TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20
Luke 11:37-54
2 Corinthians 5:16-21

“…if any man be in Christ,
he is a new creature…”

THE WOES OF CHRIST

When Jesus ate without ceremonially washing His hands, a Pharisee ridiculed His action. This washing was not really for hygiene purposes but it was one of the extra-biblical ceremonial laws of the Pharisees. They poured a little water to ceremonially show they were clean from defilement by any unclean materials they may have touched. By not washing His hands, Jesus exposed their hypocrisy. They were concerned with external appearances but their hearts and minds were filled with extortion and evil. They were unworthy vessels for they performed their righteous deeds just for show.

Jesus denounced their proud desire to be treated as very important people. The Pharisees wanted to be seated at special tables and be recognized as someone of importance in the community. Jesus condemned their arrogance and showed how they were nothing but unnamed old tombs walked over by men, and how they were but unknown dead corpses which were good for nothing.

The lawyers tried to intimidate Jesus but He was not afraid and continued to criticize their wicked lifestyles. These lawyers instructed people to do over and above the commandments of God but they themselves were exempt. They did not “walk the talk.” They supposed themselves dispensers of God’s law but they murdered the true prophets of God. Jesus rebuked them for falsely applying the law. They kept the people from true knowledge by their false teachings and lifestyle. They hindered people from coming to God by their ungodly ways.

Are we like these Pharisees and lawyers? Every believer is a regenerated person in the Lord. “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Cor 5:17). Are you living as a new creature?

THOUGHT: Am I one of those whom Jesus has pronounced a woe?
PRAYER: Our Merciful Father, provide me an open heart to accept the reproofs and corrections from Thy Word.