Not “Woe” but “Know”

“Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge.  You did not enter yourselves, and you hindered those who were entering.”
Luke 11:52 

Got Questions says that woe means “grief, anguish, affliction, wretchedness, calamity, or trouble.”  When Jesus says “woe” we better listen up!

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.”
Proverbs 1:7

The key of knowledge is nothing earthly.  The lawyers and Pharisees had much knowledge but it was full of greed, wickedness, oppression, murder and persecution.  As always, Jesus was revealing their hearts. 

Jesus was calling these individuals fools because they not only despised true wisdom and instruction for themselves, but since they had such influence over the people, they were obstructing the Gospel’s advancement.  

These earthly learned individuals were locked in their own prison cells – bars all around.  However, there was The Door and He was literally standing in front of them, speaking only Truth.  Yet they hated Jesus all the more because He called them out on their sin and they lacked the key of knowledge – to fear the Lord. 

The fear of the Lord leads to Jesus Christ which is the key that opens our personal prison door and therefore, the repentant sinner can walk out of jail free.  

Free from…

sin
condemnation
guilt and shame

Free to…

walk in obedience to God’s commands
walk in victory over sin by the power of the Holy Spirit
do all that God created you and me to do

The opposite of woe is relief, comfort, joy, goodness and having a sound mind.  These are all found only in Jesus Christ.  

To fear the Lord is to obey God.  Obedience is not an option, it’s essential. 

But why do we scoff at obedience? Because we want autonomy. We want to do what we want to do (James 4). We don’t like being told what to do. We want to make the rules and follow what we pick and choose.  With this kind of thinking, we are no different than the pride puffed lawyers and Pharisees of Jesus’s day.

This disobedience only leads to staying inside our prison cell.

Have you responded to Jesus’s call to walk out of jail?  Surely He paid your sentence price with His very own blood when He said in John 19:30, “It is finished”.  The door to your cell is open wide and God says, “Follow me”.  

But you have to follow Him, and not yourself (Proverbs 3:5-6). 

If you are still in your prison cell, don’t blame God. Staring at your pain or trying to numb your suffering makes matters worse as you go round and round inside your cell.  There is freedom and healing when you step out of jail!  

God has given you everything you need for life (2 Peter 1:3).  Maybe you don’t like what He’s given you or not given you, but remember, you were created for God’s glory, not the other way around (Isaiah 43:7).  He is God, you are not.

In Luke 9:20 Jesus asks Peter, “Who do you say that I am?” And Peter answered, “The Christ of God.”

So friend, who do you say Jesus is?  

Is He your healer, forgiver, peace, wisdom, instructor, Savior, King and Lord?  He did create you and loves you with an everlasting love as demonstrated through the cross of Calvary (Psalm 139:13-18, Jeremiah 33:3, 1 Peter 3:18).  I implore you to not accuse God like these unrepentant law makers did. 

If you know Jesus you will never hear His woe.

Maybe you have already repented of your sin and placed your faith in Christ and therefore have the fear of the Lord, but find yourself wondering back in your former prison cell.  You are putting expectations on yourself that are not from God and feeling heavy burdened.  Jesus said in Matthew 11:28-30, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”  

The lawmakers and Pharisees are those who put heavy unbearable burdens on others. Who or what are the “lawmakers” and “Pharisees” that you are still listening to? Is it your idea of perfectionism, reputation, performance, control, expectations, the way you look or want to look? The list of “lawmakers” and “Pharisees” is endless.  What keeps wooing you back into your former jail cell?  Whatever it is, I urge you to not listen to your burdened ideas, but listen to and obey your Good Shepherd (Psalm 23).  Remember that you are in charge of what you think on and by the power of the Holy Spirit you can renew your thoughts (Romans 12:2).  

The only way out of your former cell is to repent and trust Christ once again. 

Jesus is calling you out of your imprisonment – “My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.” And my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming.” (Psalm 27:8 NLT) 

I pray that you also respond as the Psalmist did to God’s loving tender voice to know Jesus more.  You are a new creation in Christ – your former life has passed away (2 Corinthians 5:17)!  Imagine your former jail cell door is closed, locked shut and you are standing outside of it.  With that thought in mind, may the temptation to get inside (go back to your old ways) fade as you get to know Jesus all the more.  He is your healer, forgiver, peace, wisdom, instructor, Savior, King and Lord and will give you relief, comfort, joy, goodness and a sound mind.

Knowledge starts with “Know” – Know Christ more!
Whom the Son sets free is free indeed (John 8:36)!