Was it out of love that Jesus rebuked the scribes and Pharisees when he pronounced seven woes to them? Was it out of a temper tantrum? Why was Jesus so harsh and critical? If Jesus publicly rebuked the scribes and Pharisees in contemporary culture, many of us would assume that it would be unloving because his rebuke is simply harsh and critical. Many would assume that the public rebuke of the scribes and Pharisees would not be wise because it was not first sought out in private conversation. Many would assume that Jesus is too quick to judge. What does Jesus–the God-man in his early thirties–know that the Pharisees do not?
Although the scribes and Pharisees were supposed to lead God’s people by example, they had implemented their own traditions in equivalence to the Word of God and lived a life that was contrary to what they had preached when it came to God’s Word. Jesus was aware of how dangerous the teaching of the scribes and Pharisees was. Jesus was aware that it affected not only the scribes and the Pharisees but also the crowds that fell under their teachings. Jesus loved the scribes and Pharisees in such a way that he publicly rebukes them, proclaims the truth, and calls them (and others under their teaching) to know Him.
Before I explain the love of Jesus for the scribes and Pharisees, I want to explore the seven woes that Jesus pronounced to them in Matthew 23:13-36. The seven woes were specifically stated for the ultimate purpose of saving souls. If Jesus had not made kingly pronouncements to the scribes and Pharisees (and crowds), we would not fully understand why the scribes and Pharisees were in the wrong.
The Seven Woes
The First Woe that Jesus pronounces is this: “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” (Mt. 23:13). The Pharisees struggled with a kind of pride that sought to establish a righteousness of their own. Their system was ultimately rooted in legalism and self-righteousness, obscuring the narrow gate through which everyone must enter the kingdom.
The Second Woe: “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” (v.15). The Pharisees had made Gentile converts but taught them the same hypocrisy that the Pharisees had practiced–a religion of works that was not based on true righteousness. Jesus states that the Pharisees had converted people to Judaism with their own hypocrisy that may eventually destine them and their converts to hell.
The Third Woe: “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’” (v. 16). The scribes and Pharisees had made this arbitrary distinction for lying with such impunity. Jesus called them “blind fools” for not recognizing that swearing by such things was virtually the same as swearing by God. Such oaths ought not to be taken lightly whether sworn by the objects of creation or God (vv.17-22; cf. 5:33-35).
The Fourth Woe: “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others” (v.23). Jesus was not condemning the scribes and Pharisees for their practice of the Law in this matter, but rather, their neglect of the “weightier matters of the law” which are justice, mercy, and faithfulness. The Pharisees were merely focused on external matters of the Law rather than the spiritual.
The Fifth Woe: “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence” (v.25). Jesus was addressing an issue where the scribes and Pharisees had lived as if external appearance was more important than internal reality. The Pharisees were rather indulged in this kind of living where their behavior was the heart of their hypocrisy, and we see that Jesus rebukes them repeatedly regarding this.
The Sixth Woe: “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness. So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness” (vv.27-28). Jesus pronounced this woe to point out the defilement of sin. Because the scribes and Pharisees had relied on external works of the Law to appear righteous before others, Jesus points out that they were defiled on the inside. Looks can be deceiving!
The Seventh Woe: “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and decorate the monuments of the righteous, saying, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets’” (vv.29-30; cf. vv.31-36). Jesus addressed the self-righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees. The Pharisees had professed that they would never partake in martyring prophets as their traditional fathers did but were so blinded by their own self-righteousness that they did not even recognize their own plotting of the Messiah’s murder.
The Scribes and the Pharisees
Now that we understand the seven woes that Jesus pronounced to the scribes and Pharisees, we get somewhat a glance at who the scribes and Pharisees were. They were well-known legal experts who were ascribed to the “traditions of the fathers” rather than the Bible. Although they had converted proselytes, they had led them to believe in their own hypocrisy. They had taught the Law of Moses but did not practice it and laid heavy burdens upon others by adding to the Law their own traditions (v.4; Mk. 7:6-9). They sought honor in high places and desired to be called rabbi (vv.6-7). The scribes and Pharisees relied on the external works of the Law and their lifestyle and behavior ultimately reflected hypocrisy to what they had taught.
