# Connecting Statement:

Jesus begins to rebuke the religious leaders because of their hypocrisy.

# But woe to you

"How terrible it will be for you!" See how you translated this in [Matthew 11:21](../11/20.md).

# You shut the kingdom of heaven against people

Here "kingdom of heaven" refers to God's rule as king. This phrase is found only in the book of Matthew. If possible, keep "heaven" in your translation. AT: "You prevent people from accepting our God in heaven as their king" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]])

# you do not enter it

"you do not accept God as your king"

# neither do you allow those about to enter to do so

"neither do you allow those who want to accept God as their king to do so"

# you go over sea and land

This is an idiom that means they go to distant places. AT: "you travel great distances" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])

# to make one convert

"to make one person accept your religion"

# son of hell

Here "son of" is an idiom that means "one belonging to." AT: "person who belongs in hell" or "person who should go to hell" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])

# you devour widows' houses

In the footnote, "devour" is a metaphor that means to take by force. Possible meanings are 1) "houses" refers to their houses. AT: "you steal widows' homes from them" or 2) "houses" is synecdoche for all their possessions. AT: "you steal all the possessions of widows" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-synecdoche]])