Isn’t interesting that Jesus says the righteous will enter the kingdom of God (Matt 5:3) while the unrighteous will keep people from entering (Matt 23:13). Read down the list from Matthew 5 (the beatitudes) – we find the righteous will be comforted, inherit the earth, they hunger and thirst after righteousness, pure in heart, shown mercy, they will see God, they will be called sons of God and they will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. But the unrighteous or self-righteous will be considered sons of hell, they are unclean, full of hypocrisy and wickedness, they neglect justice, mercy and faithfulness and they will be condemned.
As you read through these blessings (Matt 5) and woes (Matt 23) does it occur to you that woes are the attitudes which are in direct opposition from the blessings received by the righteous?
But even after shouting these woes – or sorrows (NLT) Jesus looks at the crowd around him and mourns over their failures, their stubbornness and only desires to gather them up and protect them as a hen cares for her chicks. What incredible love is this? I can’t even begin to imagine how Jesus could possible ever love us as He does, when we continue to do things against Him, things that must hurt Him. Why do we do it? Why?
Wanting only to please Jesus!
Pastor Kathy