The scribes and Pharisees taught the Law of Moses to the crowds. This was to be commended. However, the only downfall was that their lifestyle and behavior had not reflected what they had taught from God’s Word. Jesus commanded his disciples (and the crowds that lingered) to respect the scribes and Pharisees due to their position of authority by observing and obeying what they had taught insofar as it accords with the Word of God (v.2).
Out of Love for All
Did Jesus pronounce the seven woes in love? How was it done in love? If Jesus were simply pronouncing these woes as an effort to ridicule them, humiliate them, or make himself look superior to them, he indeed would have been unloving. But this is not the case. The tonality and verbiage that Jesus used should be understood as a love-motivated attempt to bring them to the realization of their dire situation, like a parent who screams to get their child’s attention to keep them from danger. His words seem harsh because there was so much at stake.
The scribes, Pharisees, and their followers were being kept from truly following God. Jesus had spoken boldly against Satan’s deception out of a desire for people to know the truth and find life in him. Jesus was driven by a deep, sincere passion for the people to know the truth of God and to live for the God of the truth.
Following the seven woes, we see Jesus with such profound sorrow over the people of Jerusalem. His only desire had always been to gather his children and protect them like a hen does its chicks, yet, the scribes, Pharisees, and their followers were unwilling (vv.37-38).
Despite their unwillingness, Jesus knew that the scribes and Pharisees needed to hear the truth, too. He shared God’s love with them by providing a glimmer of hope, saying, “For I tell you, you will not see me again, until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord’” (v.39). Not only that, but He also freely offered up his life on the cross for all sinners—including the scribes and Pharisees, who are saved by putting their faith in him ultimately (Jn. 3:16; Rom. 3:24-25, 10:10-13, Eph. 2:8-9).
Jesus loved the scribes and Pharisees by pointing out the dangers that they were living in and calling them to repentance. Just as a parent would to a child in harm’s way, Jesus had warned them of the dangers that were nearing. Jesus had let them (and his disciples) be aware of such dangerous doctrine and called for them to hear the truth that saves. Jesus has left us a mandate and a model to call out false teachers, as it honors God and saves listeners from falling into the deception of deadly doctrine.
Follow the Example of Jesus
Here is my challenge for believers today. If we are called to be like Christ, we are called to love (cf. Mt. 22:39; Lk. 6:27-31). Although Jesus corrected the scribes and Pharisees, it was out of pure love, not because he desired to be right or better, but because he loved them enough to tell them the liberating truth that frees them from Satan’s deception.
Therefore, we must love God and His word enough to lovingly point others to the truth of the gospel rather than compromising it, for souls are at stake. Let me say that again: souls are at stake. And by doing so, let us not grow in pride, but rather, in humility with a spirit of gentleness. We must stand firm in the truth and speak against false doctrine as Jesus did (cf. Mk. 7:6-23; Mt. 9:9-13). Let us love others in the same way that God loves us: “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8). Let us, believers, walk in the truth in love (cf. Eph. 5:2).
For those who feel like they have been living a pharisaical life, the invitation of the Gospel is open for you. There is still hope. I have been there. As we grow in the Word, let us not be puffed up with such conceit. Such knowledge of the Word is only good if it edifies the church and glorifies God.
As we increase in our theology that is rooted (hopefully) in the Word, let our doxology also increase. This is how we can genuinely love God and others with the knowledge received from God’s Word. If there is pride or shame in us, may we recognize it and come to full repentance at the Lord’s feet.
His forgiveness is open to you. Trust in the saving grace of God and let Him renew you. Keep in step with the Spirit and be restored to Christ. May the Holy Spirit sanctify you and draw you near to the Father. His love bears it all, as his yoke is easy.
"For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace" (Jn. 1:16).
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