Conclusion Of Dining With A Pharisee

Listening to such condemnation, a lawyer, one of those versed in God's Law, complains: "Teacher, in saying these things you also insult us." Jesus holds these experts on the Law responsible too, saying: "Woe also to you who are versed in the Law, because you load men with loads hard to be borne, but you yourselves do not touch the loads with one of your fingers! Woe to you because you build the memorial tombs of the prophets, but your forefathers killed them!"

The loads, Jesus mentions are the oral traditions, but these lawyers would not so much as lift one little regulation to make it easier for the people. Jesus reveals that they even consent to the murder of the prophets and he warns: "'The blood of all the prophets spilled from the founding of the world [will] be required from this generation, from the blood of Abel down to the blood of Zechariah, who was slain between the altar and the house.' Yes, I tell you, it will be required from this generation.A"

The world of redeemable mankind had its start with the birth of children to Adam and Eve; thus, Abel lived at "the founding of the world." Following the vicious murder of Zechariah, a Syrian force despoiled Judah. But Jesus foretells a worse despoiling of his own generation because of its greater wickedness. This despoiling occurs about 38 years later, in 70 C.E.

Continuing his condemnation, Jesus says: "Woe to you who are versed in the Law, because you took away the key of knowledge; you yourselves did not go in, and those going in you hindered!" The experts on the Law are duty-bound to explain Go's Word to the people, unlocking its meaning. But they fail to do this and even take away from the people the opportunity to understand.

The Pharisees and the legal experts are furious at Jesus for exposing them. When he leaves the house, they begin to try to trap him into saying something for which they can have him arrested. Luke 11:37-54; Deuteronomy 14:22; Micah 6:8; 2Chronicles 24:20-25.

Next time: The Question Of Inheritance

The Greatest Man Who Ever Lived, 1991