*WOE TO…
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1.) Job 10:15, ‘‘If I am wicked, woe to me!
But if I am righteous, I dare not lift up my head.
I am full of shame, and conscious of my misery.”
Woe in Hebrew is 'allay which means interjection of lamenting; alas (Strong’s Concordance); expression of grief, sorrow, regret or distress; -- which occurs 2 times in the Old Testament.
If I am wicked, woe to me! There is no exception.
There is no blessing for the wicked, only woes!
It sounds very strange, I often wonder why people want to be wicked. I discover there are people who choose to be wicked, they use wickedness as a means. Wickedness is a big subject which we do not dwell on it in this article.
2.) Ecc 4:10, “for if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls
when there is not another to lift him up!”
Ecclesiastes 4:10-12. For, if they fall — If one or more of them fall in any way; as into any mistakes, and errors, or sins, dangers, or distresses. The one will lift up his fellow — Will hold him up, if he be falling, or raise him up, if he be fallen. If two lie together, then they have heat — They will be sooner warm in a cold bed and a cold season. So virtuous and gracious affections are excited by good society; and Christians warm one another, by provoking one another to love and good works. But how can one be warm alone? — How can the warmth and fervency of true Christian love and zeal be retained by him who stands aloof from, and has no intercourse with, his fellow-Christians? If one prevail against him — If an enemy, visible or invisible, might easily prevail against either or any of them, if not associated with others, two or more, uniting their counsels and efforts, will be able to withstand him; and a three-fold cord is not quickly broken — If a man have not only one, but two or more friends to assist him, he is so much the more secure against all assaults, and therefore the more happy. Thus, in our spiritual warfare, we may be helpful to each other as well as in our spiritual work. And next to the comfort of communion with God, is that of the communion of saints. For they that dwell in love dwell in God, and God in them.”
Once I fell down alone; a Chinese man saw and did not help. I thought he told a security man who helped me up.
3. ) Ecc 10:16, “Woe to you, land whose king is a boy, and whose princes feast in the morning.”
I do not know any boy king today, but there are country leaders no better than boys; they are corrupt who suck the blood of nations. Of course there are politicians not only feast in the morning, they loot the national resources. Many leaders and politicians of undeveloped nations are only boys in mentality and activity.
4. ) Isa 3:9, “The expression of their faces testifies against them,
and they display their sin like Sodom; they do not even conceal it.
Woe to them! For they have done evil to themselves.”
The homosexuals display their sin like Sodom. Obama was the first American president who advocated homosexuality and proud to legalize the same sex marriage. Homosexuals have done evil to themselves.
1Co 6:9-10, “Or do you not know that the unrighteous
will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor
the greedy, nor those habitually drunk, nor verbal
abusers, nor swindlers, will inherit the Kingdom of God.”
5. ) Isa 3:11, “Woe to the wicked! It will go badly for him, for what he deserves will be done to him.”
The wicked in Hebrew is rāšāʿ which means one guilty of crime, deserving punishment; sometimes also wicked; morally wrong; bad person (Strong’s Concordance); -- which occurs 263 times in the Old Testament.
Nowadays there are many organizations who claim to be Christian so that they can shamelessly ask for donation. I never subscribe to any organization or ask them to do anything or subscribe to give any money donation. There are now such wicked organizations, they practice forced association even you reject and discard them, they even practice forced donation. Woe to such wicked and shamelessly greedy organizations which call themselves Christian! They have no fear of God who will judge the living and the dead.
2Co 11:31, “The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, He who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying.”
Woe unto the wicked - To all the wicked - but here having particular reference to the Jews whom Isaiah was addressing.
It shall be ill with him - The word "ill" is the only word here in the original. It is an emphatic mode of speaking - expressing deep abhorrence and suddenness of denunciation. 'Woe to the impious! Ill!'
For the reward of his hands - Of his conduct. The hands are the instruments by which we accomplish anything, and hence, they are put for the whole man.
Shall be given him - That is, shall be repaid to him; or he shall be justly recompensed for his crimes. This is the principle on which God rules the world. It shall be well here and hereafter, with those who obey God; it shall be ill here and forever, with those who disobey him.”
The wicked may be proud, but something evil is going to happen to him!
6.) Isa 5:8, “Woe to those who attach house to house and join field
to field, until there is no more room, and you alone are a landowner in the midst of the land!”
There are very bad landlords who rent apartments in America. They perform many dirty practices even going to your apartment when you are not home at work. They may take something you did not even know.
7.) Isa 5:11, “Woe to those who rise early in the morning so that they may pursue intoxicating drink, who stay up late in the evening so that wine may inflame them!”
Thank God, since the early days of Sunday School we vowed never drink or smoke in our lives. I could not imagine those who rise early in the morning so that they may pursue intoxicating drink, who stay up late in the evening so that wine may inflame them! I never have these kinds of people as friends.
8. ) Isa 5:18, “Woe to those who drag wrongdoing with the cords of deceit, and sin as if with cart ropes.”
Wo unto them ... - This is a new denunciation. It introduces another form of sin, and threatens its appropriate punishment.
That draw iniquity with cords of vanity - The general idea in this verse and the next, is, doubtless, that of plunging deeper and deeper into sin. The word "sin" here, has been sometimes supposed to mean "the punishment" for sin. The word has that meaning sometimes, but it seems here to be taken in its usual sense. The word "cords" means strings of any kind, larger or smaller; and the expression "cords of vanity," is supposed to mean "small, slender, feeble" strings, like the web of a spider. The word vanity שׁוא shâv', May, perhaps, have the sense here of falsehood or deceit; and the cords of deceit may denote the schemes of evil, the plans for deceiving people, or of bringing them into a snare, as the fowler springs his deceitful snare upon the unsuspecting bird. The Chaldee translates it, 'Woe to those who begin to sin by little and little, drawing sin by cords of vanity; these sins grow and increase until they are strong, and are like a cart-rope.' The Septuagint renders it, 'Woe to those who draw sin with a long cable;' that is," one sin is added to another, until it comes to an enormous length, and the whole is drawn along together. Probably the true idea is that of the ancient interpretation of the rabbis, 'An evil inclination is at first like a fine hair string, but the finishing like a cart-rope.' At first, they draw sin with a slender cord, then they go on to greater deeds of iniquity that urge them on, and draw them with their main strength, as with a cart-rope. They make a strong "effort" to commit iniquity.”
9.) Isa 5:20, “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness;
who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!”
I know Western media, white supremacists, military industrial complex, Wall Street executives, world leaders and politicians do the above habitually.
Woe unto them that call evil good ... - This is the fourth class of sins denounced. The sin which is reprobated here is that of "perverting and confounding" things, especially the distinctions of morality and religion. They prefer erroneous and fake doctrines to the true; they prefer an evil to an upright course of conduct. The Chaldee renders this, 'Wo to those who say to the impious, who are prospered in this age, You are good; and who say to the meek, Ye are impious.' Jarchi thinks that the prophet here refers to those who worship idols, but he evidently has a more general reference to those who confound all the distinctions of right and wrong, and who prefer the wrong.
That put darkness for light - "Darkness," in the Scriptures, is the emblem of ignorance, error, false doctrine, crime. Light denotes truth, knowledge, piety. This clause, therefore, expresses in a figurative, but more emphatic manner, what was said in the previous member of the verse.
That put bitter - "Bitter and bitterness" are often used to denote "sin;" see the note at Acts 8:23; also Romans 3:14; Ephesians 4:31; Hebrews 12:15; Jeremiah 2:19; Jeremiah 4:18. The meaning here does not differ from that expressed in the other parts of the verse, except that there is "implied" the additional idea that sin "is" bitter; and that virtue, or holiness, is sweet: that is, that the one is attended with painful consequences, and the other with pleasure.”
10.) Isa 5:21, “Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight!”
Truth will offend people. Of all races, the white race is most guilty of the above. In fact almost all white psychopathic supervisors are. As you know, most corporate managers and executives are white. I have also known black psychopathic supervisors who are worse.
Woe unto them that are wise ... - This is the fifth crime specified. It refers to those who are inflated with a false opinion of their own knowledge, and who are, therefore, self-confident and vain. This is expressly forbidden; Proverbs 3:7 : 'Be not wise in thine own eyes;' compare Proverbs 26:12.
In their own eyes - In their own opinion, or estimation.
And prudent - Knowing; self-conceited. This was, doubtless, one characteristic of the times of Isaiah. It is known to have been strikingly the characteristic of the Jews - particularly the Pharisees - in the time of our Saviour. The evil of this was,
(1) That it evinced and fostered "pride."
(2) That it rendered them unwilling to be instructed, and especially by the prophets.
As they supposed that they were already wise enough, they refused to listen to others. This is always the effect of such self-confidence: and hence, the Saviour required his disciples to be meek, and humble, and teachable as children.”
I have known and observed some white psychopathic supervisors and managers who consider what they do not know as wrong.
11.) Isa 6:5, “Then I said, “Woe to me, for I am ruined! Because I am a
man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of armies.”
I am shocked by the number of young women who use “f” word in America, and usually you heard the unclean lips of police and government officials. Vulgarity or unclean lips is used without shame.
12.) Isa 10:1, “Woe to those who enact unjust statutes and to
those who constantly record harmful decisions.”
I know there are unjust laws and I know there abusive power in the government. I am helpless to oppose them. I believe the right to possess guns contribute to many life losses.
13.) Isa 24:16, “From the ends of the earth we hear songs: “Glory to the Righteous One,” but I say, “I am finished! I am finished! Woe to me!
The treacherous deal treacherously, and the treacherous deal
very treacherously.”
I am powerless to deal with the treacherous who deal treacherously, very treacherously.
