Chapter 23 is full of Jesus’ passion.  At first glance his language looks out of character, but as we think about it, it is consistent with Jesus, entirely.  He pronounces woes on all hypocrisy.

Allow me to begin this meditation with the closing words of Jesus’ final recorded passionate speech.  He just exposed the hypocrisy of the Jewish teachers of the Law and the Pharisees in listing terrible “woes.”  (Matthew 23:13 – 36)

He then pleads, “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing. Look, your house is left to you desolate.’” (Matthew 23:37 – 38)

This is Jesus’ open-armed invitation as he concludes his warning against the teachers of the Law, and the Pharisees whom he bundles together.  He doesn’t even mention the Sadducees who ruled the Sanhedrin at the time.

Jesus calls the teachers of the law and the Pharisees hypocrites!  He exposes their hypocrisy in this final long message as the Holy Week progresses. He warns them seven times of the “woes” that await them.

I am reminded that the teachers of the law, including the Pharisees, were considered the most holy people in all Israel.  Jesus saw their teachings as supremely harmful.

It is difficult to summarize the seven woes but I will try.  The first is a basic flaw – to teach something that they fail to put into practice in their own lives, and then encourage everyone to do the same!  A second is that they want all Jews to be like them, so they make ever more disciples.   As to their beliefs, they make the unimportant to be the important. Thirdly, they escape God’s call by making excuses for giving him so little.  Fourthly, they believe that obeying the law as they interpret it makes them acceptable by God.  Fifthly, they present a holy front while inside they are still dominated by self and its demands.  The sixth woe is similar, they appear to be holy but no matter, they do not change on the inside.  So, seventh, they venerate their dead saints but do not imitate them at all.

I see that my summary is not as flowery or as dramatic as Jesus’ descriptions.  Sorry.  But as I reflect on what Jesus is exposing, I see myself in his spotlight – seeing tendencies in myself that are prideful, judgmental, peripheral, hurtful and so forth.  I love to be the teacher, not the student.  I like the exalted position where I can make myself look better that others in my spiritual smugness!  Lord, have mercy on me.

I prefer riding a strong stallion, fierce and determined. I see Jesus riding on a foal of a donkey, his feet dangling!  He is my Savior, my Hope, my Joy, my Lord.