“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. 47 “Woe to you, because you build tombs for the prophets, and it was your ancestors who killed them.48 So you testify that you approve of what your ancestors did; they killed the prophets, and you build their tombs. 49 Because of this, God in his wisdom said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and others they will persecute.’50 Therefore this generation will be held responsible for the blood of all the prophets that has been shed since the beginning of the world, 51 from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, this generation will be held responsible for it all. 52 “Woe to you experts in the law, because you have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering.” 53 When Jesus went outside, the Pharisees and the teachers of the law began to oppose him fiercely and to besiege him with questions, 54 waiting to catch him in something he might say.” Luke 11.46-54
This is our third rebuke from Jesus. We had just finished with the Pharisees when the experts in the law foolishly said they too were offended. In the very next moment, they became the object of Jesus’ wrath.
We had seen this wrath once before, when Jesus overturned the tables in the Temple. He would not allow anyone to turn His Father’s house into a den of robbers. It must remain a house of prayer. So Jesus drove out the money changers, creating a huge mess—and an even bigger story that people are still talking about two thousand years later!
Here we see Jesus’ wrathful words directed at those who should have known better—the teachers of God’s law, the experts. If anyone should love God and their neighbor, you would think it would be them. But they had missed the point entirely, and Jesus let them have it.
To summarize in one sentence: “Jesus rebukes the experts in the law for burdening others with oppressive demands, honoring the prophets in appearance while perpetuating the same rejection of God’s messengers, and ultimately blocking people from truly knowing and entering God’s truth.”
This must have stung! When they left the house, can you imagine the animosity they felt? Instead of turning from their sin, they “began to oppose him fiercely and to besiege him with questions, waiting to catch him in something he might say.”
The more Jesus walked this earth, the more the Jewish leaders opposed His message because they were unwilling to admit their sin and turn from their wicked ways. I get it—I too am prideful. When I’m called out on something, I don’t like it, because I like to be right. Pride, insecurity, and weakness take over, and I (we) refuse to admit we’re wrong.
But Jesus came to make straight the way of the Lord. And those who clearly should have led the nation back to the Lord instead rejected God’s Messiah.
Even in that rejection, God still loves His people. He makes every effort to be with us, for us, and to guide us. We are the apple of His eye, the desire of His heart.
Won’t we make Him ours as well?
“O Lord God, thank You for loving me, for allowing me to walk in steadfast love with You. Come now, Holy Spirit, fill me with Your power. I trust You, Lord, and glorify Your name. For You are good, and Your love endures forever.” Amen.your power. I trust you Lord and glorify your name. For you are good and your love endures forever.” Amen