Knowing The Word in Luke 11:37-44

Woes to the Pharisees and Lawyers

11:37 While Jesus was speaking, a Pharisee asked him to dine with him, so he went in and reclined at table. 38 The Pharisee was astonished to see that he did not first wash before dinner. 39 And the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. 40 You fools! Did not he who made the outside make the inside also? 41 But give as alms those things that are within, and behold, everything is clean for you.

42 “But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and every herb, and neglect justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. 43 Woe to you Pharisees! For you love the best seat in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces. 44 Woe to you! For you are like unmarked graves, and people walk over them without knowing it.”

Comments

The invitation to Jesus to dine was for lunch. We can assume the Pharisee wanted to observe him more closely. A man-made rule in the interest of ceremonial purity before eating required pouring water over the hands to remove defilement contracted by contact with the sinful world. Jesus bypassed the ritual, offending his host. Pharisees were concerned with what one does. Jesus was concerned with who one is. For example, Jesus wanted a right inward attitude when one gave alms. His followers gave from the heart, not to make a show with outward gestures. He understood that no amount of water can make up for a corrupted inward life.

When Jesus said “woe” three times, we should hear an increasing “alas” of deep regret. The Pharisees concentrated on the trivial and overlook the importance of God’s justice and love. Their dismissive attitude to God controlled all their actions. They loved being in the public eye, sitting in prominent and distinctive seats, and being addressed respectfully in public and shown deference.

Alas, they did not reflect God or show him reverence. Jesus compared them to unmarked graves. To come into contact with a grave, according to the law, incurred ceremonial defilement. Walking over an unknown or hidden grave, made one unclean unwittingly. Jesus is saying that people who are following the teachings and ways of the Pharisees have become morally unclean without knowing it. They thought they were following good practices but have been deceived into becoming “unclean,” as would one walking over an unmarked grave.

Applications

Like this Pharisee, have you ever acted morally superior to someone over something that ultimately was meaningless? What is the best way to give up moral superiority?

Prayer

Lord, help me not to despise or oppose what I do not understand.

(Willian Penn, 1644-1718)