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Question

Hi, my name is Giovanni.

I would like to know what Jesus meant when He said: “Woe to you, scholars of the law! You have taken away the key of knowledge…”?

Best regards,

Giovanni

Answer from the priest

Dear Giovanni,

1. The words of Jesus that you reported can be found in the Gospel of Luke, chapter 11.52, in which we read: “Woe to you, scholars of the law! You have taken away the key of knowledge. You yourselves did not enter and you stopped those trying to enter”.

2. T“key of knowledge” refers to the intelligence of Sacred Scripture. 

The doctors of the Sacred Scripture were considered teachers and the purpose of the Sacred Scripture was and it is to lead men to Christ.

Through the miraculous works performed by Christ, by reading Moses and the prophets, the doctors should have brought the people to the knowledge of Jesus because of the fulfillment of the prophecies. They should have said: “Christ is Emmanuel, God with us, because only God can do what Jesus does.

3. However, the Pharisees and the Scribes with their false interpretations had distorted the meaning of the law.

Observance of the law had become purposeless. The pure man was the one who observed all external laws, such as ablutions up to the elbow when returning from the market and other similar things.

In other words: they had lost the orientation of the Law, its purpose, its meaning, which was to open men to welcome the Pure, the Holy, Jesus.

4. Blinded by their malice, they did not go to Christ, they did not want to understand what was written about Him.

And not only did they not receive the message, but by discrediting the doctrine and miracles of Jesus they also prevented others from receiving it.

Thus they stole the key of knowledge by not allowing men to go to Christ.

5. After that, the Gospel confirms these words of the Lord towards them. It reads: “When he left, the scribes and Pharisees began to act with hostility toward him and to interrogate him about many things, for they were plotting to catch him at something he might say”. (Lc 11,53-54).

Instead of leading people to Christ, they did everything they could to turn them away from the Lord!

This is why Jesus says of them: “Let them alone; they are blind guides (of the blind). If a blind person leads a blind person, both will fall into a pit!” (Mt 15,14).

I wish you not to be like them, but to lead everyone to know and love the Lord.

For this I assure you of my prayer and I bless you.

Father Angelo