Verse 16. - Glory to the righteous. The righteous remnant perceive that the calamities which have come upon the earth are ushering in a time of honor and glory for themselves; and they console themselves by making this fact the burden of some of their songs. Their honor, it must be remembered, is bound up with God's glory; which will not shine forth fully till their salvation is complete, and they "reign with him" in glory (2 Timothy 2:12). But I said, My leanness. The thought of this joyful time, when the saints shall reign with their Lord in a new heaven and a new earth, recalls the prophet (contrast being one of the laws of the association of ideas) to the misery of the present, and his own participation therein. A time of suffering, of wasting, and pining away must be endured - for how long he knows not - before the joyous consummation, towards which he stretches in hope and confident expectancy, can be reached. This is the period of his "leanness." The treacherous dealers, or ungodly of the earth, will bear sway during this period, and will deal treacherously and cruelly with God's saints, persecuting them incessantly in a thousand ways. Have dealt. The perfect of prophetic certainty. Isaiah 24:16.”
14.) Isa 29:15, “Woe to those who deeply hide their plans from the LORD, and whose deeds are done in a dark place, and they say, “Who sees us?” or “Who knows us?” Who are those who think they can deeply hide their plans from the Lord, and whose deeds are done in a dark place?"
15.) Isa 30:1, “Woe to the rebellious children,” declares the LORD, “who execute a plan, but not Mine, and make an alliance, but not of My Spirit,
In order to add sin to sin.”
I think of NATO and all American military alliances are not of the Holy Spirit, in order to add sin to sin.
16.) Isa 45:9, “Woe to the one who quarrels with his Maker—A piece of pottery among the other earthenware pottery pieces! Will the clay say to the potter, ‘What are you doing?' Or the thing you are making say, ‘He has no hands'?”
There are still a lot of people who do not know that we are but earthenware pottery pieces, and God is our Maker. These people dare to quarrel with God.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
9–13. These verses are addressed to a section of the exiles who resented the idea of deliverance through a foreign conqueror. The strong word “strive” and the emphatic reassertion of the mission of Cyrus (Isaiah 45:13), as well as the connexion with Isaiah 45:1-8, shew that deliberate opposition to the Divine purpose, and not mere faint-hearted unbelief (as in chs. Isaiah 40:27, Isaiah 51:13), is here referred to. We know too little of the circumstances to understand the precise state of mind from which the objection proceeded. It may have arisen from reluctance to entertain the idea of deliverance through a foreign conqueror, instead of through an Israelite king, as ancient prophecies seemed to promise (e.g., Jeremiah 30:21). The same tendency of thought is probably alluded to in ch. Isaiah 46:12 (the “stout-hearted, that are far from righteousness”).
his maker] the same word as “him that fashioned it” in the second half of the verse. It is the ordinary word for “potter.”
Let the potsherd strive &c.] Render as in R.V. a potsherd among the potsherds of the earth! or, “a potsherd like (no better than) an earthen potsherd.” “With” may mean “among” (as a synonymous word does in Psalm 69:28), or “like” (Job 9:26), but the use of the same preposition in two different senses in one sentence is no doubt harsh.
or thy work, He hath no hands] i.e. no power. Delitzsch instances an identical Arabic phrase (lâ yadai lahu = “it is not in his power”). The LXX. reads “Thou” instead of “He,” and several commentators have suggested a transposition of the suffixes in the original: “or his work, Thou hast no hands.” The emendation is plausible, though perhaps hardly necessary.”
17.) Jer 22:13, “Woe to him who builds his house without righteousness,
and his upstairs rooms without justice, who uses his neighbor's
services without pay and does not give him his wages.”
Jeremiah 22:13-16. Wo unto him that buildeth his house by unrighteousness, &c. — “The prophet proceeds to denounce God’s judgments against Jehoiakim, (see Jeremiah 22:18,) who, it seems, built himself a stately palace in those calamitous times, and took no care to pay the wages of the workmen; but maintained his own luxury by the oppression of those who were to live by their labour: a crying sin, and too common among the great men of the world, severely prohibited both in the Old and New Testament.” — Lowth. See Deuteronomy 24:14-15; James 5:4. That saith, I will build me a wide house and large chambers — Hebrew, עליות מרוחים, chambers to the wind; that is, exposed, or open, to wind on every side. They used to enjoy the cool air in these chambers; the windows being so placed that they might receive the wind from whatever quarter it came. Shalt thou reign because thou closest thyself in cedar? — Will a house, finely adorned and furnished, be a fortress and defence to thee against thy enemies, that come to deprive thee of thy kingdom? Did not thy father eat and drink, and do justice, &c. — Did not Josiah live, and enjoy comfort in life as well as thou dost, though he did not indulge himself in such delicacies, and had not such magnificent apartments? Did he not live in sufficient plenty, and in a state suitable to his character, and yet strictly observed justice, both in his private and public capacity, and not betake himself to such sordid methods of injustice and oppression for the support of his grandeur? He did no wrong to any of his subjects, never oppressed them, or put any hardship upon them, but was careful to preserve to all their just rights and properties. Nay, he not only did not abuse his power for the support of wrong, but used it for the maintaining of right; he judged the cause of the poor and needy — Was ready to hear the cause of the meanest of his subjects, and do them justice; and then it was well with him — The blessing of God was upon him as the reward of his justice and integrity. He was comfortable in himself, and was useful to and respected by his subjects, and prospered in all that he put his hand to. Was not this to know me, saith the Lord? — Did he not hereby make it appear, that he rightly knew, worshipped, and served me, and consequently was known and owned by me? Observe, reader, the right knowledge of God implies the doing our duty to our fellow-creatures, as well as to God, particularly that duty which our place and station in the world require us to perform.”
18.) Jer 23:1, “Woe to the shepherds who are causing the sheep of My pasture to perish and are scattering them!” declares the LORD.”
Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible
Woe be unto the pastors,.... Or, "O ye shepherds" or "governors", as the Targum; the civil rulers and magistrates, kings and princes of the land of Israel; since ecclesiastical rulers, the priests and prophets, are mentioned as distinct from them in Jeremiah 23:9; whose business it was to rule and guide, protect and defend, the people: but, instead of that, they were such that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture, saith the Lord God; set them bad examples, led them into idolatry and other sins, which were the cause of their ruin, and of their being carried captive, and scattered in other countries; and their sin was the more aggravated, inasmuch as these people were the Lord's pasture sheep, whom he had an interest in, and a regard unto, and had committed them to the care and charge of these pastors or governors, to be particularly taken care of.”
There are bad pastors and preachers.
19.) Lam 5:16, “The crown has fallen from our head;
Woe to us, for we have sinned!”
Or, The crown of our head is fallen, by which is not only to be understood the cessation of their kingdom, but all their honour, splendour, and dignity (crown being taken in a metaphorical notion). Woe unto us, that we have sinned! we must thank ourselves for all this, this woe is come upon us because of our sins.”
20.) Eze 13:3, “‘This is what the Lord GOD says: “Woe to the foolish
prophets who are following their own spirit and have seen nothing!”
Foolish prophets include false prophets, false teachers, false mega church pastors, and fake missions.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
3. foolish prophets] The word, not used again by Ezekiel, is rather a moral term, meaning destitute of that wisdom the beginning of which is the fear of the Lord (Psalm 13:1). Jeremiah charges the prophets of his day with shameful vices, “They commit adultery with their neighbours’ wives” (Jeremiah 29:23; cf. Jeremiah 23:14, and pass.); but, without supposing that all the “false” prophets were so bad, it characterized them in general that they were superficial men in a moral sense. Their notions of religion and life were not high or strict, and hence they saw nothing in the condition of the people or the state calling for the judgment of God, and prophesied “peace.” This was what distinguished them from Jeremiah and other prophets whom we call “true.” Micah says in opposition to them: “I am full of power by the spirit of the Lord to declare unto Jacob his transgression and to Israel his sin” (ch. Ezekiel 3:8); and Jeremiah goes so far as to declare it to be the mark of a true prophet that he threatens judgment upon the nation (Jeremiah 28:8-9). A true prophet is one by whom the Lord speaks, and a “false” prophet (the expression is not used in the Old Testament, though the prophets are said to speak “falsely”) is one by whom he does not speak. This is true: but the converse has also its truth—the Lord did not speak by these prophets because they were “false” (1 Kings 22:6 seq.). There is a spirit of false prophecy as well as a spirit of true prophecy. The spirit of true prophecy is the spirit of the theocracy and of the religion of Jehovah, the spirit that comprehends its principles, sympathises with its lofty morality, understands its aims, and therefore can perceive the true means to be used for fulfilling them. The spirit of false prophecy is the untheocratic spirit, which, even when speaking in the name of Jehovah, has not entered with any profoundness into the nature and aims of his kingdom, and consequently misapprehends the means needful to further it. In his encounters with the prophets of his day Jeremiah opposes them in three spheres: that of policy; that of morals; and that of personal experience. In policy the genuine prophets had some fixed principles, all arising out of the idea that the kingdom of the Lord was not a kingdom of this world. Hence they opposed military preparation (Psalm 20:7), riding on horses and building of fenced cities (Hosea 14:3; Micah 5:10-11; Isaiah 31:1), and counselled trust in Jehovah (Isaiah 7:9; Isaiah 10:20-21; Isaiah 17:7; Isaiah 30:15). These prophets were moving forward (often unconsciously) towards that conception of the kingdom of God which has been realized in the “Church;” and external providence was shaping the history of the nation on lines parallel to this conception, which eventually received form by the destruction of the state and the reduction of the people to be a mere religious community. The false prophets, on the other hand, desired their country to be a military power among the powers around, they advocated alliances with the Eastern empires and with Egypt, and relied on their national strength (Amos 6:13). Again, the true prophets had a stringent personal and state morality (see above). In their view the true cause of the destruction of the state was its immoralities. But the false prophets had no such deep moral convictions, and seeing nothing unwonted or alarming in the condition of things, prophesied of “peace.” They were not necessarily irreligious men, but their religion had no truer insight into the nature of the God of Israel than that of the common people (Amos 5:18); hence they pointed to the Temple as the house of the Lord, which he must protect; while Jeremiah told them that they had made it “a cave of robbers,” in which they thought themselves safe after committing their crimes, and threatened it with the fate of Shiloh (Jeremiah 7, 26). And finally Jeremiah expresses his conviction that the prophets whom he opposed did not stand in the same relation to the Lord as he did; they had not his experiences of the word of the Lord, into whose counsel (Amos 3:7) they had not been admitted, and they were without that fellowship of mind with the mind of Jehovah which was the true source of prophecy (Jeremiah 23 pass.). Hence he satirizes their pretended supernatural “dreams,” and charges them from conscious want of any true prophetic word with “stealing” words from one another. Cf. Ezekiel 13:6-7 and ch. 14.
