Applying the Seven Woes to Today’s Challenges
Introduction
The words of Jesus in Matthew 23, where He declares “woes” upon the scribes and Pharisees, resonate deeply for spiritual leaders in every era. Jesus pierces through external religiosity, urging leaders to embody sincerity, humility, and a genuine desire to guide others toward God—not to turn them away. His admonitions provide valuable guidance for communities navigating division and uncertainty, illuminating a path of integrity and compassion.
The Seven Woes: A Framework for Honest Reflection
Within Matthew 23:13-36, Jesus identifies seven pitfalls that religious leaders can fall into—each exposing a different aspect of hypocrisy and offering insight for authentic leadership.
1. Shutting the Door of Heaven (Matthew 23:13-14)
“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.”
True leaders open doors to God’s presence, not close them with exclusion or burdensome rules.
2. Superficial Evangelism (Matthew 23:15-16)
“Woe to you… you travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when you have succeeded, you make them twice as much a child of hell as you are.”
Evangelistic efforts must cultivate deep, lasting faith—never focusing solely on appearances or numbers.
3. Confused Priorities (Matthew 23:16-22)
“Woe to you, blind guides!… Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes the gold sacred?”
Jesus criticizes the elevation of rituals and material things above true devotion and awe for God.
4. Neglecting Justice, Mercy, and Faith (Matthew 23:23-24)
“Woe to you… You give a tenth of your spices… But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness.”
It’s easy to obsess over minor religious rules while forgetting the weightier matters of compassion, fairness, and faith.
5. Outward Purity, Inward Corruption (Matthew 23:25-26)
“Woe to you… You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.”
True transformation starts within. External rituals are empty unless matched by an honest heart.
6. The Illusion of Righteousness (Matthew 23:27-28)
Jesus gave seven pointed warnings to the religious leaders of His time—warnings that remain relevant for us today. One of His indictments was, “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to” (Matthew 23:13-14). Here, Jesus condemned the leaders for their spiritual hypocrisy and their failure to guide others toward God. Instead of being stewards who welcomed others into God’s kingdom, they created obstacles through their actions and teachings, making it difficult for sincere seekers to find the truth. This warning calls us to examine whether our attitudes and behaviors help others draw closer to God, or if—consciously or unconsciously—we are putting up barriers that hinder their spiritual journey.
In Matthew 23:15-16, Jesus delivers a stern rebuke to the religious leaders, declaring, “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when you have succeeded, you make them twice as much a child of hell as you are.” This warning exposes the dangers of zeal without truth and sincerity. The Pharisees were willing to go to great lengths to gain followers, but their efforts led to even greater spiritual harm because they converted people not to genuine faith, but to a system of hypocrisy and legalism. Jesus warns that misguided zeal, when divorced from authentic devotion and humility, can actually lead others further away from God. This passage challenges us to examine whether our influence draws people closer to the heart of God or only perpetuates empty religion and pride.
In Matthew 23:16-22, Jesus delivers a sharp rebuke to the religious leaders, calling them “blind guides” for their twisted logic regarding oaths made by the temple and its gold, or by the altar and its offerings. He exposes their spiritual blindness by asking which is truly greater—the gold, or the temple that gives the gold its sacred value; the gift, or the altar that makes the gift holy. Their focus on material things over the true source of holiness reveals a deep misunderstanding of God’s priorities. Jesus teaches that it is not the material objects that are sacred on their own, but the presence and purpose of God that sanctifies them. By elevating the gold and gifts above the temple and altar, the leaders miss the heart of devotion and misguide others, failing to recognize that all oaths ultimately invoke God, the one who dwells in the temple and sits on heaven’s throne. This warning calls us to value what God values and to see beyond the superficial to the spiritual reality that gives true meaning and worth.
In Matthew 23:23-24, Jesus delivers a piercing rebuke to the religious leaders, exposing their obsession with meticulous tithing while ignoring the foundational principles of justice, mercy, and faithfulness. He criticizes their practice of giving a tenth of even the smallest herbs—mint, dill, and cumin—while neglecting the essential matters that reflect God’s heart. Jesus does not dismiss the importance of tithing, but insists that it must never come at the expense of living out compassion and integrity. By saying, “You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel,” He highlights the absurdity of their priorities; they focus on minor details yet miss the weightier commands of God. This warning urges us to ensure that our devotion is not limited to external religious acts, but is deeply rooted in genuine love, fairness, and faithfulness in all areas of life.
In Matthew 23:25-26, Jesus delivers a powerful warning to the religious leaders, accusing them of focusing on outward appearances while neglecting the corruption within. He uses the vivid metaphor of cleaning the outside of a cup and dish while leaving the inside full of greed and self-indulgence. This rebuke exposes the danger of performing religious rituals or maintaining a respectable facade without genuine inner transformation. Jesus calls the Pharisees “blind,” urging them to first clean the inside—that is, to purify their hearts and motives—so that true righteousness may flow outward. His words remind us that authentic faith begins with an honest, repentant heart, and only then will our external actions be truly pleasing to God.
In Matthew 23:27-28, Jesus delivers one of His most striking indictments against the religious leaders, comparing them to whitewashed tombs—structures that appear pristine and attractive on the outside but conceal decay and impurity within. This vivid metaphor exposes the stark contrast between outward displays of righteousness and the hidden realities of hypocrisy and moral corruption. While the Pharisees carefully maintained an image of piety before others, their hearts harbored deceit and wrongdoing. Jesus’ warning challenges us to look beyond external appearances and examine the true condition of our inner lives, reminding us that genuine faith is marked not by visible rituals, but by authentic transformation and integrity at the deepest level.
In Matthew 23:29-32, Jesus issues a final, piercing woe to the religious leaders, accusing them of hypocrisy for building elaborate tombs for the prophets and adorning the graves of the righteous. They claim that, had they lived in their ancestors’ time, they would not have participated in the murder of God’s messengers. Yet, by honoring the prophets with monuments while embodying the same rebellious spirit that led to their deaths, they unwittingly reveal their true lineage as descendants of those who killed the prophets. Jesus challenges their self-righteousness, warning that their actions are not only a continuation of their ancestors’ legacy but also a fulfillment of it. This passage serves as a sobering call to examine whether our outward reverence for spiritual heroes is matched by a genuine willingness to heed their message and live with integrity.
With sharp words, Jesus denounced the leaders, saying:
“You serpents! You brood of vipers! How do you expect to escape the sentence of hell? That is why I am sending you prophets, wise people, and teachers. Some of them you will put to death and crucify; others you will flog in your synagogues and chase from town to town. Because of this, all the righteous blood shed on earth will fall upon you—from the blood of Abel the just to the blood of Zechariah son of Berekiah, whom you killed between the temple and the altar. Truly I tell you, all this will come upon this generation.”
In light of Christ’s seven warnings, it is crucial for the church today to heed His words with humility and self-examination. These warnings are not relics of the past, but living truths that challenge us to confront hypocrisy, legalism, and superficial faith in our own lives and communities. By adhering to Jesus’ teachings, we safeguard the integrity of our witness and ensure that our devotion truly reflects God’s heart of justice, mercy, and authenticity. Now more than ever, the church must embrace genuine transformation, rejecting mere outward appearances and striving to embody the love, compassion, and righteousness that Christ calls us to, so that we faithfully guide others toward the life and hope found in Him.
Minister A Francine Green
November 2025
afrancinegreen.com 