'Woe to You' - Part One

The religious leaders of Jesus day, wanted to trick Jesus into doing or saying something that they could hold against Him because they wanted to kill Him. In the last week of Jesus life, Jesus tells them and the people exactly what He knows of the religious leaders, and how the people should respond to them in the future.

To the people Jesus acknowledges the Jewish leaders place of authority and from whom it was given. He tells the people they must obey them as they have been given authority to uphold the law. However, the people are cautioned not to follow the example of the Jewish leaders because they do not practice what they preach. Jesus points out that the Jewish leaders have exalted themselves above all, are in it for the status and prestige the job brings to them, and they do not have a loving, servants’ heart.

Then He specifically addresses the Jewish leaders in front of the people with six ‘woe to you’ statements (Matthew 23).

#1 Woe to You – “For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men, for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in. For you devour widow’s houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore, you will receive greater condemnation.” Matt. 23:13-14

Jesus is telling the Jewish leaders they have not interpreted scripture correctly. In fact, they are doing the exact thing they are trying to pin on Jesus, teaching false doctrine. As a result, of their misinterpretation, they have not led the people to salvation but rather have given them a false sense of security. They do not have a saving faith themselves and they are not leading the people to one either.

#2 Woe to You – “For you travel the land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.” Matt. 23:15

There is a leadership principle that says, ‘What leaders allow in moderation, those under them practice in excess.’

#3 Woe to You – “Whoever swears by the temple, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple, he is obliged to perform it. Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifies the gold? And, whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing but whoever swears by the gift that is on it, he is obliged to perform it. Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifies it?” Therefore, he who swears by the altar, swears by it and by all things on it. He who swears by the temple swears by it and by Him who dwells in it. And he who swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God and by Him who sits on it.” Matt. 23:16-19

The Jewish leaders had all kinds of secular rules mostly to suit their own needs. In this case they had created a way to avoid accountability for an oath if it was made by swearing on specific things. It was a way to lie, to be less than truthful, but without looking like they were lying.

Part 2 to follow