What I’m about to share alters everything. My perception of the Gospels, Jesus, and the way I behaved for many years.
The verses we are reading from are in Matthew 11:20-24 NASBS that say:
Then He began to denounce the cities in which most of His miracles were done, because they did not repent. [21] “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles had occurred in Tyre and Sidon which occurred in you, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. [22] Nevertheless I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you. [23] And you, Capernaum, will not be exalted to heaven, will you? You will descend to Hades; for if the miracles had occurred in Sodom which occurred in you, it would have remained to this day. [24] Nevertheless I say to you that it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for you.”
The judgments of Jesus are expressed as pity. The word translated “woe” could well be translated “alas,” a word of sorrow and pity more than of anger. (Taken from the Preachers Commentary)
This reminds me of the passage of the flood in Genesis 6:5-8 NASBS that say:
Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. [6] The LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. [7] The LORD said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, from man to animals to creeping things and to birds of the sky; for I am sorry that I have made them.” [8] But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD.
The Lord was sorry and grieved in his heart ❤. He sighted at the terrible situation to which He was bringing judgement upon.
In these texts, we can observe two aspects of God’s personality. His judgment on injustice and wrongdoing, which speaks of His fairness, and His generous love, that causes Him to be very saddened by the judgment.
In other words, God desires that we walk in his Presence and reap the benefits of our loyalty to Him. But when we don’t, when we walk in our flesh, we reap the consequences of our wickedness.
Galatians 6:8 NASBS states that:
For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.
In passages like this one in Genesis, or when Jesus talks to the Pharisees in the Seven Woes, He speaks with immense severity as well as a grieved and sorry heart, as though pitying them.
The phrase Woe or Alas appears 37 times in the New Testament.
As I read through all 37 verses in which this word was used, I became increasingly aware of the similarities between the Greek word οὐαί and the Hebrew word חם Transliterated Word
nâcham
That according to the Strong’s Dictionary of the Bible means: Definition
A primitive root; properly to {sigh} that {is} breathe strongly; by implication to be {sorry} that {is} (in a favorable sense) to {pity} console or (reflexively) rue; or (unfavorably) to avenge (oneself): – comfort ({self}) ease [one´ s {self]} repent ({-er} {-ing} self).
The word sorry is also used twice as compassion. Psalm 135:14 NASBS
For the LORD will judge His people And will have compassion on His servants.
We can observe the shape of a judgment warning blended with God’s compassion and love in this Psalm.
We can also see in the verses in Revelation that the word Woe is clearly used in the same compassionate and pitiful way.
Revelation 18:19 NASBS says:
And they threw dust on their heads and were crying out, weeping and mourning, saying, ‘Woe, woe, the great city, in which all who had ships at sea became rich by her wealth, for in one hour she has been laid waste!’
As a result, we comprehend that God may both bring judgment and sorrow bitterly over it, as in expressing deep compassion for people who will be judged.
When bringing judgment to change the realities of injustices, Hebrews 12:29 NASBS describes our God as a consuming fire.
That is why He sent Jesus, so that through repentance, judgment might be replaced by forgiveness, and destruction and suffering could be replaced by restoration on the most fundamental level.
Everything changes when we read the book of Jude and interpret the word Woe as arriving with a loving emotion toward individuals to whom the warnings are delivered.
In Jude 1:11-16, the New American Standard Bible, we read the following:
Woe (warning judgment and compassion) to them! For they have gone the way of Cain, and for pay they have rushed headlong into the error of Balaam, and perished in the rebellion of Korah. [12] These are the men who are hidden reefs in your love feasts when they feast with you without fear, caring for themselves; clouds without water, carried along by winds; autumn trees without fruit, doubly dead, uprooted; [13] wild waves of the sea, casting up their own shame like foam; wandering stars, for whom the black darkness has been reserved forever. [14] It was also about these men that Enoch, in the seventh generation from Adam, prophesied, saying, “Behold, the Lord came with many thousands of His holy ones, [15] to execute judgment upon all, and to convict all the ungodly of all their ungodly deeds which they have done in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.” [16] These are grumblers, finding fault, following after their own lusts; they speak arrogantly, flattering people for the sake of gaining an advantage.
Everything changes as a result of this revelation! The transformation of an angry, legalistic, and judgemental heart into one filled with love and compassion.
We can surely say that throughout time, God’s live and passionate heart has remained the same.
Yury Gaudard
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