Why does Jesus pronounce this woe first? I believe it is because in it is the root of all of the other woes. The only way that man can be saved is if he responds to the gospel of Christ and our purpose is to point people toward the kingdom and its King. In everything that we do, isn’t He supposed to be the focus? Isn’t bringing people into the kingdom job #1? Look closely, He first points out that the religious leaders are not part of the kingdom, and if that weren’t bad enough, they are keeping other people out because of their actions.
Do you remember how the Scribes and Pharisees responded to John the Baptist? Look with me at Matthew 3:
7But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8“Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, 9“and do not think to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. 10“And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 11“I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12“His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”John’s message was repentance and the leaders wanted nothing of it. They simply wanted to be seen with the crowds so that the people would not lose respect for them. They were not interested in repentance, they were not interested in bringing people into the kingdom. They were only interested in their own comfort and how they were perceived.
Yet another example on the reaction of the leaders to Jesus after He had performed a miracle, this from John 9:
13They brought him who formerly was blind to the Pharisees. 14Now it was a Sabbath when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes. 15Then the Pharisees also asked him again how he had received his sight. He said to them, “He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and I see.” 16Therefore some of the Pharisees said, “This Man is not from God, because He does not keep the Sabbath.” Others said, “How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?” And there was a division among them.You’re kidding me right? A blind man can now see and the reaction isn’t “Praise God for his power and mercy” or “Praise God for his healing, this man who could not see can now see.”? Instead they are upset because this miracle was performed on the Sabbath.
They were not interested in the expansion of the kingdom. All they saw were the masses responding to an uneducated teacher from the backwater town of Nazareth. They did not like the fact that His message was one of repentance and holiness. They did not like the fact that people were flocking to Jesus in droves. Instead of joining the crowd in worship the Scribes and Pharisees were trying to discredit Him. They were accusing Him and His works of being from the devil instead of from the Father.
They did not want people to respond to the God Jesus was describing. They did not want people to respond to a God that is all about mercy and grace and forgiveness. Why? Because it takes everything away from them doesn’t it? When you tell people that their salvation is not about their own righteousness what does that do to the self righteous person? It suddenly takes away all of your value doesn’t it. When the message is that there is hope and peace and it is available to all who believe what does that do to the person who has spent his own life working for heaven? It takes it all away…
They did not want God on His terms, they wanted God on theirs. They were so consumed with their own righteousness that they were willing to stand in the way of others that may come into the kingdom. That is what makes Jesus cry out in anguish, their own selfishness is not only keeping them out of the kingdom but it is leading others away.
Fast-forward some two thousand years. Are we leading people into the kingdom? Is that the bent of our life or are we standing in the way? The world does not need us – the world needs a Savior. Let us never forget that our purpose is to spread the gospel so that mankind can be saved.
I’ll close today with lyrics from the song What This World Needs by Casting Crowns. Grace and peace to you all…
What this world needs is not another one hit wonder with an axe to grind
Another two bit politician peddling lies
Another three ring circus society
What this world needs is not another sign waving super saint that’s better than you
Another ear pleasing candy man afraid of the truth
Another prophet in an Armani suit
What this world needs is a Savior who will rescue
A Spirit who will lead
A Father who will love them in their time of need
A Savior who will rescue
A Spirit who will lead
A Father who will love
That’s what this world needs
What this world needs is for us to care more about the inside than the outside
Have we become so blind that we can’t see
God’s gotta change her heart before He changes her shirt
What this world needs is for us to stop hiding behind our relevance
Blending in so well that people can’t see the difference
And it’s the difference that sets the world free
Jesus is our Savior, that’s what this world needs
Father’s arms around you, that’s what this world needs
That’s what this world needs
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