Jesus publicly declares six woes against the Pharisees and experts in the law. We need to be careful not to distance ourselves from them because they could just as easily be woes against us.

Luke 11:45-54

45 One of the experts in the law answered him, “Teacher, when you say these things, you insult us also.”

46 Jesus replied, “And you experts in the law, woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them.

47 “Woe to you, because you build tombs for the prophets, and it was your ancestors who killed them. 48 So you testify that you approve of what your ancestors did; they killed the prophets, and you build their tombs. 49 Because of this, God in his wisdom said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and others they will persecute.’ 50 Therefore this generation will be held responsible for the blood of all the prophets that has been shed since the beginning of the world, 51 from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, this generation will be held responsible for it all.

52 “Woe to you experts in the law, because you have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering.”

53 When Jesus went outside, the Pharisees and the teachers of the law began to oppose him fiercely and to besiege him with questions, 54 waiting to catch him in something he might say.

We have just read Jesus’ woes to the Pharisees, and it isn’t a pretty picture. So much so that an expert in the law stands up and protests that Jesus’ words condemn the experts in the law as well.

The woes Jesus declares are all aimed at condemning the hypocrisy in the lives of the Pharisees and experts in the law. He points out that they strive to look holy on the outside, but their actions come from a hard heart that fails to recognise the love and grace of God.

How often have you read these woes and thought to yourself “yeah, those Pharisees and experts in the law – they were a bad bunch who just didn’t get it”? Have you ever stopped to think that these words might also be written as a warning to us? To me? To you?

Instead of reading Jesus’ words as “woe to you, Pharisees and experts in the law, for your hard heart”, how would it make you feel if it was “woe to you, [insert your name], for your hard heart”? Because how often do we strive to look holy to others, but on the inside we complain, judge, and blame others? We turn a blind eye to those in need, and we focus on our own comfort.

Head: Read through the passage, but replace “experts in the law” with your own name.

Heart: How does it feel realising that we can be as hard hearted as the Pharisees and experts in the law?

Hands: Try keeping a written tally of every time you a) complain about someone; and/or b) judge someone for their actions. Try doing it for an hour, a day, or a week.

Prayer: Dear heavenly Father. I come before you knowing that I am no better than the Pharisees and experts in the law. I know that my heart is hard, and I am sorry. Thank you that you sent Jesus despite this – that through him I can be forgiven for my hard heart. Please work in my heart to make me more like Jesus, to soften my heart. Amen

A song to listen to: Thank You for Saving Me

Vicki Meehan – Living Church Creek Road