Six Woes

We have already noted that the experts of the law and the Pharisees majored on the minors. They focused on the details of the law, while missing the design and purpose of the law, which was to make the people aware of their sins.

That’s bad enough, but they also focused on the Law exclusively, completely ignoring the prophets. The prophets were the ones who called Israel to repent of their sins and foretold the coming of the Messiah.

(6) The third woe is the final blow: Jesus accused the Scribes and Pharisees of hindering people from knowing and responding to the Truth.

In the Gospel of Matthew Jesus was even more direct when he said “that they were blind guides, who were leading people astray.”

Instead of teaching the people how they could renew their relationship with God they were pushing people away from God. This is why Jesus was so upset with them.

Unfortunately the response of the Pharisees and Experts in the Law was not repentance, but rejection and resentment. This was the “last straw.” They would no longer try to work with Jesus, or try to get him to come over to their line of thinking. In the weeks and months that followed they did their best to discredit Jesus in the eyes of the Jewish people, while looking for an opportunity to get rid of him once and for all. This was the beginning of the end. The cross was just over the horizon.

Conclusion: Now what exactly can we learn from this passage of Scripture. I think the main thing we need to remember is that God despises Hypocrites just as much today as He did back then. He hates for people to pretend to be something that they aren’t.

We like to think we’re okay. That this passage of Scripture doesn’t apply to us. But in reality it does.

*We sing “This is the Day” but instead of being glad in it, we’re mad about it.

* We sing “O Worship the King” but we’re more concerned about whose winning the UK ballgame than we are about worshiping the Lord.

*We sing “Sweet hour of Prayer” but are content with 3 minutes a day.

*We sing, “Serve the Lord with Gladness” and then gripe and complain about everything we have been asked to do.

*We sing, “People need the Lord.” And never walk across the street to invite our neighbors to church.

*We condemn our brothers and sisters in Christ for their sins but never even stop to consider the possibility that we may have some things in our life that we need to change.

As we come to this time of decision Perhaps we like David need to pray:

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; Test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalm 139:23-24)