THREE WARNINGS FOR BIBLE TEACHERS

Passage: Luke 11:45-54

Key verse: 52

NIV

45 One of the experts in the law(A) answered him, “Teacher, when you say these things, you insult us also.”

46 Jesus replied, “And you experts in the law, woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them.(B)

47 “Woe to you, because you build tombs for the prophets, and it was your ancestors who killed them. 48 So you testify that you approve of what your ancestors did; they killed the prophets, and you build their tombs.(C) 49 Because of this, God in his wisdom(D) said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and others they will persecute.’(E) 50 Therefore this generation will be held responsible for the blood of all the prophets that has been shed since the beginning of the world, 51 from the blood of Abel(F) to the blood of Zechariah,(G) who was killed between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, this generation will be held responsible for it all.(H)

52 “Woe to you experts in the law, because you have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering.”(I)

53 When Jesus went outside, the Pharisees and the teachers of the law began to oppose him fiercely and to besiege him with questions, 54 waiting to catch him in something he might say.(J)

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ESV

45 One of (A)the lawyers answered him, “Teacher, in saying these things you insult us also.” 46 And he said, “Woe to you (B)lawyers also! For (C)you load people with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do not touch the burdens with one of your fingers. 47 (D)Woe to you! For you build the tombs of the prophets whom your fathers killed. 48 (E)So you are witnesses and you (F)consent to the deeds of (G)your fathers, for they killed them, and you build their tombs. 49 Therefore also (H)the Wisdom of God said, (I)‘I will send them (J)prophets and apostles, (K)some of whom they will (L)kill and persecute,’ 50 so that (M)the blood of all the prophets, shed (N)from the foundation of the world, may be (O)charged against this generation, 51 from the blood of (P)Abel to the blood of (Q)Zechariah, who perished between (R)the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, it will be (S)required of this generation. 52 Woe to you (T)lawyers! (U)For you have taken away the key of (V)knowledge. You (W)did not enter yourselves, and you hindered those who were entering.”

53 As he went away from there, the scribes and the Pharisees began to press him hard and to provoke him to speak about many things, 54 (X)lying in wait for him, (Y)to catch him in something he might say.

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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. Woe to those who burden others (45-46)

Jesus gives a stern warning to those who teach the Bible only with head knowledge. Jesus is not pleased when Bible teachers teach rules and regulations instead of helping people to know the living God. Christianity is not based on legalistic rules, but on grace and the gospel.

2. Woe to you who build tombs for prophets (47-51)

By rejecting Jesus, these teachers of the law put themselves in the stream of history of those who had rejected God's word and killed his prophets. This history started with Cain who killed Abel. The Pharisees of Jesus' day would climax that history by killing God's Son.

3. Woe to you who have taken away the key (52-54)

Bible teaching which does not lead people to repent before God and have faith in Jesus hinders those who earnestly seek God, those who want to know and obey him.

Prayer: Lord, help me to come to you through Bible study.

One Word: A Bible teacher who pleases God