Tag Archives: Matthew 23:1

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.… Learn Koine Greek