But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for you neither go in yourselves, neither allow you them that are entering to go in.
All Commentaries on Matthew 23:13 Go To Matthew 23
John Chrysostom
AD 407
By “the kingdom of heaven” is meant the Scriptures, because in them the kingdom of heaven is lodged; the understanding of these is the door. Or “the kingdom of heaven” is the blessedness of heaven, and the door thereof Christ, by Whom men enter in. Thedoor-keepers are the Priests, to whom is committed the word of teaching or interpreting Scripture, by which the door of truth is opened to men. The opening of this door is right interpretation. And observe that He said not, "Woe unto you,” for ye open, but, “for ye shut up;” the Scriptures then are not shut up, though they are obscure.
