Note 12 at Mt 23:15: The Greek noun translated "proselyte" here is "PROSELUTOS." It comes from a verb meaning "to approach" (Strong's Concordance) and is used to designate a stranger from a foreign region (Ex 22:21, 23:9; and De 10:19). The Law of Moses permitted certain rights to strangers living in Israel but obligated them to comply with certain religious laws.

Strangers were not to blaspheme God's name (Le 24:16), indulge in idolatrous worship (Le 20:2), work on the Sabbath (Ex 20:10), eat leavened bread during the Passover (Ex 12:19), or eat blood or the bodies of animals that had died of natural causes or were torn by wild beasts (Le 17:10 and 15). If a stranger wanted to become a citizen, he was to be circumcised and come under the observance of the whole Law (Ex 12:48-49). Exceptions to this were the Ammonites and Moabites (De 23:3).

The wide usage of the word "proselyte" in the New Testament means "a convert to Judaism" (Mt 23:15; Ac 2:10, 6:5, and 13:43). Its general meaning refers to a convert from one religion to another.

Note 13 at Mt 23:15: Jesus bore witness to the evangelistic zeal of the scribes and Pharisees. However, they were not converting people to the Lord but rather to follow their own traditions. Likewise, many religious groups today appear zealous for God, but if their intentions were analyzed, they would be just like this group that Jesus was rebuking.

Most people are motivated to tell others of Jesus by preaching that scares or condemns them for failure to do so. They don't witness, but instead, what comes across is harsh legalism that always accompanies "works-oriented" religion.

Those receiving the witness might accept the Lord in spite of the motives behind the witness, but if they continue to associate with that group, they will be poisoned by these hypocritical motives.