Definition: Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are as graves which appear not, and the men that walk over [them] are not aware [of them].
Explanation: Okay, letâs break down this Bible verse together. Itâs a really interesting and slightly unsettling one. Here's what it means in simple terms: The Core Idea: This verse is about hidden things and being deceptive. Itâs saying that people who are trying to hide themselves or their actions aren't truly who they appear to be, and those who are looking at them donât see the truth. Letâs unpack it word by word: âLuke 11:44â : This is a passage from the Gospel of Luke, which tells us about Jesus teaching his disciples. âWoe unto youâŠâ : This isn't a happy "goodbye" â itâs a formal warning or lament. Itâs like saying, âThis is a bad situation.â ââŠscribes and PhariseesâŠâ : These were leaders of the Jewish religious community at the timeâpeople who studied the law very carefully. They were important figures in the Old Testament. ââŠhypocrites!â : This is the key part. âHypocritesâ means people who pretend to be righteous or moral, but arenât really. They put on a show of piety, but are actually self-serving. âfor ye are as gravesâŠâ : This is where the metaphor comes in. A grave is a place for someone who has died â it's buried and forgotten. It represents something hidden or concealed. ââŠwhich appear notâŠâ : âAppear notâ means theyâre not visible, not obvious. Theyâre like shadows. âand the men that walk over [them] are not aware [of them].â : âWalk over themâ is a figurative way of saying they're looking at or interacting with these hidden things. But they don't see the truth behind them. Theyâre simply passing by, oblivious to their presence and purpose. So, what does it all mean? Jesus is warning those who are trying to be righteous (the scribes and Pharisees) â but also pointing out the hypocrisy of others. He's saying that people who try to hide themselves or their actions are ultimately revealed, and those who look closely donât see the true nature of things. It suggests a deep sense of truth and reality is being obscured by deception. In essence, itâs a warning against facades and appearances. It encourages us to look beyond the surface and seek genuine truth and integrity. Does that make sense? Do you want me to explain any part in more detail or perhaps give an example?