Reading
SAA Notes
Jesus began with the Blessings in Matthew 5. He now ends with the Seven Woes or the Cursings – just as in Deuteronomy 11:29. Jesus is calling the Pharisees to listen to Moses’ warning in Deuteronomy 30:1-3 and to repent and acknowledge Him! Seven is the number of completion.
SJA Notes
* God Above, may our hearts be open to Your word to us today.
“Woe to you,”
Jesus takes clear aim at the leaders of the church in Israel at that time.
Hypocrites!
“So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.”
We are to remember that Jesus is the word of God made flesh, a two-edge sword that pierces to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart (Hebrews 4:12).
This is our King, as we read Him here, cutting right to the heart of the matter!
Jesus is not just calling hypocrisy out in the _then_.
God’s word is alive and active today, and it calls us today.
As with the church then, so now.
God’s people today can be guilty of shutting the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces.
The church in some places is right now neglecting the weightier matters of the law.
There are wolves within the sheep (always true) who appear righteous on the outside but their inner heart is rotten.
Let us examine ourselves and make every effort to put on the qualities of followers of Jesus (2 Corinthians 13:5-10, 2 Peter 1:5-11, John 15:1-11).
* Gracious God,
Thank You for Your love. Thank You for Your Son and the work done through Him to free us from our slavery to sin.
Please help us to seek Your face today and onwards Lord God, to long for Your truth, to walk obediently under Your will.
So that we might be good soil and bear much fruit, for Your glory.
Amen.