their own spirit] The term is used in opposition to the “spirit” of the Lord which inspired the true prophet, who is called “a man of the spirit” (Hosea 9:7). As distinct from heart “spirit” is rather the force or power moving the prophet. In early times the prophets were the subjects of considerable excitation; and looking on them thus powerfully affected men recognised the influence of the spirit of God upon them.
and have seen nothing] Rather: and (go after) that which they have not seen. They did not see, though no doubt they thought they saw. They were self-deceived.
Ezekiel 13:3.”
21.) Eze 13:18, “and say, ‘This is what the Lord GOD says: “Woe to the women who sew magic bands on all wrists and make veils for the heads of persons of every stature to capture souls! Will you capture the souls of My people, but keep the souls of others alive for yourselves?”
Woe to the women who use sex to capture men’s souls.
Verse 18. - Woe to the women who sew pillows, etc. Ezekiel's minute description, though it is from a different standpoint, reminds us of that in Isaiah 3:18-26. In both cases there are the difficulties inseparable from the fact that he had seen what he describes, and that we have not; and that he uses words which were familiar enough then, but are now found nowhere else. so that (as in the case of the ἐξουσία of 1 Corinthians 11:10) we have to guess their meaning. The picture which he draws of a false prophetess is obviously taken from the life, and the dress, we can scarcely doubt, was one that belonged to her calling. The word for "sew" meets us in Genesis 3:7; Job 16:15; Ecclesiastes 3:7; and the English is an adequate rendering. For the word rendered "pillows," the LXX. gives προσκεφάλαια, the Vulgate pulvilli (equivalent to "cushions"). The word here obviously denotes an article of dress, something fastened to the arms. For arm-holes read joints of the two hoods, which may mean either knuckles, wrists, or (as in the Revised Version) elbows. Possibly these may have been, like the phylacteries of Matthew 23:5, cases containing charms or incantations, and used as amulets. Something analogous to, if not identical with, these ornaments, is found in the "seeress wreaths," and "divining garments" of Cassandra (AEsch., 'Agamemnon,' 1237-1242), and in the "garlands" or "fillets" of the Pythian priestess in AEsch., 'Eumeu.,' 39. By some writers (Havernick) the word has been taken, as, perhaps, in the Authorized Version, for "pillows" in the larger sense, either literally as used in wanton luxury, like the "tapestry" of Proverbs 7:16, or figuratively, like the "wall" of the preceding section, for counsels that lulled the conscience into the slumber of a false security. Strangely enough, the Hebrew noun rendered "arm-holes" has the pronominal suffix "my arms," or "my hands." Keil accepts this rendering, and explains it as meaning that the prophetesses sought to "bind the arms," i.e. to restrain the power of Jehovah. On the whole, it is safer to follow Ewald and Hitzig, as I have done above. Make kerchiefs upon the head of every stature. The word for "kerchiefs" is again unique, but is, perhaps, a variant of the word in Isaiah 3:22, and rendered "wimples" in the Authorized Version. There is a fair consensus of interpretations that it means, as "kerchief" means, some covering for the head, a veil that hangs down over it, like the Spanish mantilla. Its use is, perhaps, explained by the words that follow, which suggest that the veils were not worn by the prophetesses themselves, but by those who came to consult them. The former had, as it were, a whole wardrobe of such veils adapted to persons of various heights, so that in all cases it shrouded their whole form. We may, perhaps, read between the lines the thought that their utterances, like their veils, were adapted to suit every age and every taste. Analogous usages present themselves in the tallith of later Judaism, and the veil worn by the Roman augurs. Ezekiel paints, we may believe, what he had seen. And in those veils he had seen a net cast over the victims of the false prophetesses, a snare from which they could not escape. Will ye hunt, etc.? The question (that form is preferable to the affirmative of the margin of the Revised Version) is one of burning indignation. Omitting the words, "that come" (which have nothing in the Hebrew corresponding to them), the second clause will run, "Will ye make your own souls live?" and the question is explained by what follows. The prophetesses were living upon the credulity of the victims over whom they cast their nets. Ezekiel 13:18.”
22.) Eze 16:23, “Then it came about after all your wickedness
(‘Woe, woe to you!' declares the Lord GOD).”
When the Lord God declares, it is done! Woe, woe to you all your wickedness!
Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible
And it came to pass after all thy wickedness,.... This refers either to what goes before, so Kimchi; and the sense is, it shall be again as it was at first, after and because of all the above wickedness committed, thou shalt be left naked and bare, and destitute of all that is good: or rather to what follows in the next clause; and the meaning is, to all this wickedness before mentioned, which was so great that it might be thought nothing more could be added to it; and yet the following things were, as building an eminent place, and high places, in all streets and heads of ways:
woe, woe unto thee, saith the Lord of hosts; which is repeated, to show the indignation of the Lord against all this wickedness; to arouse their attention to their sin and punishment, and to show the certainty of it; and it may be it denotes both their misery in this world, and in that to come. The Targum of the whole is,
"what shall be in thine end for all thy wickedness? the prophet said unto her, woe unto thee, because thou hast sinned; woe unto thee, because thou art not converted, saith the Lord God.''
23.) Eze 24:6, “Therefore, this is what the Lord GOD
says: “Woe to the bloody city, to the pot in which there is rust and whose rust has not gone out of it! Take out of it piece after piece, without making a choice.”
It is well known there are many bloody cities in the world, I do not need to list them.
Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible
Wherefore thus saith the Lord God, woe to the bloody city,.... Here the parable begins to be explained; and shows that by the pot is meant the city of Jerusalem, called the bloody city, because of the blood of the prophets, and of righteous persons, and of innocent babes, that was shed in it; and which was the cause of the judgments of God coming upon her, which would issue in her destruction, and therefore "woe unto her"; see Matthew 23:37,
to the pot whose scum is therein, and whose scum is not gone out of it; when a pot boils, a scum arises, and appears upon the top of the water, which the cook usually takes off: this denotes the filthiness and wickedness of the people of the Jews, which would work up and be seen by the judgments of God upon them; yet should not be removed, but continue on them, unrepented of, and unpardoned. It signifies that they would remain hardened in their sins; and that the judgments of God would have no effect upon them to bring them to repentance; and that God would have no mercy on them, or pardon their sins:
bring it out piece by piece: the people that were in Jerusalem, of every class and rank, of every age and sex; suggesting that they should not be all destroyed at once, but some at one time, and some at another; some in one way, and some in another; some by famine, others by the pestilence, and others by the sword; some by sallying out upon the enemy; others by endeavouring to make their escape privately, and fall into their hands:
let no lot fall upon it; to save some, and destroy others, as is often done in war; signifying that all were destined to destruction, some way or another; and none should be spared; they that escaped the pestilence should die by famine; and they that escaped them both should die by the sword; and they that escaped all three should be carried into captivity. The Targum is,
"captivity upon captivity shall go out with her, because repentance was not in her.''
24.) Hos 7:13, Woe to them, for they have strayed from Me! Destruction is theirs, for they have rebelled against Me! I would redeem them, but they have spoken lies against Me.”
Woe to anyone who has strayed from the Lord! To stray from the Lord is to stray from the Truth, from Salvation, from eternal Hope and eternal Life.
Hosea 7:13-14. Wo unto them, &c. — These are words both of menace and lamentation. The prophet at once foretels and bewails their miseries. For they have fled from me — As if it had not been enough that they at first left my government, temple, and worship, they have gone still further from me by their sinful and idolatrous courses. Destruction unto them — The ruin of their country and commonwealth will be the consequence of their apostacy. Because they have transgressed against me — Rebelliously cast off my authority and laws. Though I have redeemed them, yet they have spoken lies, &c. — Though I delivered them from the Egyptians, and afforded them many other signal deliverances, yet they have not given me true glory, but have likened me to golden calves, and other images. Idolatry is frequently called in Scripture a lie, because it gives false representations of things; attributing power, &c., to things which, in their own nature, have no such power, or representing the Deity by forms which he is in no way like; therefore it was, properly speaking, changing the truth and glory of God into a lie, or, speaking lies against him. They also belied his corrections, as if not deserved; they belied the good which God had done them, as if it were too little, or not done by him, but by their idols. And they have not cried unto me, when they howled, &c. — When they bemoaned their calamities, as sick men bewail themselves upon their beds of sickness; yet they did not call upon me heartily and sincerely. They assemble, &c., for corn and wine, and they rebel, &c. — When they assemble themselves to deprecate a famine, they still retain the same disobedient temper toward me.”
