Matthew 23 : 13 The First Woe against the Religious Hierarchy of Judaism

Jesus Pronounces the First Woe

Mat 23:13  But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of Heaven against men. For you neither go in, nor do you allow those entering to go in.

In theses days of so-called ‘political correctness’ when no one is game to ruffle anyones feathers for fear of reprisals or lawsuits, we have the example of Jesus Himself taking the leaders of Israel on and denouncing them vehemently.

In these verses we have eight woes levelled directly against the scribes and Pharisees by our Lord Jesus Christ, like so many claps of thunder, or flashes of lightning, from mount Sinai. Three woes are made to look very dreadful (Rev_8:13; Rev_9:12); but here are eight woes, in opposition to the eight beatitudes, Mat_5:3. The gospel has its woes as well as the law, and gospel curses are of all curses the heaviest. These woes are the more remarkable, not only because of the authority, but because of the meekness and gentleness, of him that denounced them. He came to bless, and loved to bless; but, if his wrath be kindled, there is surely cause for it: and who shall entreat for him that the great Intercessor pleads against? A woe from Christ is a remediless woe. M. Henry

Jesus denouncing  the Scribes and Pharisees. James Tissot. Wikipedia.com

Mat 23:13  But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of Heaven against men. For you neither go in, nor do you allow those entering to go in.

Notes

But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!

woe  G3759 οὐαί ouai Thayer Definition: 1) alas, woe

In modern day it means intense grief and affliction, grievous distress

and misfortune. see Dictionary.com

So here we see the Saviour of mankind pronouncing woes right there in the Crowded Temple area. His Indignation had been stirred. The gentle,meek Jesus of Nazareth was so angry at their hardness of heart and deliberate twistedness that he cried out “Hypocrites.”

They were guilty and He showed them why with great clarity

This most eloquent, most appalling, and most terrible of all discourses ever delivered to mortals was pronounced in the temple, in the presence of multitudes. Never was there more faithful dealing, more terrible reproof, more profound knowledge of the workings of hypocrisy, or more skill in detecting the concealments of sin. This was the last of the Saviour’s public discourses; and it is a most impressive summary of all that he had ever said, or that he had to say, of a wicked and hypocritical generation. Barnes Notes

For you shut up the kingdom of Heaven against men.

Notes

They shut it up by teaching false doctrines respecting the Messiah; by binding the people to an observance of their traditions; by opposing Jesus, and attempting to convince the people that he was an impostor, thus preventing many from becoming his followers. Many were ready to embrace him as the Messiah, and were about entering into the kingdom of heaven -  but they prevented it.

For you neither go in, nor do you allow those entering to go in.

The door was wide open, The Saviour was there demonstrating the love of God to men by his giving sight to the blind, healing to those who were desperately sick with diseases such as leprosy. He forgave the  sins of the Prostitutes and adulterers such as the Woman at  the well of Sychar in Samaria.

The Scribes and Pharisees did not enter and they were blocking those who wished to enter from going in.

James Tissot, detail of "Curses against the Pharisees" (1886-96), watercolor, Brooklyn Museum, New York. Full image.

Application

1. Jesus main opposition was from the religious establishment. They opposed Him at every turn.
2. Jesus exposed their Hypocrisy. He was unafraid to tell them they were under judgment.
3. Now is the time to enter the Kingdom of God. Jesus is the door in. Don’t take any notice of the Hypocrites who try to hinder you from entering; but put your entire trust in Our Lord Jesus Christ to save you and take you in.