“Expert(s) in the law” is a term used mostly by Luke (7:25, 30, 37 45-46, 52, 13:3). However, Matthew once referred to a man as “an expert in the law” (Matthew 22:35). They were “scribes”, most of which were a sect of the Pharisees trained in writing skills and used to record events and decisions (Jeremiah 36:26; 1 Chronicle 24:6; Esther 3:12; Matthew 23:2). During the exile in Babylon educated scribes apparently became the experts in God’s written word, copying, preserving, and teaching it. Ezra was a scribe (Exra 7:6). By Jesus’ time a scribe was a profession (Mark 2:16).
When an expert in the law heard Jesus’ first three woes he protested, “Teacher, when you say these things, you insult us also.” He did not receive Jesus’ words properly as he would have if he believed that Jesus was the Messiah. God’s word is received based on the beliefs and prejudices of the hearer. A believer would be conscious stricken and humbly ask for forgiveness. A hypocrite would be insulted.
Jesus replied with the fourth woe, “You load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them.” They did so by adding rules and regulations to the authentic law of Moses (Matthew 15:2). They did not help the people and they found ways to circumvent the regulations they made. They did not shepherd people. They were wolves who kill and destroy.
Am I insulted by God’s word? Do I burden people and do not help?