25.) Hos 9:12, “Though they bring up their children,
Yet I will bereave them of their children until not a person is left. Yes, woe to them indeed when I depart from them!”
Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible
Though they bring up their children,.... Though this be the case of some, as to be conceived, carried in the womb to the full time, and be born, and brought up to a more adult age, and appear very promising to live, and perpetuate the names of their fathers and their families:
yet will I bereave them; their parents of them, by the sword, famine, pestilence, or by carrying them captive into a foreign country:
that there shall not be a man left; in the whole land of Israel, but all shall be destroyed, or carried captive; or, "from men" (i); that is, either from being men, as the Targum; though they are brought up to some ripeness, and a more adult age than others, yet arrive not to such a time and age as to be called men, as Kimchi observes; or from being among men, being either taken away by death, or removed from the society of men to live among beasts, and to he slaves like them:
yea, woe also to them, when I depart from them; withdraw my presence, favour, and protection from them; or remove my Shechinah from them, as the Targum; and leave them to the spoil and cruelty of their enemies, which would be a greater calamity and judgment than the former. The Septuagint, and so Theodotion, render it, "woe is to them, my flesh is of them"; which some of the ancients interpret of the incarnation of Christ, not considering that the words are spoken of Ephraim, or the ten tribes; whereas the Messiah was to spring, and did, from the family of David, and tribe of Judah.”
26.) Amo 6:1, “Woe to those who are carefree in Zion,
and to those who feel secure on the mountain of Samaria, the dignitaries of the foremost of nations, to whom the house of Israel comes.”
Verses 1-6. - With a second woe the prophet denounces the chiefs of the whole nation, who were quite satisfied with the present state of things, and, revelling in luxury, feared no coming judgment. Verse 1. - Them that are at ease in Zion; living in fancied security and self-pleasing (Isaiah 32:9, 11; Zephaniah 1:12). Judah is included in the denunciation, because she is equally guilty; the whole covenant nation is sunk in the same dangerous apathy. Septuagint, τοῖς ἐξουθενοῦσι Σιών, "them that set at naught Zion." The same rendering is found in the Syriac, and can be supported by a small change in the Hebrew. It may have been intended thus to confine the announcement to Israel alone, in conformity with the prophet's chief scope. But he has introduced mention of Judah elsewhere, as Amos 2:4; Amos 6:5; Amos 9:11, and his sense of his own people's careless ease may well lead him to include them in his warning. Trust in the mountain of Samaria. The city was deemed impregnable, and it kept the Assyrians at bay for three years before it was finally taken (2 Kings 18:9, etc.; see notes on Amos 3:9 and Amos 4:1). Another rendering, not so suitable, is, the careless ones upon the mountain of Samaria. The point, however, is the supposed impregnability of the city which occasioned a feeling of perfect security. Which are named chief of the nations; rather, to the notable men of the chief of nations; i.e. the principal men of Israel, which had the proud title of the chief of the nations because it was beloved and elected of God, and was designed to keep alive true religion, and to set an example to the rest of the world (Exodus 19:5; Numbers 1:17; Deuteronomy 4:20; 2 Samuel 7:23). Septuagint, ἀπετρόγησαν ἀρχὰς ἐθνῶν, "they plucked the chiefs of the nations," where the verb is a mistaken Tendering. To whom the house of Israel came; or, come. Resort for counsel and judgment (2 Samuel 15:4), and who ought therefore to be patterns of righteousness and equity. The rendering of the Vulgate, ingredientes pompatice domum Israel, "entering with pomp into the house of Israel" (which does not agree with the present Hebrew text), implies that these chieftains carried themselves haughtily in the congregation of Israel. Amos 6:1”
27.) Mic 2:1, “Woe to those who devise wrongdoing,
Who practice evil on their beds!
When morning comes, they do it,
Because it is in the power of their hands.”
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
CHAPTER 2
Mic 2:1-13. Denunciation of the Evils Prevalent: The People's Unwillingness to Hear the Truth: Their Expulsion From the Land the Fitting Fruit of Their Sin: Yet Judah and Israel Are Hereafter to Be Restored.
devise … work … practise—They do evil not merely on a sudden impulse, but with deliberate design. As in the former chapter sins against the first table are reproved, so in this chapter sins against the second table. A gradation: "devise" is the conception of the evil purpose; "work" (Ps 58:2), or "fabricate," the maturing of the scheme; "practise," or "effect," the execution of it.
because it is in the power of their hand—for the phrase see Ge 31:29; Pr 3:27. Might, not right, is what regulates their conduct. Where they can, they commit oppression; where they do not, it is because they cannot.God’s judgment against oppression, Micah 2:1-3. A lamentation for the removal of his people, Micah 2:4-6. A reproof for their injustice and delight in false prophets, Micah 2:7-11. A promise of restoration, Micah 2:12,13.
The prophet now denounceth judgment against oppressors in particular, of which sort of men Judah had too many, and Israel had many more at that day.
That devise iniquity; contrive and frame mischiefs to others, how they may be ruined, as appears Micah 2:2, and all the gain that can be made of their fall may be brought into the hand of the contrivers; which was the sin of the great ones in Israel, who for near forty years together were plotting to undo one another. And work evil: here is a dislocation of the words, unless the prophet would intimate to us, that in God’s account the resolving to do evil is doing it.
Upon their beds; when they should rest from making trouble to others, as well as rest from their labour and troubles of the day, when they should praise God for their own ease, safety, and rest, then their inhumanity and cruelty is forecasting how to grieve, vex, and swallow up others.
When the morning is light; so soon as they rise, and that is early; when such practices are in design, these cannot sleep till they make them fall on whom they fix their designs.
They practise it; finish or execute their mischievous purposes. Because it is in the power of their hand; they care not whether there be either justice or reason for what they do; if they have power enough to do, they will take confidence to do it, and never blush.”
It is in their power to do evil. Are not world leaders, politicians, and bureaucrats having power to do evil?
28.) Nah 3:1, “Woe to the bloody city, completely full
of lies and pillage; her prey does not leave.”
Woe to the bloody city - Literally, "city of bloods" , i. e., of manifold bloodshedding, built and founded in blood Habakkuk 2:12; Jeremiah 22:13, as the prosperity of the world ever is. Murder, oppression, wresting of judgment, war out of covetousness, grinding or neglect of the poor, make it "a city of bloods." Nineveh, or the world, is a city of the devil, as opposed to the "city of God." : "Two sorts of love have made two sorts of cities; the earthly, love of self even to contempt of God; the heavenly, love of God even to contempt of self. The one glorieth in itself, the other in the Lord." : "Amid the manifold differences of the human race, in languages, habits, rites, arms, dress, there are but two kinds of human society, which, according to our Scriptures, we may call two cities. One is of such as wish to live according to the flesh; the other of such as will according to the Spirit." "Of these, one is predestined to live forever with God; the other, to undergo everlasting torment with the devil." Of this city, or evil world, Nineveh, the city of bloods, is the type.
It is all full of lies and robbery - Better, "it is all lie; it is full of robbery" (rapine). "Lie" includes all falsehood, in word or act, denial of God, hypocrisy; toward man, it speaks of treachery, treacherous dealing, in contrast with open violence or rapine . The whole being of the wicked is one lie, toward God and man; deceiving and deceived; leaving no place for God who is the Truth; seeking through falsehood things which fail. Man "loveth vanity and seeketh after leasing" Psalm 4:2. All were gone out of the way. Alb.: "There were none in so great a multitude, for whose sake the mercy of God might spare so great a city." It is full, not so much of booty as of rapine and violence. The sin remains, when the profit is gone. Yet it ceases not, but perseveres to the end; "the prey departs not;" they will neither leave the sin, nor the sin them; they neither repent, nor are weary of sinning. Avarice especially gains vigor in old age, and grows by being fed. "The prey departeth not," but continues as a witness against it, as a lion's lair is defiled by the fragments of his prey.”
Do you know how many bloody cities today, full of lies and pillage?
29.) Hab 2:6, “Will all of these not take up a song of
ridicule against him, even a saying and insinuations
against him and say, ‘Woe to him who increases what is not his—For how long—and makes himself rich with debts!”
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
6–8. First woe: the Chaldean lust of conquest
6. Shall not all these] i.e. all the nations whom he has drawn into his net, and heaped together as his own possession.
take up a parable] The word may mean originally a saying containing a comparison or similitude; in a wider sense, a figurative speech or song. For the phrase “take up a parable” cf. Numbers 23:7; Numbers 23:18; Job 27:1.
taunting proverb against him] Or, in regard to him. Taunting proverb is lit. an enigma, riddles, Proverbs 1:6; Psalm 49:4; Daniel 8:23. Both words suggest a song or poem with concealed taunting allusions.
increaseth that which is not his] The reference is to his insatiable lust of conquest and robbery of the nations.
that ladeth himself with thick clay] and that ladeth himself with pledges. That which he compels the nations to give him or takes from them by force is compared to pledges which he heaps up upon himself. The day will come when their restitution shall be exacted of him. Job 20:10; Job 20:15; Job 20:20. The rendering “thick clay” is obtained by taking the word “pledges” as a compound; cf. Exodus 19:9, thick cloud.
6–20. Five woes pronounced against the Chaldean From the mouth of the nations whom he has desolated
Habakkuk 2:5 does not belong to the vision Habakkuk 2:4, but forms the transition to the taunting proverb taken up against the Chaldean by the nations. This proverb is in the form of a prophecy in which woes are pronounced on the lust of conquest, rapacity, selfish pride and idolatry of the people, and their ruin is predicted, for their vices carry in them their own recompense. The woes are five in number, beginning with Habakkuk 2:6; Habakkuk 2:9; Habakkuk 2:12; Habakkuk 2:15; Habakkuk 2:18. Though the nations take up the woes, as the passage proceeds the prophet himself appears to speak.
