GRACIOUS WOES: Message #4 in the Life Cut Short Series on St. Luke

Luke 11:37–44 (NRSV)

While he was speaking, a Pharisee invited him to dine with him; so he went in and took his place at the table. The Pharisee was amazed to see that he did not first wash before dinner. Then the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. You fools! Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also? So give for alms those things that are within; and see, everything will be clean for you.

“But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and herbs of all kinds, and neglect justice and the love of God; it is these you ought to have practiced, without neglecting the others. Woe to you Pharisees! For you love to have the seat of honor in the synagogues and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces. Woe to you! For you are like unmarked graves, and people walk over them without realizing it.”

INTRODUCTION

THIS FATHER’S DAY MORNING IS A TIME OF DEEP REFLECTION AND DESIRE FOR GOD’S DIVINE REVELATIONS.......I

HAVE NOTICED OVER AND OVER HOW MANY TIMES STORIES OF FATHERLY FAILINGS ARE SHARED IN MEDIA

SOURCES, WHETHER ON TV OR ONLINE OR IN BOOKS AND MEMOIRS OR WHEREVER FOLKS CHRONICLE SOME OF

THEIR HURTS......MOMENTS OF GRACE SHARED GRANDLY ARE FEW AND FAR BETWEEN AND TODAY THERE IS A

STORY OF GRACE THAT SHINES LIKE A DIAMOND......IT SHINES ALMOST AS BRIGHTLY AS THE UNLIMITED GRACE OF

GOD, WHOM JESUS CALLED, ABBA OR DADDY WITH GREAT AFFECTION......THE CREATOR SURELY MEANS GRACE FOR

US AND BRYAN CHAPELL NOTICED:

“Grace unfolds on every page [of Scripture]: God’s long march through the history of human rebellion and

ruin to reach us with the love of his Son; the Savior’s humble service, sinless life, sacrificial death,

victorious resurrection, and promised return; the Holy Spirit’s indwelling witness, power, and advocacy—

all unswerving despite our wayward ways and hard hearts.”

― Bryan Chapell,

THE STORY OF A FATHER’S GRACE WAS TOLD BY THE MAN WHO WOULD BECOME THE LEADER OF THE

INDEPENDENCE MOVEMENT IN INDIA.....THE WORLD CAME TO KNOW HIM AS MAHATMA GANDHI BUT AS A BOY HE

WAS CALLED BY THE NAME MOHANDAS..........

WHEN HE WAS 15 AND WAS STRUGGLING WITH HEAVY GUILT AFTER STEALING MONEY FROM HIS BROTHER TO PAY

OFF A DEBT. IN AN ATTEMPT TO CLEAR HIS CONSCIENCE, MOHANDAS DECIDED TO CONFESS HIS MISDEED TO HIS

FATHER, WHO WAS BEDRIDDEN, SUFFERING FROM AN INFECTED WOUND HE HAD RECEIVED IN A STAGECOACH

ACCIDENT.

AS THE SON RECALLED IN HIS AUTOBIOGRAPHY, HE WROTE OUT HIS CONFESSION ON A PIECE OF PAPER, HANDED

IT TO HIS FATHER IN BED, AND WAITED TO BE BEATEN OR REBUKED. INSTEAD THE OLDER MAN SAT UP, READ THE

CONFESSION, “AND PEARL-DROPS TRICKLED DOWN HIS CHEEK, WETTING THE PAPER. FOR A MOMENT HE CLOSED

HIS EYES IN THOUGHT AND THEN TORE UP THE NOTE........THOSE PEARL-DROPS OF LOVE CLEANSED MY HEART,

MOHANDAS RECALLED, AND WASHED MY SIN AWAY.”

HOW JESUS TEACHES GRACE EVEN THOUGH HE’S PEEVED

THERE ARE PEEVED FEELINGS GOING BACK AND FORTH IN OUR TEXT THIS FATHER’S DAY MORNING. THE

PHARISEES WHO WERE OFTEN PEEVED WITH JESUS ARE INITIALLY PEEVED BECAUSE THEY WANT JESUS TO OBEY

THE RITUAL LAWS OF CLEANSING BEFORE EATING......JESUS FLASHES BACK WITH A RESPONSE THAT SHOWS US HE

ISN’T ALWAYS THE HAPPY JESUS WELCOMING THE CHILDREN AND TELLING PARABLES TO THE DISCIPLES....SOME

FOLKS EVEN THINK THE ONLY TIME WE SEE HIM MAD IN THE BIBLE IS WHEN HE WAS TURNING OVER THE MONEY

CHANGERS TABLES IN THE TEMPLE IN JERUSALEM.......

