The first "Woe"

[Johnny Be Good]

What does this mean when applied today?

"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men's faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to."

Does the intent of this 'Woe' apply today? How and to whom?

 

[BreakTheCircle]

Certainly, it does. To whom? It applies to anyone who does what the Pharisees did. All of Matthew 23 is a pretty good summary on what the Pharisees were about, and the world is wroght with the same today...if not in one form of godliness, in another.

 

[tyr0ne]

The 'Woe to you' is used about 7 times in Matt 23

Woe: Deep distress or misery, as from grief; wretchedness
Jesus is not criticizing the pharisees for their evangelistic zeal, but He is objecting to the results.
[bible]Matthew 23:13-39[/bible]

 

[riverpastor]

Could be that the "woe" simply comes a s a natural consequence of unbelief, doubt, fear, control, manipulation, etc. that is found in the life of a modern "pharisee". The block the door for others to truly enter into the reality of the Kingdom of God and won't dare go into it themselves.

Seems like there's already a 'woe' there to me. Think of what they are missing out on. Maybe a greater judgment upon themselves (the pharisee) for not allowing others to enter in because by implementing their own rules and regulations, they bind heavy burdens on the believers but do not lift a finger to do them themselves...

 

[Johnny Be Good]

Yes, He's objecting to the results, but He's really angry--at the situation AND at them. What do you think He meant by adding the, "...you hypocrites!" ???

I think that they, "shut the kingdom of God in men's faces" through their own purposeful, selfish deeds. Jesus was angry here. These guys were leading folks astray. They were 'hypocrites' --folks preaching one thing, yet doing the other. They weren't qualifying for entry into Heaven--and were ensuring that others didn't either. They weren't just making a mistake, they were purposely deceiving. Jesus had a zeal for the irradication of misinformation...only He had good comms with the Father while He was doing it. Righteous indignation.

Who are today's scribes and Pharisees?
What kinds of things do today's scribes and Pharisees do that make themselves hypocrites?
What is it that stops them from qualifying for entry?
What are they doing that causes other men to be denied entry?

I'm asking--really. I've got an idea, but I don't want to be presumptuous with an answer and get slammed! What do you think?

 

[Suffolk Sean]

I think scribes and pharisees get a bad rap. There are a few places where a good discussion comes out of them. Gamaliel in Acts also seems to be a wise man.

 

[Johnny Be Good]

I think scribes and pharisees get a bad rap. There are a few places where a good discussion comes out of them. Gamaliel in Acts also seems to be a wise man.

He's not one that Jesus would have been talking to, though, if He's a wise man.

 

[muffler dragon]

What does this mean when applied today?

"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men's faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to."

Does the intent of this 'Woe' apply today? How and to whom?

This actually has to do with the Halacha (Oral Torah) of the Pharisees.

My understanding of it is this: the written Torah was given to Moses on Mt. Sinai. The oral Torah was passed down orally, and is used as a guide to interpretation of Scripture (such as what constitutes work on Shabbat [the Sabbath]).

As time passed, the Sanhedrin became in power during the first century CE. They were essentially a puppet of the Roman government who gave them the power.

Anyways.. they started to add Halacha that was contrary to the written Torah. Things such as washing hands made food clean and stuff like that.

Anyways.. these added restrictions placed an overdue burden upon the lay people.

That in essence is what Y'shua is talking about here.

m.d.

 

[muffler dragon]

He's not one that Jesus would have been talking to, though, if He's a wise man.

Actually, JBG, Gamaliel was quite old and he was also the teacher of Sha'ul (Paul).

Furthermore, in the Gospels, it is noted that the Pharisees tried to save Y'shua's life from King Herod, and that he dined with many of them for lunch and dinner (such as Nicodemus).

Furthermore, if one were to study the teachings of the Pharisees and Y'shua, one would see more in common than not. The Pharisees actually supported the doctrine of the physical resurrection, and also the authority of Oral Torah.

m.d.

 

[Johnny Be Good]

MD--I'm talking about this: the Word says "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men's faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to."

All I'm saying is that if you look at Gamaliel, if he doesn't qualify as a Hypocrite and one who shuts the kingdom of heaven in men's faces, does not enter, and ensures others do not enter, then he doesn't qualify.

Anyway, basically, my question is this: HOW does this apply today--in what form/set of circumstances is it displayed today? Can we come up with a situational example?

 

[muffler dragon]

MD--I'm talking about this: the Word says "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men's faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to."

All I'm saying is that if you look at Gamaliel, if he doesn't qualify as a Hypocrite and one who shuts the kingdom of heaven in men's faces, does not enter, and ensures others do not enter, then he doesn't qualify.

Anyway, basically, my question is this: HOW does this apply today--in what form/set of circumstances is it displayed today? Can we come up with a situational example?

JBG:

I was giving the historical context. That is all.

As far as how it applies today: I see many man-made doctrines that shut the doors of heaven so that others may not enter. Such an example would be tithing. It has no relevancy today, but others will promote the idea that they are acting in disobedience to the Will and Word of G-d.

m.d.

 

[Johnny Be Good]

Here we go again.

How about an example we both could agree on?

 

[JimB]

Here's an overview of Phariaism as Jesus confronted it in Matthew 23 from my files:

Jesus’ sternest rebuke of Pharisaism is found in Matthew chapter 23. Here is an overview of the most glaring defects in pharisaical thinking:

• Pharisees elevate themselves to controlling positions, 23.2-3.
• Pharisees are not to be emulated, 23.3.
• Pharisees are inconsistent in their teachings and practices, 23.3.
• Pharisees make godliness difficult without offering support, 23.4.
• Pharisees emphasize external appearance and performance over internal purity, 23.5.
• Pharisees seek to elevate their own offices, titles, influence and authority, 23.6-12.
• Pharisees take without giving, 23.13-15.
• Pharisees major on minors and minor on majors, 23.23-24.
• Pharisees practice an external religion of appearance, 23.25-28.
• Pharisees persecute those who disagree or resist them, 23.29-39.

This is legalism run amok. All of these traits are commonplace in the modern Christian church. Pharisaism is alive and well in the Twenty-first Century.


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\o/

 

[muffler dragon]

Here we go again.

How about an example we both could agree on?

Sorry for answering your question in an unsatisfactory manor.

I will permit Jim M's post speak for me.

m.d.