His disciples not to seek fancy titles, because they have one true Teacher, Christ, and one Father in heaven. He names Himself Christ, their only Master.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him

• the same title in John 13:13 — "Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am."
• the same title in Matthew 19:16 — The young man calls Him "Good Master."

Jehovah

Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city: Matthew 23:34

Jesus says "I send" the prophets, taking for Himself the role of the God of Israel who sent prophet after prophet. This fits the Latter-day Saint teaching that He is Jehovah, who called Israel's prophets before His birth.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• a parallel account in Luke 11:49 — Luke attributes the sending to "the wisdom of God."
• alludes to 2 Chronicles 36:15-16 — The LORD God sent His messengers, but Israel mocked them and misused His prophets.
• alludes to Jeremiah 7:25 — The LORD: "I have even sent unto you all my servants the prophets."

Abel (type)

That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar. Matthew 23:35

Righteous Abel, the first innocent man killed, heads the list of martyrs whose blood the generation that crucifies Jesus will answer for. Abel's innocent, shed blood is a soft foreshadowing of Christ's, whose blood speaks better things.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• alludes to Genesis 4:8 — Cain rises up against Abel and slays him.
• alludes to 2 Chronicles 24:20-21 — Zechariah is stoned in the court of the house of the LORD.
• a type of what is in Hebrews 12:24 — Jesus' "blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel."

Jehovah

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Matthew 23:37–38

Jesus weeps over Jerusalem with a mother's love, saying how often He would have gathered Israel under His wings. "How often" reaches back through the centuries when, as Jehovah, He sent prophets to gather them. He repeats this very image to the Nephites and in latter-day revelation.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• a parallel account in Luke 13:34-35 — Luke's form of the lament over Jerusalem.
• alluded to by 3 Nephi 10:4-6 — The Lord's voice: "how oft have I gathered you as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings."
• alluded to by D&C 29:2 — The Lord will gather His people "as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings."
• alludes to Psalm 91:4 — "Under his wings shalt thou trust."

Second Coming

For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. Matthew 23:39

Jesus prophesies that Jerusalem will not see Him again until they welcome Him as the promised One. This looks ahead to His Second Coming, when the Jews will recognize Him.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• quotes Psalm 118:26 — "Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD."
• the same title in Matthew 21:9 — The crowds used these words at the triumphal entry.
• the same event in Zechariah 12:10 — "They shall look upon me whom they have pierced."
• the same event in D&C 45:51-52 — The Jews look upon Him and learn "I am Jesus that was crucified."