A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW 

SEVEN WOES – NUMBER THREE     

Matthew 23:16-22 “Woe to you blind guides . . . anyone who swears by heaven swears by God’s throne and by the one who sits on it.” 

Jesus said, “If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.” He said this as a warning to people who were following false teachers who taught that a person must perfectly follow a series of rules and regulations instead of having a right relationship with Him for their salvation. God, your heavenly Father, because of His love for you, gives you faith in His Son Jesus. It is by the faith God has given that you trust in what God has done for you through the life, death, and resurrection of His Son Jesus. Your salvation is not because of what you DO, but by what Jesus has DONE for you.   

Pray for spiritual discernment as you daily walk your life’s journey. Pray God to empower you to recognize what is true and what is not. Ask God to help you make sound choices that align with His will. Pray for wisdom and understanding, guided by His Holy Word. As yesterday’s devotion said, ask the Holy Spirit to deeply root your faith in God’s word. 

As the hymn writer wrote, “Jesus lead thou on, ‘til our rest is won . . . Guide us by Thy hand To our fatherland.” (LSB, 718) Jesus is your Good Shepherd (see John chapter 10.) Psalm 23 says, (Jesus) your Good Shepherd will lead you to “green pastures and quiet waters . . .He will lead (you) in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. . .(He) will prepare a table before (you) in the presence of (your) enemies.” Note the promise in the last verse of this Psalm: “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow (you) all the days of (your) life; and (you) shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”  Follow Jesus who is the one who leads you to your Fatherland. 

Prayer: Jesus, daily lead me on the path of righteousness you prepared for me. In Your holy name. Amen. 

Jesus, lead Thou on Till our rest is won;  
And although the way e cheerless,   
We will follow calm and fearless.  
Guide us by Thy hand To our fatherland. 

If the way be drear, If the foe be near,  
Let not faithless fears o’ertake us;  
Let not faith and hope forsake us;  
For through many a woe To our home we go. 

When we seek relief From a longfelt grief,  
When temptations come alluring,   
Make us patient and enduring.  
Show us that bright shore, Where we weep no more. 

Jesus, lead Thou on Till our rest is won.  
Heav’nly leader, still direct us,   
Still support, console, protect us,  
Till we safely stand In our fatherland. 

Jesus, Lead Thou On // LSB 718