WHEN HE SNAPS BACK AT THE PHARISEES..... “YOU FOOLS”..........

I WAS REMINDED OF YOUNG MOHANDAS WHO EXPECTED HIS FATHER TO PUNISH HIM WHEN HE READ HIS NOTE OF

CONFESSION JESUS SURPRISED THOSE PHARISEES THAT DAY....HE WAS FIRM WITH THEM AND THEN HE USED A

VERY EFFECTIVE WAY OF SHOWING THEM MORE IN THE WAY OF GRACE THAN THEY SHOWED HIM.......

HE USED WHAT THE BIBLE CALLS “WOES”

WOES BEGIN THE TURN TOWARDS GRACE

THE 3 WOES OF JESUS HERE IN OUR TEXT THIS MORNING HAVE MORE POWER TO THEM THAN MERELY A PUT DOWN

WHAT IS A “WOE” ANYWAY?

A WOE IS A CRY FOR GOD’S JUDGMENT IN LIGHT OF AN ACTION THAT DESERVES A DIVINE RESPONSE......

Holman Treasury of Key Bible Words: 200 Greek and 200 Hebrew Words Defined and Explained Woe

Jesus delivered “woes” regularly in His teaching and preaching to cities, classes of people, nations, Jerusalem, and even His own followers

A MODERN WOE, FOR OUR TIMES MIGHT SOUND SOMETHING LIKE THIS:

WOE TO THE GUNMAKERS - FOR ALL THE PAIN CAUSED BY MASS SHOOTINGS ALL OVER OUR COUNTRY, IN OUR

TIMES, FOR TOO MANY EASY WAYS TO GET THEM, FOR TOO MANY CHILDREN WHOSE LIVES HAVE BEEN CUT SHORT

WOE TO THE PROGRESS/PROGRESSIVE DESPISERS FOR TECHNOLOGY TEACHES US EVERYDAY, MORE AND MORE

THAT STAYING STUCK IN OUR WAYS JUST ISN’T THE OPTION IT USED BE........

WOE TO THE FATHERS WHO DECIDE NOT TO TAKE ON FATHERING RESPONSIBILITES ALONG WITH ALL IT’S JOYS

FOR AS THE YEARS RUSH ON THEIR LIVES, PASSIONS AND OVERALL HAPPINESS IS BOUND TO SHRINK

JESUS’ GRACE IN THESE WOES

AND SO AS YOU LISTEN AGAIN TO JESUS AND THESE 3 WOES ASK THE QUESTION WHAT IF? OR WHAT ELSE IS

JESUS TEACHING HERE?

) But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and herbs of all kinds, and neglect justice and the love of

God; it is these you ought to have practiced, without neglecting the others

WHAT IF JESUS IS SAYING TO THESE PHARISEES YOU ARE GETTING INTO THE LITTLE THINGS....YOU ARE TITHING

WELL.....BUT HERE IS THE PROBLEM PHARISEES.....

YOU’RE MAJORING IN MINORS......AND I WANT IT TO STOP.....THERE IS FAR MORE TO DO TO MAJOR IN THE

PROBLEMS OF THE WORLD THAT REALLY MATTER.....MAJOR INSTEAD IN GIVING EMPHASIS AND ENERGY AND

EMPATHY TO THE PLACES AND PEOPLE IN THE WORLD EXPERIENCING INJUSTICE....MAJOR IN SPREADING THE

LOVE OF OUR CREATOR GOD........MAJOR IN THESE THINGS WITHOUT NEGLECTING THE OTHERS........

