A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW 

SEVEN WOES – NUMBER TWO     

Matthew 23:15 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when you have succeeded, you make them twice as much a child of hell as you are.” 

The Pharisee’s proudly took positions of leadership and tried to convince the Israelites they knew what they were doing. In today’s devotional verse Jesus pointed out the terrible outcome for a person following the leadership of the Pharisees.   

Finding yourself on the wrong path, leading you in the wrong direction is never good. Knowing you do not know the right path, but believing you have found someone who does know it and trusting they will lead you to the right destination, only to find the one leading you does not know the right path either is worse yet. Whenever they succeeded in convincing a person their teaching and leadership was right, Jesus said the Pharisee’s “ . . . make (those who followed them and their teaching) twice as much a child of hell as (they were.)” 

Such it is for any person who follows the teaching and leadership of false teachers. But, you ask, how can you determine who teaches correctly and who does not?   

The answer is to compare what you are being taught with what is said in the Bible and how it always points you to Jesus. God’s word is true, trustworthy, and will not change. 

John 17:17 (Jesus prayed to His Father) “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.” 

Isaiah 40:8 “The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.” 

Matthew 24:35 “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.”  

Prayer: Guide me, Dear Jesus, through the words of the Holy Scriptures to know what is true and what is not. In Your holy name. Amen. 

Savior, like a shepherd lead us; Much we need Your tender care;  
In Your pleasant pastures feed us, For our use Your fold prepare.  
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus, You have bought us; we are Yours.  
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus, You have bought us; we are Yours. 

We are Yours; in love befriend us, Be the guardian of our way;  
Keep Your flock, from sin defend us, Seek us when we go astray.  
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus, Hear us children when we pray.  
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus, Hear us children when we pray. 

You have promised to receive us, Poor and sinful though we be;  
You have mercy to relieve us, Grace to cleanse, and pow’r to free.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus, Early let us turn to You.  
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus, Early let us turn to You. 

Early let us seek Your favor, Early let us do Your will;  
Blessed Lord and only Savior, With Your love our spirits fill.  
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus, You have loved us, love us still.  
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus, You have loved us, love us still.    

Savior, like a Shepherd Lead Us // LSB 711