“Jesus replied, "And you experts in the law, woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them.” – Luke 11:46
I came across Luke 11:37-53 and saw the title “Six Woes,” which I’ve never really noticed before. First, I have to admit, (and you, too, you know it) I thought of the Finding Nemo movie and the six whoa’s the turtle, Crush, said, & I quote: “Saw the whole thing, dude. First you were like “whoa” and we were like “whoa” and you were like “whoa….” But then I reigned my brain back in to focus, as I often have to do, on reality. F-o-c-u-s.
Beth Moore uses the term “spiritual abuse” for what Christ was talking about here. Ever thought about that? Just like verbal abuse, mental abuse or physical abuse, there is spiritual abuse. Whoa. This whole passage reminds the religious people how easy it is to get caught up on following the letter of the law instead of purity of heart, instead of being full of the Spirit. It’s about checking your motives. Reminds me of a song, Newsboys’ Shine: “dull as dirt , you can´t assert the kind of light that might persuade a strict dictator to retire, fire the army, teach the poor origami; the truth is in the proof is when you hear your heart start asking, "What´s my motivation?"
The religious leaders were aghast that Jesus didn’t wash before eating. Jesus responded, “Now then, you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.” Dude. Whoa.
It’s so easy to get comfortable in spiritual laws and traditions and not notice when my heart goes astray. Take a minute today to say, “whoa” and check your heart, spend a few minutes in humility before Christ. Read the passage about the Six Woes. Remember how Isaiah cried out after seeing the Lord in all His glory:
“Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.”
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