I’D LOVE TO TELL YOU THIS PROBLEM WAS JUST A PROBLEM IN JESUS TIME, AND IF IT WASN’T SOLVED THEN IT’S

CERTAINLY SOLVED NOW......BUT, THIS IS WHAT WAS CAPTURED AND RECORDED AS A SIGN OF OUR TIMES:

Recently the New York Times published a special section in the daily newspaper.  It was a six page spread

intended to offer guidance for young people just entering the work force.   It was titled “Life After College Is

Weird … We’re Here to Help.”  The section had very useful articles about reducing student debt, preparing a

resume, tips for successful interviews.  There were profiles of three young people who had figured out

different kinds of housing options, relationship advice and reviews of online dating sites, and even recipes

for three healthy one-pot meals.  I read it through twice, and the omission was startling: Not one word

about connecting your individual life to a larger community.  Nothing about joining a civic organization, let

alone a faith community.  Nothing about volunteering or getting involved with your neighborhood.

For a major newspaper to miss this critical dimension of life in a time when the experience of social

isolation is at an all-time high in every age category, including young adults, is negligent to say the least. 

But society’s omission cries out for the church’s attention.

CHURCHES THAT AREN’T ASKING QUESTIONS ABOUT THE HEALTH OF YOUNG PEOPLE SINCE THE PANDEMIC,

THAT AREN’T WONDERING ABOUT HOW TO BREAK THE SENSE OF SOCIAL ISOLATION THAT SURROUNDS SO MANY

OF OUR YOUNGER FOLKS SOULS MAY BE MAJORING IN MUCH......BUT MAJORING IN MINORS.......

JESUS REMINDED THE PHARISEES AND REMINDS US AGAIN TODAY, MAJOR IN THE MAJORS BELOVEDS.....WITHOUT

DROPPING THE MINORS ENTIRELY.......JUSTICE AND THE LOVE OF GOD STILL MATTER VERY, VERY MUCH.....

IN THE SECOND WOE IN OUR TEXT TODAY, JESUS SAYS:

Woe to you Pharisees! For you love to have the seat of honor in the synagogues and to be greeted with

respect in the marketplaces

WHAT IF IN THIS WOE, JESUS NOTICED SOMETHING ABOUT THE WAY THESE PHARISEES LOVED FOR FOLKS TO SEE

THEIR HOLINESS ON THE OUTSIDE....BY HONORED PLACES IN THE SYNAGOGUES OR GREETINGS OF RESPECT IN

THE MARKETPLACE, THE PLACE WHERE EVERYONE HAD TO GO TO NOT JUST PICK UP DAILY GROCERIES AND SUCH

BUT TO ALSO PAT THEIR RELIGIOUS LEADERS ON THEIR BACKS...

WHAT IF JESUS IS ALSO SAYING HERE, REFLECT ON WHAT’S GOING ON IN YOUR HEART........PRAY ABOUT WHAT’S

GOING ON IN YOUR HEART.....PLAY TO THE RESOUNDING APPLAUSE OF HEAVEN, NOT OF HUMANS, BELOVEDS.....

Dictionary of Biblical Imagery Heart

the Bible talks of a heart that prompts a person to give a gift to the Lord (Ex 25:2). It speaks of the “integrity” of a person’s heart (1 Kings 9:4) and of a “discerning” heart (1 Kings 3:9).

THE POWERFUL QUESTION IN THIS VAIN, IS THIS.... “DO WE CARE MORE ABOUT WHAT OTHERS THINK OF US THAN

WHAT GOD THINKS?”..........OH, BELOVEDS, IT’S THE EMPHASIS OF ONE OF OUR GREATEST CHRISTIAN HYMNS:

Take my life, and let it be

Consecrated, Lord, to Thee;

Take my moments and my days,

Let them flow in ceaseless praise,

Let them flow in ceaseless praise.

Take my will, and make it Thine;

It shall be no longer mine.

Take my heart; it is Thine own;

It shall be Thy royal throne,

It shall be Thy royal throne.

JESUS FINAL WOE, HERE IN OUR TEXT THIS MORNING SAYS: “Woe to you! For you are like unmarked graves, and

people walk over them without realizing it.”

WHAT IF THE GRACE NOTE BY OUR SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST TAKES US AWAY FROM A VISION OF SADNESS AND

SORROW, THE VISION THAT MANY OF US LIVE TO SEE MANY TIMES…PERHAPS WALKING OVER THE GRAVES…

WITHOUT REALIZING IT....