30.) Isa 5:20, “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!”
Isaiah 5:20. Wo unto them that call evil good, and good evil — That endeavour to confound both the names and the natures of virtue and vice, of piety and impiety; commend and applaud what is evil, and disparage and discountenance what is good; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness, &c. — Ignorance and error, for knowledge and truth: in other words, who subvert, or pervert, all the great principles of truth, wisdom, and of righteousness. A most corrupt condition of a church and state is that indeed, “in which men, accustomed to vices, begin, with the things themselves, to lose also the names of them, and to draw a veil, as it were, over their impieties, by sanctifying their crimes with the names of virtues.” This reproof of the prophet supposes, that the difference between good and evil, sin and holiness, is as self-evident as that between the most contrary qualities which we are informed of by the report of our senses: and that the advantage which light hath above darkness does not shine out with a brighter evidence than the pre-eminence which virtue hath above vice, righteousness above unrighteousness. See Lowth.”
Distortion of the truth is a great evil.
31.) Mat 11:21, “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that occurred in you had occurred in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.”
Woe in Greek is ouai which means a primary exclamation of grief; an interjection of grief or of denunciation ; alas (Strong’s Concordance); -- which occurs 46 times in the New Testament.
Chorazin and Bethsaida - These were towns not far from Capernaum, but the precise situation is unknown. See "The Land and the Book" (Thomson), vol. ii. pp. 8, 9. Bethsaida means literally a "house of hunting" or "a house of game," and it was probably situated on the banks of the Sea of Galilee, and supported itself by hunting or fishing. It was the residence of Philip, Andrew, and Peter, John 1:44. It was enlarged by Philip the Tetrarch, and called "Julia," after the emperor's daughter.
Tyre and Sidon - These were cities of Phoenicia, formerly very opulent, and distinguished for merchandise. They were situated on the shore of the Mediterranean Sea, and were in the western part of Judea. They were therefore well known to the Jews. Tyre is frequently mentioned in the Old Testament as being the place through which Solomon derived many of the materials for building the temple, 2 Chronicles 2:11-16. It was also a place against which one of the most important and pointed prophecies of Isaiah was directed. See the notes at Isaiah 23. Compare Ezekiel 26:4-14. Both these cities were very ancient. Sidon was situated within the bounds of the tribe of Asher Joshua 19:28, but this tribe could never get possession of it, Judges 1:31. It was famous for its great trade and navigation. Its inhabitants were the first remarkable merchants in the world, and were much celebrated for their luxury. In the time of our Saviour it was probably a city of much splendor and extensive commerce. It is now called Seide, or Saide, and is far less populous and splendid than it was in the time of Christ. It was subdued successively by the Babylonians, Egyptians, and Romans, the latter of whom deprived it of its freedom.
Messrs. Fisk and King, American missionaries, passed through Sidon in the summer of 1823, and estimated the population, as others have estimated it, at 8,000 or 10,000; but Mr. Goodell, another American missionary, took up his residence there in June, 1824, for the purpose of studying the Armenian language with a bishop of the Armenian Church who lives there, and of course had far better opportunities to know the statistics of the place. He tells us there are six Muslim mosques, a Jewish synagogue, a Maronite, Latin, and Greek church. Dr. Thomson ("The Land and the Book," vol. i. p. 164) supposes that the population may now be about 10,000 - about 6,800 Moslems, 850 Greek Catholics, 750 Maronites, 150 Greeks, and 300 Jews. It exports tobacco, oil, fruit, and silk, but the amount of exports is small.
Tyre was situated about 20 miles south of Sidon. It was built partly on a small island about 70 paces from the shore, and partly on the mainland. It was a city of great extent and splendor, and extensive commerce. It abounded in luxury and wickedness. It was often besieged. It held out against Shalmaneser five years, and was taken by Nebuchadnezzar after a siege of "thirteen" years. It was afterward rebuilt, and was at length taken by Alexander the Great, after a most obstinate siege of five months. There are no signs now of the ancient city. It is the residence only of a few miserable fishermen, and contains, amid the ruins of its former magnificence, only a few huts. Thus was fulfilled the prophecy of Ezekiel: "Thou shalt be built no more; though thou be sought for, yet shalt thou never be found again" Ezekiel 26:21. For a description of Tyre as it was formerly and as it is now, see the notes at Isaiah 23.
In sackcloth and ashes - Sackcloth was a coarse cloth, like canvas, used for the dress of the poor, and for the more common articles of domestic economy. It was worn also as a sign of mourning. The Jews also frequently threw ashes on their heads as expressive of grief, Job 1:21; Job 2:12; Jeremiah 6:26. The meaning is, that they would have repented with "expressions of deep sorrow." Like Nineveh, they would have seen their guilt and danger, and would have turned from their iniquities. "Heathen" cities would have received him better than the cities of the Jews, his native land.”
32.) Mat 18:7, “Woe to the world because of its stumbling blocks!
For it is inevitable that stumbling blocks come; but woe to the person through whom the stumbling block comes!”
Woe unto the world because of offences - That is, offences will be the cause of woe or of suffering. Offences, here, mean things that will produce sin: that will cause us to sin, or temptations to induce others to sin. See the notes at Matthew 5:29.
It must needs be ... - That is, such is the depravity of man that there will be always some who are attempting to make others sin; some people of wickedness endeavoring to lead Christians astray, and rejoicing when they have succeeded in causing them to fall. Such, also, is the strength of our native corruption and the force of passion, that our besetting sins will lead us astray.
Woe to that man by whom the offence cometh - He who leads others into sin is awfully guilty - no man can be more guilty. No wickedness can be more deeply seated in the heart than that which attempts to mar the peace, defile the purity, and destroy the souls of others; and yet in all ages there have been multitudes who, by persecution, threats, arts, allurements, and persuasion, have endeavored to seduce Christians from the faith and to lead them into sin.”
33.) Mat 23:13, “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you shut the Kingdom of Heaven in front of people; for you do not enter it yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in.”
Woe unto you - You are guilty, and punishment will come upon you. Jesus proceeds to state wherein they were guilty. This most eloquent, most appalling, and most terrible of all discourses ever delivered to mortals was pronounced in the temple, in the presence of multitudes. Never was there more faithful dealing, more terrible reproof, more profound knowledge of the workings of hypocrisy, or more skill in detecting the concealments of sin. This was the last of the Saviour's public discourses; and it is a most impressive summary of all that he had ever said, or that he had to say, of a wicked and hypocritical generation.
Scribes and Pharisees - See the notes at Matthew 3:7.
Hypocrites - Note, Matthew 6:2.
Ye shut up the kingdom of heaven - Note, Matthew 3:2. They shut it up by teaching false doctrines respecting the Messiah; by binding the people to an observance of their traditions; by opposing Jesus, and attempting to convince the people that he was an impostor, thus preventing many from becoming his followers. Many were ready to embrace him as the Messiah, and were about entering into the kingdom of heaven - that is, the church - but they prevented it. Luke says Luke 11:52 they had taken away the key of knowledge, and thus prevented their entering in - that is, they had taken away the right interpretation of the ancient prophecies respecting the Messiah, and thus had done all that they could to prevent the people from receiving Jesus as their Redeemer.”
34.) Mat 23:15, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you travel around on sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.”
Ye compass sea and land - You take every means, spare no pains, to gain proselytes.
Proselyte - One that comes over from a foreign nation, religion, or sect to us - a convert. Among the Jews there were two kinds of proselytes:
1. . "Proselytes of righteousness," or those who wholly and fully embraced the Jewish religion, who were baptized, who were circumcised, and who conformed to all the rites of the Mosaic institutions.
2. "Proselytes of the gate," or those who approved of the Jewish religion, renounced the pagan superstitions, and conformed to some of the rites of the Jews, but were not circumcised or baptized.
Twofold more the child of hell - That is, twice as bad. To be a child of hell was a Hebrew phrase, signifying to be deserving of hell, to be awfully wicked. Compare the notes at Matthew 1:1. The Jewish writers themselves say that the proselytes were "scabs of Israel," and "hindered the coming of the Messiah" by their great wickedness. The Pharisees gained them either to swell their own numbers, or to make gain by extorting their money under various pretences; and when they had accomplished that, they took no pains to instruct them or to restrain them. They had renounced their superstition which had before somewhat restrained them, but the Pharisees had given them no religion in its place to restrain them, and they were consequently left to the full indulgence of their vices.”
35.) Mat 23:16, “Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘Whoever swears by the temple, that is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple is obligated.”
Matthew 23:16-22. Wo unto you, ye blind guides — Before he had styled them hypocrites, from their personal character; now he gives them another title respecting their false doctrine and influence upon others. Both these appellations are severely put together in Matthew 23:23-25 : and this severity rises to the height in Matthew 23:33. Here we have the fourth reason of the woes denounced. Which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing — It constitutes no obligation to tell the truth or to perform one’s oath. But whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple — That is, by the treasure kept there, he is a debtor — Gr. οφειλει, he oweth, that is, is obliged to perform his oath. “It seems,” says Dr. Doddridge, “the Pharisees taught, that oaths by the creatures might be used on trifling occasions, and violated without any great guilt. But they excepted oaths by the corban,
(the gift,) and by sacrifices; in which it is plain that, without any regard to common sense or decency, they were influenced merely by a view to their own interest; and therefore represented these to the people as things of more eminent sanctity than even the temple or altar itself.” Whoso shall swear by the altar, sweareth by all things thereon — Not only by the altar, but by the holy fire and the sacrifices, and above all by that God to whom they belonged; inasmuch as every oath by a creature, if it has any meaning, is an implicit appeal to the Creator himself. Whoso shall swear by the temple, sweareth by him that dwelleth therein — Consequently, the oath is a solemn wishing that he, who dwells in the temple, may hinder him from ever worshipping there, if he be telling a falsehood or neglect his vow. He that shall swear by heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, &c. — And therefore his oath is a solemn wishing that God, who dwells in heaven, may exclude him out of that blessed place for ever, if he falsify his oath. For a further explanation of the subject of oaths, see the note on Matthew 5:33-37.”
