Behind the jugs of milk and cranberry apple juice in the dark corner of my fridge you will find an elixir known as ‘fire cider.’ While its alleged properties as an immunity booster and preventative for ‘what ails’ remain dubious, its ability to reveal fortitude in the face of infirmity is unquestioned. Suffice to say, it does not go down easy. Even the smell catches you off guard.
As I read through Matthew, I can’t help but think the Pharisees and scribes hearing Jesus’ teaching are having a similar experience. Jesus again and again takes what is inside their hearts and exclaims in grief, ‘Woe!’ After dealing with their insincerity and traps, Jesus, in chapter 23 utters seven ‘woes’ to these hypocrites. It’s as if Jesus catches a whiff of the rottenness and “Whoa!” its bad. The bitter truth for them is the hypocrisy and lawlessness residing in their hearts. Consider the off-putting nature of the hypocrisy Jesus reveals just in this chapter.
  1. Not practicing what is preached (1-4).
  2. Exalting self instead of God (5-12).
  3. Blocking access to God (13-15).
  4. Not keeping one’s word (16-22).
  5. Ignoring the heart of God’s law (23-24).
  6. Feigning righteousness (25-28).
7) Following in the steps of sinners (29-33).
Woah! These are the teachers! Is it any wonder Jesus is reeling in grief? Jesus reveals much about what lies beneath the religious exterior of these Jewish teachers. Do you have the fortitude to hear Jesus? If, in the indictment of the Pharisees we do not find the Lord searching our heart, we are just as hypocritical and self-righteous as they. Our walk is to be in the light, there are no dark corners for hypocritical hearts to hide. We cannot trust our own elixirs that do not touch the heart. Our walk must be one of complete submission and trust in the one who has the authority to judge and the power to save.