WHAT IF JESUS IS SAYING HERE TO THE PHARISEES......LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE IN YOUR CARE, LISTEN FOR THEIR

LONGINGS AND BE SURE NOT TO PRACTICE LYING AND DECEIT......

the Gospel of Matthew RECORDED Jesus was even more direct when he said

Matthew 15:14 (NRSV)

Let them alone; they are blind guides. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.”

Instead of teaching the people how they could renew their relationship with God they were pushing people away

from God. This is why Jesus was so upset with them.

THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT RENEWAL WITH JESUS IS AN OPEN INVITATION.....CENTURY AFTER CENTURY JESUS

STANDS WITH ARMS WIDE OPEN READY TO RECEIVE.....READY TO GIVE YOU REST.....READY TO REDIRECT LIVES,

SOOTHE SOULS AND MOVE MINISTRIES AND GOD’S PEOPLE FORWARD

CONCLUSION

THAT RENEWAL WITH JESUS IS POSSIBLE.....AND TO ACHIEVE IT....RECEIVE THE DIFFERENT ENERGY OF OUR

SAVIOR

JESUS THAT HE BROUGHT TO THE TABLE WITH THE PHARISEES......PEEVED, PERHAPS EVEN ANGRY, JESUS PUSHED

THEM TO A STATE OF REFLECTION, TOLD THEM WHAT THEY HAD BEEN DOING WRONG LIKE ONLY SOMEONE FULLY

HUMAN AND FULLY DIVINE COULD TELL THEM....BUT HE ALSO MADE ROOM FOR GRACE....

JESUS HAS ABUNDANT, RESPLENDENT GRACE RESERVED FOR YOU, GRACE WHEN YOU NEED IT....GRACE WHEN YOU

ASK FOR IT....GRACE FOR YOU WHEN YOU DON’T......GRACE BEYOND YOUR EXPECTATION OR IMAGINATION....GRACE

IF YOU CAN APPLY YOURSELF TO RECEIVING IT......

I CLOSE WITH THE STORY, THIS FATHER’S DAY, OF ONE OF THE GREATEST ATHLETES OF ALL TIME....WHO WAS

DEVASTATED WHEN HE LOST HIS FATHER......THIS IS WHAT HE TOLD BOB GREENE, A CHICAGO NEWSPAPER

REPORTER ABOUT HOW HE STAYED CONNECTED TO HIS FATHER ACROSS THE CHASM OF DEATH........HIS METHOD

IS NOTEWORTHY.......USE HIS METHOD IN YOUR WALK WITH GOD......USE HIS METHOD TO CHANGE/ADJUST OR

STRENGTHEN YOUR HEART......HERE’S MICHAEL JORDAN’S METHOD OF STAYING CONNECTED WITH HIS DAD:

I THINK ABOUT HIM EVERY DAY. EVERY SINGLE DAY. I THINK ABOUT HIM WHEN I’M WORRIED, AND I THINK

ABOUT HIM WHEN I HAVE A DECISION TO MAKE. I THINK ABOUT HIM WHEN I HAVE A BAD PROBLEM. I THINK

ABOUT THE ADVICE HE WOULD GIVE ME, WHAT HE WOULD SAY TO ME. SO ON MY DRIVE TO PRACTICE IN THE

DARK EVERY MORNING, HE’S WITH ME, AND I REMEMBER WHY I’M DOING THIS; PLAYING BASKET BALL. I

REMEMBER WHY I’M HERE. I’M HERE FOR HIM.....

THOUGH MICHAEL STILL CARRIES THAT SADNESS, HE FOUND A WAY TO REBUILD HIS LIFE AGAIN AFTER HIS

DADDY’S DEATH....

FOR YOU AND I BELOVEDS, JESUS’ PRAYER LINE IS ALWAYS OPEN, YOU CAN TALK TO HIM ANYTIME, THE BIBLE IS

FILLED WITH CHRIST’S OWN ADVICE AND GREAT ADVICE OF MANY KINDS......YOU CAN TRUST IT IN THE DARKNESS

OF THE MORNING....OR THE UNCERTAINTIES OF YOUR SOUL......JESUS KNOWS ALL ABOUT YOU, JESUS KNOWS

YOUR EVERY WOE........LET US PRAY...