36.) Mat 23:23, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the Law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others.”
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
23. ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin] “Mint and rue and all manner of herbs,” (Luke 11:42.) Zeal in paying tithes was one of the points of reform under the Maccabees.
anise] Greek ἄνηθον, either=“anise” as in E.V., or “dill,” a plant similar in appearance, and used like anise as a sedative medicine and for cooking purposes.
cumin] See Isaiah 28:25; Isaiah 28:27, where the special method of beating out cummin seeds is named. “It is used as a spice, both bruised to mix with bread, and also boiled in the various messes and stews which compose an Oriental banquet.” Tristram, Nat. Hist. of Bible.
weightier matters of the law] The distinction between great and small precepts of the law is found in the Talmud. Schöttgen gives many instances, p. 183. One saying is: “Observance of the lesser precepts is rewarded on earth; observance of the greater precepts is rewarded in heaven.”
judgment, mercy, and faith] “Judgment and the love of God” (Luke).”
37.) Mat 23:25, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full of robbery and self-indulgence.”
The cup and the platter - The drinking-cup and the dish containing food. The Pharisees were diligent in observing all the washings and obligations required by their traditions. See the notes at Mark 7:4.
Full of extortion and excess - The outside appeared well; the inside was filled with the fruit of extortion, oppression, and wickedness. The meaning is, that though they took much pains to appear well, yet they obtained a living by extortion and crime. Their cups, neat as they appeared outward, were filled, not with the fruits of honest industry, but with that which had been extorted from the poor by wicked arts. Instead of "excess," many manuscripts and editions of the Greek Testament read "wickedness."
38.) Mat 23:27, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness.”
Like unto whited sepulchres - For the construction of sepulchres, see the notes at Matthew 8:28. Those tombs were annually whitewashed to prevent the people from accidentally coming in contact with them as they went up to Jerusalem. This custom is still continued. Dr. Thomson (The Land and the Book, vol. i. p. 148) says, "I have been in places where this is repeated very often. The graves are kept clean and white as snow, a very striking emblem of those painted hypocrites, the Pharisees, beautiful without, but full of dead men's bones and of all uncleanness within." The law considered those persons unclean who had touched anything belonging to the dead, Numbers 19:16. Sepulchres were therefore often whitewashed, that they might be distinctly seen. Thus "whited," they appeared beautiful; but within they contained the bones and corrupting bodies of the dead. So the Pharisees. Their outward conduct appeared well, but their hearts were full of hypocrisy, envy, pride, lust, and malice - suitably represented by the corruption within a whited tomb.”
39.) Mat 23:29, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs for the prophets and decorate the monuments of the righteous.”
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers
(29) Ye build the tombs . . .—Four conspicuous monuments of this kind are seen to the present day at the base of the Mount of Olives, in the so-called Valley of Jehoshaphat, the architecture of which, with its mixture of debased Doric and Egyptian, leads archæologists to assign them to the period of the Herodian dynasty. These may, therefore, well have been the very sepulchres of which our Lord spoke, and to which, it may be, He pointed. They bear at present the names of Zechariah, Absalom, Jehoshaphat, and St. James; but there is no evidence that these were given to them when they were built, and the narratives of earlier travellers vary in reporting them. It may be noticed, however, that of these four names, Zechariah is the only one that belonged to a prophet, and the reference to the death of a martyr-prophet of that name in Matthew 23:35, makes it probable that the name may have been, as it were, suggested by the monument on which the Pharisees were lavishing their wealth and their skill at the very time when they were about to imbrue their hands in the blood of One who was, even in the judgment of many of their own class, both a “prophet” and a “righteous” man.
Garnish.—Better, adorn—as, e.g., with columns, cornices, paintings, or bas-reliefs. Even these acts, natural and legitimate in themselves, were part of the “hypocrisy” or “unreality” of the Pharisees. They did not understand, and therefore could not rightly honour, the life of a prophet or just man. They might have learnt something from the saying of a teacher of their own in the Jerusalem Talmud, that “there is no need to adorn the sepulchres of the righteous, for their words are their monuments.” In somewhat of the same strain wrote the Roman historian: “As the faces of men are frail and perishable, so are the works of art that represent their faces; but the form of their character is eternal, and this we can retain in memory, and set forth to others, not by external matter and skill of art, but by our own character and acts” (Tacitus, Agricola, c. 46).”
40.) Mat 26:24, “The Son of Man is going away just
as it is written about Him; but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born.”
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers
(24) The Son of man goeth as it is written.—The words are remarkable as the first direct reference of the coming passion and death to the Scriptures which prophesied of the Messiah. It was appointed that the Christ should suffer, but that appointment did not make men less free agents, nor diminish the guilt of treachery or injustice. So, in like manner, as if taught by his Master, St. Peter speaks of the guilt of Judas in Acts 1:16-18, and of that of the priests and scribes in Acts 4:27-28.
It had been good for that man . . .—Awful as the words were, they have their bright as well as their dark side. According to the estimate which men commonly form, the words are true of all except those who depart this life in the fear and faith of God. In His applying them to the case of the Traitor in its exceptional enormity, there is suggested the thought that for others, whose guilt was not like his, existence even in the penal suffering which their sins have brought on them may be better than never to have been at all.”
41.) Luk 6:24, “But woe to you who are rich, for you are receiving your comfort in full.”
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
24. But woe] While sin lasts, there must still be woes over against Beatitudes, as Ebal stands for ever opposite to Gerizim. In St Matthew also we find (Matthew 23) eight woes as well as eight Beatitudes. See too Jeremiah 17:5-8, but there the “cursed” precedes the “blessed.”
woe unto you that are rich] The ‘woe !’ is not necessarily or wholly denunciatory; it is also the cry of compassion, and of course it only applies—not to a Chuzas or a Nicodemus or a Joseph of Arimathaea,—but to those rich who are not poor in spirit, but trust in riches (Mark 10:24), or are not rich towards God (Luke 12:21) and have not got the true riches (Luke 16:11; Amos 6:1; James 5:1). Observe the many parallels between the Epistle of St James and the Sermon on the Mount, James 1:2; James 1:4-5; James 1:9; James 1:20; James 2:13-14; James 2:17-18; James 4:4; James 4:10-11; James 5:2; James 5:10; James 5:12.
ye have received your consolation] Rather, ye have to the full, Php 4:18; comp. Luke 16:25, “Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst good things.”
42.) Luk 6:26, “Woe to you when all the people speak well of you;
for their fathers used to treat the false prophets the same way.”
When all men shall speak well of you - When they shall praise or applaud you. The people of the world will not praise or applaud "my" doctrine; they are "opposed" to it, and therefore, if they speak well of "you" and of "your teachings," it is proof that you do not teach the true doctrine. If you do "not" do this, then there will be woe upon you. If men teach false doctrines for true; if they declare that God has spoken that which he has not spoken, and if they oppose what he "has" delivered, then heavy punishments will await them.
For so did their fathers - The fathers or ancestors of this people; the ancient Jews.
To the false prophets - Men who pretended to be of God - who delivered their "own" doctrines as the truth of God, and who accommodated themselves to the desires of the people. Of this number were the prophets of Baal, the false prophets who appeared in the time of Jeremiah, etc.”
43.) Luk 11:42, “But woe to you Pharisees! For you pay tithes of mint, rue, and every kind of garden herb, and yet you ignore justice and the love of God; but these are the things you should have done without
neglecting the others.”
Pharisees ignore justice and the love of God which are the things they should have done!
Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible
But woe unto you Pharisees,.... Though these words, with several other passages in this chapter, are much alike with those in Matthew 23 yet it is clear that they were spoken at different times, these in the house of a Pharisee, and they in the temple at Jerusalem:
for ye tithe mint and rue; See Gill on Matthew 23:23 the Persic version here reads, "mint and anise", as there; and the Ethiopic version only "hyssop":
and all manner of herbs; or "every herb"; that is, all sorts of herbs that grow in the garden, and were not common to all;
and pass over judgment, and the love of God: by "judgment" may be meant justice, or doing that which is right between man and man, both publicly and privately, which was greatly neglected by these extortioners and unjust men: and by "the love of God" may be intended, both love to God, which shows itself in the observance of the first table of the law, and love to the neighbour, which God requires, and regards the second table:
these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone; See Gill on Matthew 23:23.”
44.) Luk 11:43, “Woe to you Pharisees! For you love the seat of honor in the synagogues and personal greetings in the marketplaces.”
Verse 43. - Ye love the uppermost seats in the synagogues. These seats were in a semicircle round the pulpit or lectern of the reader; they faced the congregation. And greetings in the markets. The love of these Jews in the time of our Lord for exaggerated titles of respect and honor is well known. Luke 11:43.”
45.) Luk 11:44, “Woe to you! For you are like unseen tombs,
and the people who walk over them are unaware of it.”
