Matthew 23:13-22, Seven Woes Continued

13 “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people's faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in. 15 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves.

16 “Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.’ 17 You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that has made the gold sacred? 18 And you say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gift that is on the altar, he is bound by his oath.’ 19 You blind men! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that makes the gift sacred? 20 So whoever swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. 21 And whoever swears by the temple swears by it and by him who dwells in it. 22 And whoever swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by him who sits upon it.

Comments

A “woe” is a converse of “blessing” that describes a wrong way in relationship to God, pronouncing judgment on those who follow it and teach it. Jesus was the only way into the kingdom of God, and the scribes and Pharisees were trying to prevent people going to Jesus to receive salvation. Jesus called their followers “children of hell,” meaning they were destined for hell and not salvation in Christ.

Jesus had already declared all oaths as inappropriate for his disciples. They were simply to trust God.

Prayer

Teach me, O my Lord Jesus, instruct me, that I may learn from thee what I ought to teach concerning thee.

(Archbishop of Canterbury William Laud, 1573-1645)