Daily Devotional Wednesday Wisdom | April 29, 2026
It’s Wednesday, and time for your daily devotional. Jesus had been teaching in parables when the Pharisees began questioning Him about giving, marriage, and the greatest commandment, and Jesus answered them wisely. Then in Matthew 23, Jesus began warning the crowd about the Pharisees and pronounced seven woes upon them. In your daily devotional, consider these woes, as they can apply to today’s Christians.
Publicly Righteous
In verse 3, Jesus acknowledges their role as religious leaders and tells the multitude to observe the word of God they teach, but not to live by their example. He warns that they bind men with heavy and grievous burdens. The scribes and Pharisees were publicly righteous and taught obedience to God’s commandments, but didn’t live by them.
Their goal was to be seen as righteous, not to actually live righteously. They looked the part and loved the high regard they received in public spaces and in the synagogue. They loved being called Rabbi, but didn’t live up to the title. In today’s daily devotional, Jesus taught humility and the fear of the Lord. You can’t operate in the kingdom without them.
They Exalted Themselves
In verse 12, Jesus proclaimed that those who exalt themselves will be abased, but the humble will be exalted. Then He began to pronounce woes, or expressions of grief, spoken as curses or in times of tragedy. Not having a heart of service, the scribes and Pharisees exalted themselves and didn’t walk in God’s word. They were egotistical and immoral. In this daily devotional, strive to live humbly and upright, unlike the religious elite.
Woe Unto You
In verse 13, Jesus pronounces His first woe against them: “But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.” Jesus wasn’t joyful in making these pronouncements; however, these wayward religious figures needed to hear the truth. Although they would ultimately reject it, they are warned, so now the blood is on their own hands.
God told Ezekiel in 3:19 to warn the wicked, but if they didn’t repent, they’d perish. Yet Ezekiel would be delivered. Therefore, Jesus was acting in obedience to God’s word. In your daily devotional, warning the disobedient could save them from eternal judgment. As Pastor Charles Stanley would say, “Obey God and leave the consequences to Him.”
Shutting Up the Kingdom
Jesus calls them hypocrites, which means phony and deceitful. They were actors playing a role, pretending to be someone they were not. They were guilty of shutting up the kingdom of heaven against men. By not accepting Christ, who is the only way to salvation, they were closing the door of salvation for themselves and barring the entrance for people who would receive Him.
It was the religious leaders who influenced the crowd to ask for Barabbas and reject Jesus by shouting, “Crucify Him!” It was their wickedness and their partnership with Satan that led them to follow Him wherever He taught. They wanted to discredit Him and find a way to destroy Him. Declare in this daily devotional that Christ is the only way to salvation, and don’t let any religious charlatan lead you astray.
God’s Kingdom is Open to You
In Wednesday’s daily devotional, God has opened the Kingdom to all who believe in Christ. There are no heavy burdens, for His yoke is easy and His burden is light. In today’s daily devotional, stand on God’s word. Don’t be like the scribes and Pharisees, who received woes; believe in Jesus and be blessed.