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
44. hypocrites] The first meaning of the word is ‘actors.’
as graves which appear not] Any contact with sepulchres involved Levitical uncleanness. Hence graves and tombs were whitewashed that none might touch them unawares. Perhaps our Lord was alluding to Tiberias, which when it was being built was discovered to be partly on the site of an old unsuspected cemetery; so that every true Jew regarded it as pollution to live there, and Herod could only get it inhabited partly by bribes, partly by threats. In St Matthew—several of whose particulars are differently applied—they are called ‘whited sepulchres, fair outside, polluted within. Here they are unsuspected graves.”
46.) Luk 11:46, “But He said, “Woe to you lawyers as well! For you
load people with burdens that are hard to bear, while you yourselves will not even touch the burdens with one of your fingers.”
Verse 46. - Ye lade men with burdens grievous to be borne, and ye yourselves touch not the burdens with one of your fingers. Then the Lord turned to the accomplished Jerusalem scholar, and with withering emphasis pronounced upon his famous and influential order those scathing reproaches which for eighteen centuries have been the woeful inheritance of all hypocritical self-deceivers. How true was the expression, "burdens grievous to be borne," a very superficial study of the Talmud will amply show; for although even the earliest parts of that stupendous compilation were not committed to writing until some time after, yet very much of what we now peruse in those strange, weary treatises existed then in the oral tradition. which it was the life-work of scholars and pedants, like the lawyer to whom Jesus was then speaking, to learn, to expound, and to amplify; and these vexatious and frivolous ordinances which the lawyers and scribes pressed home upon the people with such urgency were often shirked and avoided by the learned and cultured scribe-class as a body. Luke 11:46.”
According to https://www.nlg.org/guild-notes/article/beyond-bars-dirty-lawyers-and-crooked-judges/
“Here are some signs of ethical problems for lawyers:
- § Lying
- § Encouraging other people to lie
- § Not trying hard and making many obvious mistakes
- § Saying messed up, biased things about race, gender, disability, nationality, sexuality, or religion
- § Taking a case when there’s a conflict of interest (for example, if your lawyer’s brother is the complaining witness in the case, or if the prosecutor used to represent you before becoming a prosecutor)
- § For your lawyer, promising to do things on your case and then not doing them
- § For your lawyer, sharing your personal info without your permission
- § For your lawyer, forcing you to take or reject a plea offer against your will
- § For your lawyer, not updating you about your case even when something major has happened
- § For a prosecutor, going forward with a case without probable cause
- § For a prosecutor, not sharing info that could help the defense.”
47.) 1Co 9:16, “For if I preach the Gospel, I have nothing to boast about, for I am under compulsion; for woe to me if I do not preach the Gospel.”
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary
9:15-23 It is the glory of a minister to deny himself, that he may serve Christ and save souls. But when a minister gives up his right for the sake of the gospel, he does more than his charge and office demands. By preaching the gospel, freely, the apostle showed that he acted from principles of zeal and love, and thus enjoyed much comfort and hope in his soul. And though he looked on the ceremonial law as a yoke taken off by Christ, yet he submitted to it, that he might work upon the Jews, do away their prejudices, prevail with them to hear the gospel, and win them over to Christ. Though he would transgress no laws of Christ, to please any man, yet he would accommodate himself to all men, where he might do it lawfully, to gain some. Doing good was the study and business of his life; and, that he might reach this end, he did not stand on privileges. We must carefully watch against extremes, and against relying on any thing but trust in Christ alone. We must not allow errors or faults, so as to hurt others, or disgrace the gospel.”
I have met so many occupation preachers who preach the gospel or false gospel for money. I encounter even more people on the Internet who claim to be Christian organizations and shamelessly and aggressively ask for donations.
This is the Gospel. God sent His only Son Jesus Christ from Heaven into the world to save sinners. Jesus died for our sins, rose again from the dead by the power of God; ascended to the highest Heavens, sitting at the right side of God. Jesus is coming again to judge the world and reign with the saints. This is the right time for you to repent of your sins, and believe in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.
48.) Rev 12:12, “For this reason, rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them. Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has come down
to you with great wrath, knowing that he has only a short time.”
Therefore rejoice, ye heavens - It is not unusual in the Scriptures to call on the heavens and the earth to sympathize with the events that occur. Compare the notes on Isaiah 1:2. Here the heavens are called on to rejoice because of the signal victory which it was seen would be achieved over the great enemy. Heaven itself was secure from any further rebellion or invasion, and the foundation was laid for a final victory over Satan everywhere.
And ye that dwell in them - The angels and the redeemed. This is an instance of the sympathy of the heavenly inhabitants - the unfallen and holy beings before the throne - with the church on earth, and with all that may affect its welfare. Compare the notes on 1 Peter 1:12.
Woe to the inhabiters of the earth - This is not an imprecation, or a wish that woe might come upon them, but a prediction that it would. The meaning is this: Satan would ultimately be entirely overcome - a fact that was symbolized by his being cast out of heaven; but there would be still temporary war upon the earth, as if he were permitted to roam over the world for a time and to spread woe and sorrow there.
And of the sea - Those who inhabit the islands of the sea and those who are engaged in commerce. The meaning is, that the world as such would have occasion to mourn - the dwellers both on the land and on the sea.
For the devil is come down unto you - As if cast out of heaven.
Having great wrath - Wrath shown by the symbolical war with Michael and his angels Revelation 12:7; wrath increased and inflamed because he has been discomfited; wrath the more concentrated because he knows that his time is limited.
Because he knoweth that he hath but a short time - That is, he knows that the time is limited in which he will be permitted to wage war with the saints on the earth. There is allusion elsewhere to the fact that the time of Satan is limited, and that he is apprised of that. Thus in Matthew 8:29, "Art thou come hither to torment us before the time?" See the notes on that passage. Within that limited space, Satan knows that he must do all that he ever can do to destroy souls, and to spread woe through the earth, and hence, it is not unnatural that he should be represented as excited to deeper wrath, and as rousing all his energy to destroy the church.”
The devil has but a short time. So we live in a very dangerous and perilous times.
2Ti 3:1-9, “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith; but they will progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all, as theirs also was.”
The time of the devil is short for Jesus is coming again to be King of kings and Lord of lords. This is your time to be saved. Repent of your sins and believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God and Savior of the world so that you may be saved.
To receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior is to receive the eternal life.
WILLIE WONG THOUGHT
WILLIE WONG
MARCH 5, 2025
https://williewongthought.hpage.com/
Copyright © 2018 - 2025 by Willie Wong
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Biden wasted hundreds of billions of taxpayer’s money on unworthy Ukraine. Ukraine does not want peace, UK loans $1.6 billion to Ukraine to buy 6,000 missiles. Ukraine nincompoop wants to use USA to fight against Russia. US must ditch Ukraine, EU and abolish NATO. EU alliance has proven meaningless. America must not guarantee security for any nation. International community, knowingly or unknowingly, is greatly mistaken. Gaza does not belong to Palestinians. Gaza belongs to Israeli. Palestinians are originally Arabs who invaded Palestine under British rule. It is good and right for Palestinians to relocate permanently in lands of Arabs to establish a Palestinian State of their own.
Hamas released 3 Israeli hostages, Israel released 369 Palestinian prisoners of war. That is stupidity, the numbers are stupidity. Hamas who killed hostages must be killed. Hamas who mistreated hostages must be punished.
Palestinians do not have homeland. Gaza, West Bank, Golan Heights, etc. belong to the Jews. It is good and right that Palestinians be resettled permanently in any Arab land to build a Palestinian State of their own.
Palestinians must be evacuated from the Jewish lands and resettle permanently in Arab lands to build their own Palestinian state. Hamas, Hezbollah and Houthis are terrorists to be destroyed completely. That is the only way to peace.
The world intentionally believes in a lie. Palestinians are originally Arabs who surreptitiously moved to Israel without pay under the British colony called Palestine. Arabs bred like rabbits and called themselves Palestinians. It is most reasonable for Arabs to move to lands of Arabs. For Palestinians do not have claim or resettlement right in the Jewish land of Gaza, West Bank, etc. No one would object for Palestinians to build a Palestinian state in lands of Arabs, but Palestinians cannot build a Palestinian state in the Jewish land. Palestinians prefer to be called refugees in order to receive international aid every thing for free. Palestinians must move out or be removed from the Jewish land. TERRORISTS HAMAS, Hezbollah and Houthis MUST be destroyed completely.
There has been undeclared war in the southern border between Mexico and America, which has been neglected by previous American administrations. Mexico flagrantly serves as the open conduit for illegal migrants to enter California and crossing the river to enter Texas. The US must bomb Mexico to warn them there can not be business as usual; in particular Mexico rejected American airplanes which carried deported illegal migrants to land. America must use its powerful military and National Guards to patrol the borders 24 hours. Fire and shoot at unlawful migrants who climb the wall; who try to destroy the wall; who do graffiti on the wall; who congregate within 100 feet of the wall; who cross the river; who cut the wire to deter the invasion. America declares to REJECT all asylum applicants for 100 years. No humanitarian aid shall be given to any unlawful migrants. In addition to American troops, state National guards must also be used to end the unlawful migrants invasion of America. They are despicable and deplorable peoples who fail in their countries and dream of entering America to live happily and doing nothing on welfare. Immigration Officers must raid Los Angeles, East Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Santa Ana, San Diego, Miami, etc. -- dens of illegal aliens; the Welfare Department has their names and addressees.
Palestinians are also useless, shameless and worthless peoples to loot and rob international aid trucks. They are violent and unproductive. Leaders and politicians of Palestinian Authority lead them to the path of destruction by illegally occupying the Jewish lands. They do not want to go to the Arab lands to build their Palestinian state. They rather stay in Jewish lands in order to receive aid for nothing. No aid should enter to help Palestinians.
