The PassionNäide

Woe! Woe! Woe! Woe!

This word evokes a picture of a maligned old prophet or prophetess, a harbinger of calamity. I can see the ominous grey clouds rolling in. Disaster is coming.

Here, the prophet in question is none other than Jesus, in Jerusalem, awaiting His imminent death. Yet before His death, He calls out those who will have His blood on their hands.

The Pharisees and scribes’ pride has led them to neglect the significance of justice and mercy. Here, too, their pride for appearing perfect has led them to ignore the sins they try to hide, like greed and self-indulgence.

Have you noticed how closely Jesus’ condemnation of the scribes and Pharisees echoes what He’s already said in Matthew’s gospel? In Matthew 6:19, Jesus taught us not to lay up treasures on earth, yet the Pharisees are still greedy. Multiple times in Matthew 6, we are told not to be like hypocrites and perform for God in order to get praise from humans. In Matthew 15:11, we read that being cleansed on the inside matters far above outward cleanliness. The Pharisees have consistently ignored these teachings of Jesus.

Worst of all, their pride has led them to harden their hearts, reject God’s word, and kill those who bring it—it even blinds them from what they are about to do. They are just like their fathers who killed the prophets of old.

The Sermon on the Mount was Jesus’ invitation for us to enter the kingdom; those who hear the call and enter are blessed. Now Jesus repeats His instructions to pronounce judgement on those who would not enter; woe to them! The promise of judgement should bring us healthy fear. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Proverbs 9:10, ESV).

Today, ponder this: When have you rejected God’s words, whether in the form of written Scripture or wise counsel from a church leader or elder in the faith? When have you not lived in light of God’s future judgement? Pray as the Psalmist did: “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalm 139:23-24, ESV)