A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW 

WOE      

Matthew 11:20-21 “Then Jesus began to denounce the towns in which most of His miracles had been performed, because they did not repent. Woe to you . . .” (Matthew 11:20-24) 

A dictionary defines “woe” as meaning “sorrow, distress, misery.” The Greek word that is translated as woe in verse 21 is οὐαί. οὐαί means “how greatly one will suffer” or “what terrible pain will come to one.” (Greek to English dictionary) 

Jesus, in today’s devotional verses, is addressing the impenitence of the people who had witnessed His miracles and heard His sermons and teachings. Jesus knew that His Father sent Him into the world to save it. John wrote, “God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.” (John 3:17) John then wrote, “whoever believes in Him is not condemned.” (verse 18)  

There is a further word, however, in verse 18, “. . . whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” It is to those who do not repent and believe that Jesus issues His stern word in Matthew 11:21, “woe!” Those who do not believe in Him, those who do not repent of their sins, those who love the darkness of unbelief instead of the light Jesus brought into the world are condemned.   

John continues, “This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light . . .” (John 3:19-21) Jesus is the light of the world! (John 8:12)   

There is no woe for those who confess and repent of their sins, and believe and trust in Jesus. He gives life and salvation. 

Prayer: Dear Jesus, You are light for me that reveals Your Father’s forgiveness of my sins through You. Bless me with Your light every day. Amen. 

[Verse 1]  Lord, the light of Your love is shining  In the midst of the darkness, shining  Jesus, light of the world, shine upon us  Set us free by the truth You now bring us  Shine on me, shine on me 

[Chorus]  Shine, Jesus, shine, fill this land with the Father's glory  Blaze, Spirit, blaze, set our hearts on fire  Flow, river, flow, flood the nations with grace and mercy  Send forth Your word, Lord, and let there be light 

[Verse 2]  Lord, I come to Your awesome presence  From the shadows into Your radiance  By the blood, I may enter Your brightness  Search me, try me, consume all my darkness  Shine on me, shine on me 

[Chorus]  Shine, Jesus, shine, fill this land with the Father's glory  Blaze, Spirit, blaze, set our hearts on fire  Flow, river, flow, flood the nations with grace and mercy  Send forth Your word, Lord, and let there be light     [Verse 3]  As we gaze on Your kingly brightness  So our faces display Your likeness  Ever changing from glory to glory  Mirrored here, may our lives tell Your story  Shine on me, shine on me 

[Chorus]  Shine, Jesus, shine, fill this land with the Father's glory  Blaze, Spirit, blaze, set our hearts on fire  Flow, river, flow, flood the nations with grace and mercy  Send forth Your word, Lord, and let, let there be light  Shine, Jesus, shine, fill this land with the Father's glory  Blaze, Spirit, blaze, set our hearts, set them on fire  Flow, river, flow, flood the nations with grace and mercy  Send forth Your word, Lord, and let there be light! 

Lord, let there be light!  Let there be light! 

(Printed words used with permission under CCLI# 1600874)