Hamas should be held responsible for killing hostages and be punished. The UN chief speaks and supports terrorists should be gone. All UN high-paid officials should be replaced; and UN to be reformed in 100 days. It is a false peace. Gaza, West Bank, Golan Heights, Rafah, etc. are Jewish lands. UN, WHO, Arab-Muslim-Black nations and Palestinian Authority speak and support terrorists Hamas, Hezbollah, Houthis without making any demand. Palestinians do not have homeland in Jewish lands. They must evacuate from Jewish lands and go to lands of Arab to build a Palestinian state. That would be true peace but they do not want peace.
CHINA is the most unusual nation on earth. The craftsmen or artisans of Tang, Sung, Yuan, Ming, Qing dynasties created untold and immense treasures for China. Western nations like Britain, US, France, Germany, Italy, Russia, Austria-Hungary, and Japan (8-nation alliance) attacked, burned, robbed and stole and looted China national treasures at market value of more than US$100,000 trillion dollars. It is better to return them to China now, not wait until China makes demands by military force. Shame on Western nations who claim or pretend to be Christian. For the last 500 years, the manifest evils of the West are imperialism, colonialism and capitalism.
Today Chinese rescue workers respond to any natural disaster, the speed and service they built tents and houses unmatched by any nation. The American homeless people would rejoice just to have the Chinese tents. China must not waste its resources on the lazy people and unproductive peoples who eat and get fat, drink alcohol, sing and dance, have sex and produce many unwanted children they cannot support; like to play, enjoy games and sports but dislike hard work and discipline; cannot even produce food and basic necessities.
Xizang earthquake demonstrates what the Chinese government cares and does for its people. Joe Biden in his last days still gives substantial military aid to the Ukrainians. What does the U.S. government do for Californians in Los Angeles wildfires? The world must know the truth.
Japan intends to swallow up the United States Steel in order to control the American economy. This should be an eye-opener to the U.S. government that Japan is not a genuine ally. The US government made a big mistake in rearming Japan. Singapore and Malaysia are wise to establish a special economic zone. Many underdeveloped nations fool China in holding one-China policy. By doing so they think they deserve China’s economic and financial aid. India has conflict of interest in Bricks, it is better to withdraw and Indonesia is wise to join Bricks.
Leaders and politicians of Palestinians are evil and guilty because they lead Palestinians to the path of death and destruction through illegal occupation of the Jewish land and support of the terrorists. They give false hope to Palestinians in so-called “two state solutions”. Palestinians are Arabs, no one would object to Palestinians building a Palestinian state in an Arab land. When Palestinians want to build a Palestinian state in the Jewish land, that is the cause of conflict. Palestinians speak and support terrorists Hamas, Hezbollah and Houthis. Palestine leaders and politicians should evacuate all Palestinians from the land of the Jews and go to Arab lands to build a Palestinian state. That would be peace.
The Internet is a cesspool of corruption, fraud and iniquity. No nation polices and punishes their wrongdoings. Money making individuals and institutions would invade your computer to push their products even rejected. Many famous American universities and institutions are selling their fraudulent products for incurable problems. Many individuals and institutions claim to be Christian and shamelessly and aggressively ask for donations. Many sell famous works in public domain through subscriptions and purchases. Many distort and pervert the Word of God but ask for donations.
Any nation which restricts, bans, or interferes with China’s activities is illegal and unlawful. China can do anything within its sovereignty that does not violate the international law.
To appease the fury and wrath of South Koreans, the impeached Yoon and all those who blocked his arrest shall be executed once and for all. Maybe Yoon should experience the 4-horse treatment. South Korea is the nation the world should not be: all incompetent, chaotic and useless.
Henceforth beginning 2025 all undeveloped nations must work, discipline and be responsible to produce their own food and other necessities; all international aid will be terminated beginning November 2025. Undeveloped nations cannot do as usual in dancing, singing, drinking and sporting, have sex and produce many unwanted children they cannot support. They must work hard to support and save themselves. Based on the Biblical principle, 2Th 3:10, “For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either.”
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According to https://www.pcmag.com/news/web-of-trust-browser-extension-cannot-be-trusted.”
How can we be suspicious since we never ask for money, we only tell the truth absolutely free.
China has aided more than 100 nations costing hundreds of $ billions. Tell the truth, which nation has expressed act of gratitude? Won’t it better to spend on internal improvement or buying gold?
WHO IS WILLIE WONG?
I am a Christian by grace, a Chinese by grace, an American by nationality. I am neither a communist nor a capitalist. Above all I am a follower and servant of Jesus Christ. In English I am a Ruskinian, In Management I am a Koontzian. In Politics I am a Nixonian. In Philosophy I am Willie Wong Thought.
WILLIE WONG THOUGHT IS A SYSTEM
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THE WEST (US, BRITAIN, CANADA, EU) BEING EVIL AND FOUND GUILTY OF SANCTIONING CHINA ALL BECAUSE THEY COVET XINJIANG AND XICHANG AND HONG KONG, USE TAIWAN AND SOUTH CHINA SEA TO ATTACK CHINA’S SOVEREIGNTY.
On the one hand, some White experts pretend to make good suggestions to improve China economy; they may fool many Chinese, I can see malice, envy and ill will through their awkward faces. On the other hand, Black leaders and politicians play coy and con China to support their development for nothing. China needs to stop all foreign aid for two reasons: China needs to pay down deficits and debts. China must not be fooled and must use its hard-earned meager resources wisely to do the following strategic projects:
1. China should have unswerving commitment only to itself. China should not waste money on useless and unworthy undeveloped countries. Not one nation is grateful. Deficits and debts are bad. China cannot save the world, China must save itself.
2. Make deserts green and reduce sand storms.
3. Repair the Great Walls. Build sea walls around Hainan Island, Shanghai, etc. to prevent climate change that sea water will rise.
4. Promote night markets in big cities and promote domestic travel to expand the economy. Deficits and debts are bad; fiscal surplus is good.
5. Execute crooks and criminals who defraud through Telecom and Internet of more than ONE million yuan. IT is not known who polices the rampant international crooks and criminals who defraud the public by famous American universities and institutions who sell high-priced fake drugs such as to cure knee pain and prevent knee surgery and ear ringing, etc. Sweep clean fraudulent commercials on TV and the Internet.
6. Execute crooks and criminals who defraud in foreign nations and do not bring them home. Faces and names of deceivers must be published on TV to shame them and their families.
7. Increase and strengthen the development and deployment of nuclear weapons for self-defence.
8. Streamline and reduce national and local government debts and deficits.
9. Train 5 million doctors, dentists, nurses, teachers, professors and MANAGERS, machinists in the next 5 years.
10. Assist the poor Chinese in the rural areas first.
11. Improve mechanized agriculture, and upgrade technology in every field.
12. Streamline management of central and local governments.
13. Enforce laws to reduce the number of criminal individuals and organizations in many areas.
14. Execute crooks and criminals who create rumors and conduct espionage that harm national security.
15. Reorganize personnel of CGTN and restructure its programs.
16. Protect the environment and punish severely individuals and organizations who dump industrial waste and toxic materials on lands, soils, water ways, lakes and rivers, and seas.
17. Remove all fraudulent commercials and fake advertisements from TV and Internet and punish the culprits severely. Violent gaming produces violent culture. Violent culture destroys any nation.
18. Make it easy for Overseas Chinese to come to China and make their investments.
19. Reward universities that earn and win NOBEL prizes.
20. Conduct ditching and dredging of lakes and rivers to prevent flooding before extreme weather.
21. Innovate and increase therapeutic and pharmaceutical capabilities to produce various vaccines and preventive medicines.
22. Regulate foreign hospitals and clinics in China to prohibit monopoly and prevent high costs of healthcare.
23. Bargain down whole sale price with foreign drug companies to import effective foreign drugs to benefit Chinese consumers.
24. Subsidize elderly apartment renting by 30%, if elderly live with their children, their monthly mortgage will reduce also by 30%.
25. Severely punish companies that manufacture fake or low quality products.
26. The world must condemn the phony currency called Bitcoin and China should not fall into the financial trap.
27. Execute individuals and organizations that rob ancient cemeteries or tombs to sell precious national treasures.
28. Regulate foreign hospitals and clinics in China to prohibit monopoly and prevent high costs of healthcare.
29. Bargain down whole sale price with foreign drug companies to import effective foreign drugs to benefit Chinese consumers.
30. The world must condemn the phony currency called Bitcoin and China should not fall into the financial trap.
31. Mandate providing access to elderly and invalid wheelchairs.
32. Execute individuals and organizations that rob ancient cemeteries or tombs to sell precious national treasures.
33. Prohibit anyone to smoke on TV or in movies. Reduce individual gun violence except in war movies.
34. Execute Hong Kong residents who commit treason or to be exiled permanently. Hong Kong is fortunate to have food, fuel and water, etc. provided by Mainland China. Hong Kong should start de-Biritishization by changing all English street names, for example Victoria Peak should be replaced by Deng Xiaoping Peak.
35. No one speaks Portuguese except Portugal and Brazil. Macao should not hamstring its residents, but replace Portuguese with the English language the sooner the better.
36. Increase, innovate, and modernize public and private toilet facilities.
37. Punish severely those who violate smoking and drinking on buildings, trains, ferries, and airplanes; the third violation deserves to be executed.
38. China needs to make Christmas a national holiday to facilitate the big Christmas business in China.
39. Execute leading organized criminals, attack every form of terror, and destroy vigorous lawlessness.
40. Penalize severely those who have licenses but do not know how to drive or violate traffic rules and regulations on purpose.
41. To deter and destroy corruption, China needs to execute any officer who commits corruption of more than CNY one million.
42. Execute anyone who counterfeits money and seize all his/her assets.