https://www.maynardvillefellowship.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Cooke-10-12-25.mp3

Matthew 23:29-33 serves as the capstone on this series of seven woes—these covenantal indictments against national Israel. Central to understanding this 'woe' is a right understanding of the fifth commandment; honor your father and mother. The scribes a Pharisees said 'If we’d been living in the days of our fathers, we wouldn’t have been partners with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.' Their pretended honor of the prophets was really a way of honoring themselves and dishonoring their fathers.

When we speak evil of parents, there’s an extra layer of guilt—beyond speaking evil of others. God placed you with them, blessed you by their care, & now entrusts their care to you; God forbid you speak evil when God command you to act for their good. Parents, can you look back & see ways you failed your children? You wish you’d done better; you wish you’d known then what you know now. You pray God will limit or undo damage from neglect, wrong emphases, time misspent. Afford your parents the same mercy you want from your children. Remember: by what judgment you judge, you shall be judged. If you desire mercy, extend it. Is it hard? It certainly can be—justice & mercy hinge on faithfulness through difficulty. The 'weightier matters of the law.'