EIGHT BLESSINGS
VERSES
THE EIGHT WOES
(New King James unless otherwise stated)
===============================
Christ shares with us the parable of the fig tree, found in the book of Luke. "A certain man had a fig tree planted
in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard, 'Look,
for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and found none. Cut it down; why does it use up the
ground? But he answered and said to him, 'Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it. And
if it bears fruit, will. But if not, after that you can cut it down" (Luke 13 :6-9). Isaiah 5 describes God's
disappointed vineyard "For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah are
His pleasant plant. He looked for justice, but behold, oppression; for righteousness, but behold, weeping" (lsa
5:7). This makes clear Jesus scathing denunciation of the Jews, "The kingdom of God shall be taken from you,
and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof' (Matt 21:43).
When Adam and Eve found themselves naked, they covered themselves with fig leaves. They used these leaves
to cover themselves, to appear righteous not admitting their sins. Those who only have leaves and no fruit fit
what Christ told the Pharisees in Matthew 23:13-36, the eight woes, compared the opposite in Matthew chapter
5, the eight beatitudes or blessings, that are the fruit of the righteous.
Jesus began His Galilean ministry soon after the test in the wilderness. From that time Jesus began to preach and
to say, "Repent for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand!" (Matt 4: 17). Soon after gathering His disciples He went
up on a mountain and His disciples came to Him and He taught them eight points of righteousness. The
beatitudes are blessings from God for those who are truly Christ's disciples, followers of Jesus Christ.
Later, Christ pronounced eight woes on those of the Jews who had been established by God to set a righteous
example for the people, but they failed miserably. Before Christ pronounced these eight woes He gave this
admonition concerning the Jews: "But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their
phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief
seats in the synagogues, and greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi. But you, do not be
called Rabbi, for One is your Master, the Christ, and you are all brethren, and do not be called teachers; for One
is your Teacher, the Christ. But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant, and whoever exalts himself
will be abased, and he who humbles himself will be exalted"(Matt 23:5-12).
The first pronouncement against Scribes and Pharisees concerning their inheritance into the kingdom of God was;
"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, for you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you
neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in" (Matt 23: 13). Christ knew the Scribes
and Pharisees and that they were not receptive to Him or any change from their exalted behavior. Instead of
showing the people the Door of the kingdom, which was Christ, they closed the door for themselves and those
of the people who followed them.
The first blessing Christ taught to His disciples was; "Blessed is the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of
heaven" (Matt (5:3). Those who were followers of Christ with a yielding, humble, teachable spirit would be
blessed by inheriting the kingdom.
The second blessing God gave was, "Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted" (Matt 5:4). Those
who have compassion and empathy for others will be blessed. Not so for the Pharisees & Scribes for their second
woe was; "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows' houses, and for a pretense
make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation”(Matt 23:14). They had no empathy for the
widows and orphans. The scriptures tell us"Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this:
to visit orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unspotted from the world" (James 1: 17). The
Scribes and Pharisees were instead, taking advantage of the widows in their affliction.
The third blessing that Christ taught His disciples was; "Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth"
( Matt 5:5). Those who are meek are those who put God first and love their neighbor, even sometimes, above
themselves. With this meekness of attitude, they will inherit the earth. The third woe; "Woe to you Scribes and
Pharisees hypocrites, for you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice
as much as son of hell as yourselves" (Matt 23:15). The opposite of meekness is to strive to get a following for
one's self instead of following Christ. For those who guide this people are leading them astray; and those who
are guided by them are brought to confusion. (Isa. 9:16).
The fourth Woe: "Woe to you, blind guides! You say, 'if anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but
anyone who swears by the gold of the temple is bound by that oath. You blind fools! Which is greater; the gold,
or the temple that makes the gold sacred? You also say, 'If anyone swears by the altar, it means nothing; but
anyone who swears by the gift on the altar is bound by that oath.' You blind men! Which is greater: the gift, or
the altar that makes the gift sacred? Therefore, anyone who swears by the altar swears by it and by everything
on it. And anyone who swears by the temple swears by it and by the one who dwells in it. And anyone who wears
by heaven swears by God's throne and by the one who sits on it" (Matt 23:16-22. New International Version).
The Scribes and Pharisees interest was not in the sanctity of the alter which sanctified the gift, but their interest
was only in the gift. Also the sanctity of the temple was not their first importance although it was Gods sacred
home on earth that He visited. Their interest lay only in the gold and the gifts. Their interest was only in what
they could obtain for themselves.
The fourth blessing; "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled"(Matt 5:6).
David sang; "As the deer pants for the water brook, so pants my soul for You, 0 God"(Psa. 42:1). "He who
pursues righteousness and loyalty finds life, righteousness and honor" (Proverbs 21:21).
The fifth Woe; "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin,
and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and
not to leave the other undone"(Matt 23:23). "Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel"(Mat
23:24). They did the opposite of hungering and thirsting after righteousness. Their righteousness was only for
show. The Pharisees were meticulous in their outward show of paying their tithes and offerings for the temple
service but their mercy and justice and faith was far lacking. They had only leaves, no fruit.
The fifth blessing given by Christ; "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy" (Matt 5:7). The fifth
Woe; "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe and mint and anise and cummin, and have
neglected the weightier matters of the law; justice, mercy and faith, these you ought to have done, without leaving
the others undone.
The last three blessings are; "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is
the Kingdom of heaven"(Matt 5:8-10). The last three woes that Christ pronounced on them was of the same
assessment as the ones before, He said,"You are like white washed tombs which indeed appear beautiful
outwardly, but inside are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness" (Matt 23:27-29).
You build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the monuments of the righteous, and say, "If we had lived in the
days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets" (Matt 23:30).Christ
knew their hearts! And He said to them; "Therefore you are witnesses against yourselves that you are sons of
those who murdered the prophets. Fill up, then the measure of your fathers' guilt. Serpents, brood of vipers! How
can you escape the condemnation of hell"(Matt 23:31-33).
The admonition Christ gave to the scribes and Pharisees of that time can be applied to the church today. Some
today in Gods Church say they are Christians and make a pretense of doing Gods will as an outward show but
underneath there is nothing but rebellion. Only leaves, no fruit. "God said we will know them by their
fruits"(Matthew 7:16). “But the fruits of Gods spirit are love, joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control" (Galatians 5:22-23).
Soon after Christ taught the lessons of the eight beatitudes to His disciples, He gave this admonition to them also;
"For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will
by no means enter the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 4:20). ☜
Carlos & Louise McGuire