Beatitudes Mirrored by Woes

Each of the eight beatitudes expressed in the Sermon of the Mount (Matthew 5) corresponds to an opposite declaration in which Jesus curses the Pharisees with eight woes in Matthew 23. Jesus is presenting his audience with two alternatives. Either you can live a blessed life that the Gospel calls us to follow, or you can live a cursed life like the Pharisees.

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
- Woe to you … you shut off the kingdom of heaven from people. (Mt. 23:13)

Being poor in spirit means recognizing how incomplete you are apart from Christ. It means a true realization that you are hopeless without Jesus. One biblical commentator explained that “the [ancient Greek] philosophers did not reckon humility among their moral virtues, but Christ puts it first. Self-denial is the first lesson to be learned in his school, and poverty of spirit entitled to the first beatitude. The foundation of all other graces is laid in humility.”
Question: Do you live your life as though you truly need Jesus?

Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
- Woe to you … you devour widow’s houses. (Mt. 23:14)

This mourning is godly sorrow over sin. This addresses the sincerity of a person’s repentance. The comfort promised to believers is realized in the prophecy of Revelation 21: “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain…”
Question: Does reflection upon your sins cause you to feel true sorrow?

Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
- Woe to you … you travel the earth to win a convert, making them into hell-dwellers. (Mt. 23:15)

A meek person is both patient and humble. Matthew Henry describes the meek as “those who quietly submit themselves to God, to his word and to his rod [punishments], who follow his directions, and comply with his designs, and are gentle towards all men; who can bear provocation without being inflamed by it...”
Question: Do you often put other people ahead of yourself?

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
- Woe to you … you swear by the temple and offer up a false righteousness. (Mt. 23:16-22)

Each and every person on earth hungers after something—whether holiness or sin. If you are thirsting and hungering after things of the world, then you are neglecting the things of Jesus.
Question: Which do you spend more time thinking about … impressing your friends or pleasing God?

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
- Woe to you … who neglect justice and mercy. (Mt. 23:23-24)

This is demonstrated by Christ’s parable of the wicked debtor (Matthew 18:23-35). We have been forgiven so much that we would be foolish and wicked not to forgive those who have offended us.
Question: Are you refusing to let go of a grudge against someone else?

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
- Woe to you … who clean the outside of the cup but are filthy within. (Mt. 23:25-26)

This claims that those who seek after pure holiness will be rewarded by God. Those who are clothed in the purity of Jesus Christ and treasure this holiness will finally be able to see the face of God without the fear of death.
Question: Can you honestly claim that purity and holiness are important to you?

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
- Woe to you … you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. (Mt. 23:31)

Christians should be peacemakers because we worship the Prince of Peace.
Question: Do you often work to resolve fights between friends or are you quick to take sides and stir it up?

Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
- Woe to you … you will kill and crucify the prophets that I send to you. (Mt. 23:34)

The history of the Christian Church is filled with wonderful stories of martyrs, who gave the last full measure of their lives to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. These saints are blessed in the sight of God.
Question: Have you ever been persecuted or mistreated because you are a Christian?