August 24, 2016
WHAT DO JESUS AND YOUR MOTHER DISAGREE ON? . . . WASHING YOUR HANDS BEFORE DINNER!
Luke 11:37–54
Mike Uhlig
Central Truth
We can easily focus on our appearance and equate our value to righteous deeds. But God calls us to freedom from works-based salvation and to embrace His love and grace.
Key Verse | Luke 11:39–40
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. You fools! Did not he who made the outside make the inside also?" (Luke 11:39-40)
Luke 11:37–54
Woes to the Pharisees and Lawyers
37 While Jesus 1 11:37 Greek he 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.”
45 One of the lawyers answered him, “Teacher, in saying these things you insult us also.” 46 And he said, “Woe to you lawyers also! For you load people with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do not touch the burdens with one of your fingers. 47 Woe to you! For you build the tombs of the prophets whom your fathers killed. 48 So you are witnesses and you consent to the deeds of your fathers, for they killed them, and you build their tombs. 49 Therefore also the Wisdom of God said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and persecute,’ 50 so that the blood of all the prophets, shed from the foundation of the world, may be charged against this generation, 51 from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who perished between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, it will be required of this generation. 52 Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge. You did not enter yourselves, and you hindered those who were entering.”
53 As he went away from there, the scribes and the Pharisees began to press him hard and to provoke him to speak about many things, 54 lying in wait for him, to catch him in something he might say.
Dive Deeper | Luke 11:37–54
Although tempting, you should not interpret this passage as an acceptable response the next time your mother asks you to wash your hands before dinner. You should, however, consider that the passage addresses your desire to be clean everywhere except where it matters the most. It is hard to admit, and may sound harsh, but we are the Pharisees and lawyers.
When I read this passage, I reflect on times when I have intentionally displayed righteousness, not for the sake of glorifying God and making His name and perfect character known, but for the sake of my own name and reputation. Even while writing this very devotional, I have to fight the desire for personal credit for what I share.
If you think about it, Jesus had a rather abrupt response to the comment about not washing His hands. I guess you could say the situation escalated rather quickly. But when Jesus calls the Pharisees greedy and wicked, His claim is supported by the last paragraph of this chapter. Their reactions to His comments reveal their hearts. Instead of repentance, they rejected truth and sought to defame and disqualify Him (verses 53-54). Jesus doesn't condemn their actions, but rather their reactions. He responds not just to their behavior, but to their hearts.
Ironically, what the Pharisees are trying to preserve and what they are trying to keep hidden are backwards. Instead of preserving a perfect image and reputation, the Pharisees should preserve their hearts and values (Matthew 6:21). Instead of hiding their imperfections and covering up their blemishes, they should recognize their depravity and embrace God's love and grace.
Praise God for freedom from our sin, praise God that we do not have to be perfect, and praise God that He loves us even when we are Pharisees and lawyers.
Discussion Questions
1. In this passage, Jesus responded to the Pharisees and lawyers because they did not acknowledge their depravity. If we, as followers of Christ, fail to do the same, what are the consequences? How can our refusal to admit our failings impact people who don't know Christ?
2. Has there been a time in your life when you felt as if you were promoting your own righteousness?
3. What Scripture reminds you that God's love and grace are present regardless of your attempts to be perfect?