⁵² Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge; you yourselves did not enter, and you hindered those who were entering.” Luke 11:52

Read Luke 11:45-53

Experts in the Mosaic law should have understood why the statutes were given, and should have concluded that no one could fully keep them without justification through the coming Messiah. They should have realized that Jesus was the fulfillment of the law and chimed in as his most vocal advocates, adamantly defending the Messiah’s position.

But they did just the opposite by prosecuting a case against him with deception, entrapment, and trumped-up charges. As such, the people were restrained from entering into the truth. In fact, these lawyers withheld evidence (the Old Testament) that would have exonerated Jesus, freeing him to usher in his kingdom.

The Messiah therefore emptied both barrels on them with excoriating rebukes, i.e., “woes.” The “cross” examination was breathtaking.

Nevertheless, this unbraiding only stiffened their resolve to hound and badger him at every corner. They’d win out in the end, or so they thought.

However, a new kind of law and order was about to be codified, albeit slightly delayed. Justice would indeed be served.