45 Then one of the lawyers answered and said to Him, “Teacher, by saying these things You reproach us also.” 46 And He said, “Woe to you also, lawyers! For you load men with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do not touch the burdens with one of your fingers. 47 Woe to you! For you build the tombs of the prophets, and your fathers killed them. 48 In fact, you bear witness that you approve the deeds of your fathers; for they indeed killed them, and you build their tombs. 49 Therefore the wisdom of God also said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they will kill and persecute,’ 50 that the blood of all the prophets which was shed from the foundation of the world may be required of this generation, 51 from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah who perished between the altar and the temple. Yes, I say to you, it shall be required of this generation. 52 “Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge. You did not enter in yourselves, and those who were entering in you hindered.” 53 And as He said these things to them, the scribes and the Pharisees began to assail Him vehemently, and to cross-examine Him about many things, 54 lying in wait for Him, and seeking to catch Him in something He might say, that they might accuse Him.
In the previous study, a lawyer objected to Jesus’ criticism of the Pharisees. Jesus then turned to a criticism of lawyers. They were like those in the Old Testament who killed the prophets.
11:45
Then one of the lawyers answered and said to Him, “Teacher, by saying these things You reproach us also.”
Lawyers interpreted the law. They used a similar approach to the law as the Pharisees. In turn, Jesus also criticized lawyers. To this lawyer, Jesus insulted both groups.
11:46
And He said, “Woe to you also, lawyers! For you load men with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do not touch the burdens with one of your fingers.
Rather than denying His criticism of the Pharisees, Jesus also criticized the lawyers. These people created rules not found in Scripture. This approach of adding legalistic rites to Scripture put a tremendous burden on their adherents. They created additional laws and traditions that went beyond Scripture, placing a great burden on those trying to adhere to them (Acts 15:10). They did not attempt to alleviate the burdens they had imposed on the people.
11:47
Woe to you! For you build the tombs of the prophets, and your fathers killed them.
The lawyers were like their forefathers, who persecuted the prophets and who did not like their message. Despite their attitude toward the prophets, they built beautiful tombs to honor them. The spirit of their ancestors, which killed the prophets, was still with the religious leaders of Jesus’ day.
11:48
In fact, you bear witness that you approve the deeds of your fathers; for they indeed killed them, and you build their tombs.
In supposed respect for the prophets, the lawyers rebuilt the tombs of former prophets, yet they did not respect prophets such as John the Baptist or Jesus. The damning irony is they had the appearance of honoring prophets through tomb-building while simultaneously rejecting contemporary prophets of their day. This attitude demonstrated their solidarity with those who killed the prophets.
11:49
Therefore the wisdom of God also said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they will kill and persecute,’
The prophets here refer to current prophets (in the prophetic perfect tense) of Jesus’ day. The mention of “apostles” also puts this in the generation of Jesus.
11:50
that the blood of all the prophets which was shed from the foundation of the world may be required of this generation,
The generation of Jesus would repeat Israel’s history of killing prophets, including Jesus.
11:51
from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah who perished between the altar and the temple. Yes, I say to you, it shall be required of this generation.
Cain killed Abel because Abel’s sacrifice was acceptable to God. He was the first martyr. The Zechariah mentioned here is the high priest whom the Zealots slew in AD 67. He was the last martyr of the Old Testament. The generation of lawyers of Jesus’ day would face God’s judgment for this.
11:52
“Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge.
Lawyers were especially culpable because they were more knowledgeable about Scripture than others, yet their interpretation of Scripture violated the law.
You did not enter in yourselves, and those who were entering in you hindered.”
The lawyers did not apply to their experience what they knew of Scripture.
11:53
And as He said these things to them, the scribes and the Pharisees began to assail Him vehemently, and to cross-examine Him about many things,
After hearing what Jesus said to the lawyer, the scribes and Pharisees began to plot against Him. This verse indicates a new level of antagonism toward Jesus.
11:54
lying in wait for Him, and seeking to catch Him in something He might say, that they might accuse Him.
Jesus’ opponents sought to catch Him in what He might say so that they could ambush His ministry.
PRINCIPLE:
Religion is dangerous.
APPLICATION:
Religion can introduce serious problems in relating to God. It is dangerous because the general population deems religion as a trustworthy institution. Jesus regularly rebuked the religion of His day. Religion often carries spiritual pride and self-assurance. Religious legalism always produces pride. Jesus condemned rigorous legalism with a series of woes. There is no impunity for this kind of religion.
