A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW 

SEVEN WOES – NUMBER ONE      

Matthew 23:13 – 14 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.” 

The next seven devotions are based upon Jesus’ seven woes, found in Matthew 23:13-32. The Greek word for woe was used when giving a warning about a danger that would come unless one changed their life. If they continued on the course they were following, they would suffer greatly and endure terrible pain. 

Today’s verses (13 & 14) flow out of the first twelve verses of chapter 23 that addressed the hypocrisy of the Pharisees. Jesus continues in today’s verses to warn them of the consequences of their hypocrisy. As the spiritual leaders of the people they will shut the door to the kingdom of God. Worse yet, they will shut that same door for themselves. 

It is a tragedy to think how preachers and teachers of the kingdom of God may block the door for those who try to enter. They do so when they fail to preach and teach the Gospel in its truth and purity and administer the sacraments as Jesus instituted them. There is only one way to heaven as Jesus taught in John 14:6, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” 

It is critical that you therefore examine what your spiritual leaders preach and teach you not only in words but also in how they apply those words to their own personal life. God has placed spiritual leaders into this world to lead you to Jesus, His Son, Savior of us all. He alone is the way to eternal life. 

Prayer: Help me, Holy Spirit, to find spiritual leaders who will direct me to Jesus for the forgiveness of my sins and eternal life in heaven. In Jesus’ holy name. Amen. 

You are the way; through You alone  
Can we the Father find;  
In You, O Christ, has God revealed   
His heart and will and mind. 

You are the truth; Your Word alone  
True wisdom can impart;  
You only can inform the mind  
And purify the heart. 

You are the life; the empty tomb  
Proclaims Your conqu’ring arm,  
And those who put their trust in You  
Not death nor hell shall harm. 

You are the way, the truth, the life; 
Grant us that way to know,  
That truth to keep, that life to win  
Whose joys eternal flow.  

You Are the Way; through You Alone // LSB 526