Luke 11:37-41
Chapter 11
37
As Jesus was speaking, a Pharisee asked him to join him for a meal. So he went and sat at the table.
38
The Pharisee then wondered why Jesus did not first wash his hands before dinner.
39
But the Lord said to him:
“So then, you Pharisees, you clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside yourselves you are full of greed and evil.
40
Fools! He who made the outside also made the inside.
41
But according to you, by the mere giving of alms, everything is made clean.
Commentaries
Invective Against the Pharisees and Doctors of the Law – Against Hypocrisy.
Jesus criticizes the Pharisees and scribes, warning them of the consequences of their actions. He condemns the Pharisees for focusing too much on external purification rather than inner transformation; their obsession with minor issues at the expense of justice and kindness; and their lack of self-awareness, as they do not realize they are ‘unmarked graves’ that, in effect, ‘contaminate’ others. Jesus also criticizes the scribes for imposing heavy burdens on the people without being willing to carry them themselves; for their arrogance; and for distancing themselves from the true God, making it hard for others to access Him. Due to these condemnations, it’s not surprising that his opponents are constantly seeking ways to eliminate him (53).