Christ is truly the Son of that God Who gave the Law; after the example of the blessings pronounced in the Law, did Himself pronounce the blessings of them that are saved; and also after the cursings of the Law, He now sets forth a woe against sinners; “Woe unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites.” They who allow that it is compatible with goodness to utter these denunciations against sinners, should understand that the purpose of God is the same in the cursings of the Law. Both the cursing there and the woe here fall upon the sinner not from Him who denounces, but from themselves who commit the sins which are denounced, and worthily bring upon themselves the inflictions of God’s discipline, appointed for the turning of men to good. So a father rebuking a son utters words of cursing, but does not desire that be should become deserving of those curses, but rather that he should turn himself from them.
He adds the cause of this woe, “Ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for ye neither go in yourselves, nor suffer them that are entering to go in.” These two commandments are by nature inseparable; because not to suffer others to enter in, is of itself enough to keep the hinderer out.
Reproduced in full. Translation: Oxford 1841 (Newman), public domain (Public domain).