Gospel in Art: Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!

The Liverpool & National Steeplechase at Aintree by William Tasker © Yale Centre for British Art

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 25 August 2025
Matthew 23:13-22

At that time: Jesus said, 'Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people's faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves.

'Woe to you, blind guides, who say, "If anyone swears by the Temple, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gold of the Temple, he is bound by his oath." You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold or the Temple that has made the gold sacred? And you say, "If anyone swears by the altar, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gift that is on the altar, he is bound by his oath." You blind men! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that makes the gift sacred? So whoever swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. And whoever swears by the Temple swears by it and by him who dwells in it. And whoever swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by him who sits upon it.'

Reflection on the painting

Today's gospel is a string of strong words from Jesus aimed at the religious leaders of His day. The very first accusation really packs a punch. Jesus says the Scribes and Pharisees are slamming the door of God's kingdom right in people's faces. They won't go in themselves, and they're making sure others don't go in either. In other words, not only are they rejecting Jesus' message about God's reign being close at hand, but they're also actively blocking others from accepting it. They've become obstacles, spiritual roadblocks, keeping people from the life God wants to give them. Strong words!

That warning isn't just for them back then. As always, it is for us too. In other parts of the gospel, Jesus even tells His own disciples to be careful not to cause others to stumble in their faith. At one point, He even turns to Peter and says, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me." Again, pretty strong language. The truth is, we all have the power to either trip people up or help them move forward. A stumbling block causes someone to fall; a stepping stone helps them take the next step. As followers of Christ, we are called to be stepping stones, helping others draw closer to the Lord.

In William Tasker's The Liverpool and National Steeplechase at Aintree (1843), we see the drama of a horse race with jockeys pushing forward, some leaping over fences, others tumbling to the ground. It is a vivid picture of what stumbling blocks and fences can cause: tables, falls, injuries. Life can't of course be just clear stretches that always allow for steady progress. There will be obstacles, yet we must ensure that we ourselves don't become obstacles for others. Jesus calls us to try and always smooth the way so that others can run their race with hope and courage.

LINKS

Gospel in Art: https://christian.art/
Today's Reflection: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/matthew-23-13-22-2025/