Τότε ὁ Ἰησοῦς ἐλάλησε τοῖς ὄχλοις καὶ τοῖς μαθηταῖς αὐτοῦ (Matthew 23:1)
Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples.
The Moment Before the Rebuke
Matthew 23 begins with a formal and significant transition. The use of Τότε (“then”) marks a shift in narrative time and tone, preparing the audience for one of Jesus’ most scathing critiques—his denunciation of the scribes and Pharisees. This short verse is grammatically simple but theologically loaded. The grammar establishes a formal speech moment in which the audience is defined and the action is definitive.
ἐλάλησε: Aorist Declarative Action
The main verb ἐλάλησε (“he spoke”) is in the aorist active indicative, conveying a completed, past action. The verb λαλέω often emphasizes speech in terms of utterance or proclamation. Here, it sets the stage for a direct address to two specific groups: the ὄχλοι (crowds) and the μαθηταί (disciples). The aorist tense presents this moment as a decisive, unified event—a single, formal address that introduces a new section of teaching.
Dative Plurals: Two Audiences, One Message
The dative plural forms τοῖς ὄχλοις (“to the crowds”) and τοῖς μαθηταῖς αὐτοῦ (“to his disciples”) mark the recipients of Jesus’ speech. The use of two coordinated datives emphasizes that this teaching is public and inclusive. It is not a private discussion with his disciples, nor is it exclusively directed at the broader crowd—it is for both. This dual audience sets the tone for a message meant to both expose and instruct.
The Aorist That Opens a Discourse
Though simple in form, Matthew 23:1 functions as a formal gateway into a powerful discourse. The aorist verb ἐλάλησε declares that Jesus took initiative to speak; the double dative shows that the message was for all. What follows is a series of hard truths, but it begins with an inclusive address. Grammar frames the moment—Jesus speaks, and the world is meant to listen.
Parsing the Core Grammatical Forms
| Greek Form | Root | Part of Speech | Case | Number | Gender | Form | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ἐλάλησε | λαλέω | Verb | — | Singular | — | Aorist Active Indicative, 3rd Person | he spoke |
| τοῖς ὄχλοις | ὄχλος | Noun | Dative | Plural | Masculine | Definite Article + Noun | to the crowds |
| τοῖς μαθηταῖς αὐτοῦ | μαθητής | Noun + Pronoun | Dative | Plural | Masculine | Definite Article + Noun + Possessive Pronoun | to his disciples |
From Grammar to Theology: A Bridge to Condemnation and Compassion
What begins as a simple narrative clause unfolds into a climactic moment of gospel confrontation. Jesus’ speech in Matthew 23 is not merely a warning—it is a mirror. The grammatical structure of verse 1 is deliberate, positioning Jesus in a prophetic stance that echoes Old Testament oracles. The dual audience (crowds and disciples) signals that the condemnation of hypocrisy is both a warning to the hearers and an invitation to live differently.
Jesus does not begin with rebuke but with address. That choice—encoded in the syntax—establishes tone and posture. By opening with “then he spoke,” Matthew emphasizes timing, authority, and deliberateness. The gospel writer could have said “Jesus began to say” or “Jesus said.” But the use of ἐλάλησε with its aorist finality portrays a decisive entry into divine judgment and mercy.
The grammar matters because the stakes are high. This address marks the end of Jesus’ public teaching ministry in Matthew and foreshadows the passion narrative. He speaks once more to the many—and what he says echoes across centuries. The structure of the Greek sentence silently underlines the solemnity of the moment. The dative recipients may represent two groups, but in the divine economy, they converge into one audience: humanity.
Jesus speaks. To the religious. To the wandering. To us. This is where the grammar leads—not only to syntax, but to repentance and hope.
