By 
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and all uncleanness. So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.” Matthew 23:25-28 (ESV)
Woe. Jesus used this word nine times in statements directed at the religious leaders who were challenging His authority. An alternative translation for the word woe is alas, which is an implication Jesus was pointing out a relevant issue. He certainly was doing that; but as is often the case, our English translation doesn’t convey the full meaning. The root word for woe tells us all we need to know. It sets the stage for the immediate hearers of what Jesus said, and for today’s readers of His words—us! Woe expresses an exclamation of profound grief.
Whoa! I’ve heard people express grief over a Monday, but on Tuesday? What had Jesus so worked up?
Jesus spent much of Tuesday during Holy Week at the temple and on the Mount of Olives answering questions, confronting His accusers, and giving warnings. He taught a lot. On that single day He:
- cursed the fig tree
- gave tax advice
- discussed the great commandment
- answered questions about the resurrection
- foretold the destruction of the temple
- talked about the end times
- gave details of His second coming
- described the final judgement
- was anointed with precious ointment
- was likely sold out by Judas
- oh, and He found time to tell 5 parables
Whoa! Throughout all He said and did, nothing reached the level of emphasis the religious establishment received as these warnings, framed with that simple yet impactful three-letter woe! No other single word that day caught the most attention.
What would motivate Jesus to utter a word of grief? The leaders’ hatred was growing as Jesus threatened their chokehold on power. But Jesus wasn’t interested in taking the earthly power they wielded. He came with built-in heavenly authority. He was most interested, as He always is, in pointing out the errors in their hearts.
The leaders showed up at the temple and showed off; but their hearts showed something else—just like whitewashed tombs and beautiful cups with dirty insides.
And so, Jesus issued a term of grief. Regardless of the impending event He faced in a few days, He was still interested in the heart above all. What grieved Him was a life that exhibited one thing, with a heart that showed another.
During Holy Week Christians go to various services, celebrate traditions, put on their nicest church clothes of the year, and sing louder than ever. Many, however, will show up, show off, but have hearts that don’t match.
What will Jesus say to our worship this week? Holy Tuesday is the perfect day to call a halt—say whoa!—to whatever might cause Him woe.
Cory Welch
My wife and I both grew up in Tyler and attended Dallas Baptist University. Christ became my Lord and Savior at a VBS when I was 8 years old and He began to call me into ministry when I was 14. I earned a degree in Business Management from DBU and went on to receive a Masters of Divinity from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary. I served at Crossroads Christian Church in Grand Prairie from October 2003-October 2006 before I was called to Purcellville Baptist Church in Purcellville, Virginia as Youth Pastor. I officially transitioned into the Executive Pastor role in February 2012 and have received more opportunities to preach and teach as the years have passed. My passion for ministry is to lead people to know Jesus as both Savior and Lord and to discover the purpose for which God created them. My favorite places to be are on the floor playing some variation of “climb on dad” and at an ice cream shop with my kids…partly because the kids like ice cream, mainly because I like ice cream. Natalie and I have been married since February 2008 and have 3 children. 
