Matthew 23:3 — ExegesisTAB

The verse opens with the inferential sequence panta oun hosa {πάντα οὖν ὅσα | pán-ta oun hó-sa}, where the neuter plural panta is further specified by the relative hosa, yielding the sense “therefore, all that, whatever.” This is followed by the conditional clause ean eiposin hymin {ἐὰν εἴπωσιν ὑμῖν | e-an eí-pō-sin hy-mîn}, which combines ean with the aorist subjunctive to express a generic or whenever-type condition (“whenever they might say to you”). The main clause then presents a compound imperative, poiesate kai tereite {ποιήσατε καὶ τηρεῖτε | poi-ḗ-sa-te kaí tē-reî-te}, pairing an aorist imperative, which can emphasize decisive action (“do”), with a present imperative, which highlights ongoing conduct (“keep on observing”). This creates an instruction both to respond and to continue in what is taught. The adversative clause kata de ta erga auton me poieite {κατὰ δὲ τὰ ἔργα αὐτῶν μὴ ποιεῖτε | ka-tá dè tá ér-ga au-tôn mḕ poi-eî-te} uses kata with the accusative to mean “according to, in line with,” marking the works of these leaders as a pattern that must not be imitated, with mē plus the present imperative forbidding a continuing practice. The explanatory clause legousin gar kai ou poiousin {λέγουσιν γὰρ καὶ οὐ ποιοῦσιν | lé-gou-sin gár kaí poi-oû-sin} employs present indicative verbs to depict an ongoing habit: their constant saying is not matched by corresponding doing. In translation, the inferential oun is rendered as “therefore” or “so” to connect the statement to the preceding context, the conditional structure is smoothed into “whatever they tell you” while preserving the breadth indicated by panta and hosa, and the parallelism of “say / do” is maintained to keep the sharp contrast between profession and practice that is central to the verse’s rhetorical force.