Where's the Love in That?

By the standard of today’s society, Jesus might be branded intolerant for the way He addressed the Pharisees of His day. For example:

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. So you, too, outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

—Matthew 23:27-28

That was just one of eight ‘woes’ that Jesus spoke on that occasion. And there were other occasions on which Jesus dealt rather harshly with the Pharisees and other religious leaders of the Jews.

One reason Jesus sounded harsh is because He called them hypocrites and then described them as lawless. In our day he might be labeled a name-caller and branded for being judgmental.

However, His seemingly harsh-sounding admonition is easily misunderstood. Do you know the meaning of the little word ‘woe’? The English word ‘woe’ and its Greek counterpart convey the idea of sorrow, grief or great distress. When Jesus called out, “Woe to you,” it was a way of sounding an alert for impending sorrow.

Do you like alerts?

Most would answer, “Yes” and “No.” We often set reminders (alerts) by scribbling a note or marking a calendar. Many folks set phone alerts for appointments, birthdays, anniversaries, and other important events. The alerts help us to remember. We like those alerts.

Warnings that are posted on our streets and highways are welcomed as well. Sometimes, however, the alerts may be considered annoying, such as speed limits.

• We prefer not to be pulled over by a state trooper and warned about speeding.
• We prefer not to get a warning from the bank that funds are low.
• Husbands prefer not to be corrected by their wives...and vice versa.
• Teens prefer not to be corrected by their parents, or teachers, or any adult or friend...or any other living thing.

However, common sense tells us that warnings are good; correction is good. Do we understand that discipline is good, even when it is not self-discipline?

What happens in a parenting situation when a child refuses simple instruction? In general, it is followed by verbal correction. Then, if verbal correction fails, a strong rebuke may follow. If a strong rebuke fails, then a variety of disciplinary measures may be used.

As parents, we understand the purpose of discipline. We do not prefer it; the child does not prefer it; but discipline is used to keep our children from moral ruin, from disastrous life choices and from behaving like wild animals. Discipline is a gesture of love on the part of parents.

The Pharisees had formed a hard shell of rejection around their minds toward Jesus. They had failed to listen to His divine instruction and had rejected Him as the Messiah, the Hope of Israel and the Savior of the world. Though the ‘woes’ sound harsh, Jesus was not pushing the Pharisees away. Rather, He was issuing a warning that was yet another attempt to offer hope by breaking through their harsh rejection of the truth. Say what you will about the ‘woes’; but in them we see ultimately the love of God.

We are to speak the truth in love;

but we are to speak the truth.

Mark Stinnett

January 8, 2023