Day 24: Luke 11:37-54

37 When Jesus had finished speaking, a Pharisee invited him to eat with him; so he went in and reclined at the table. 38 But the Pharisee was surprised when he noticed that Jesus did not first wash before the meal.

39 Then the Lord said to him, “Now then, you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. 40 You foolish people! Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also? 41 But now as for what is inside you—be generous to the poor, and everything will be clean for you.

42 “Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone.

43 “Woe to you Pharisees, because you love the most important seats in the synagogues and respectful greetings in the marketplaces.

44 “Woe to you, because you are like unmarked graves, which people walk over without knowing it.”

Imagine being a guest at this meal. 

Seemingly, out of nowhere, Jesus gives some pointed criticism. And what was his assessment? People spend a lot of time working on the outside of themselves - making sure they look like good people to others; while they neglect the inner life. 

Take a moment and consider where your focus tends to be. 

Is your attention more on how you present yourself to the world or the health and goodness inside your soul?

The Scripture goes on:  

45 One of the experts in the law answered him, “Teacher, when you say these things, you insult us also.”

46 Jesus replied, “And you experts in the law, woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them.

47 “Woe to you, because you build tombs for the prophets, and it was your ancestors who killed them. 48 So you testify that you approve of what your ancestors did; they killed the prophets, and you build their tombs. 49 Because of this, God in his wisdom said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and others they will persecute.’ 50 Therefore this generation will be held responsible for the blood of all the prophets that has been shed since the beginning of the world, 51 from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, this generation will be held responsible for it all.

52 “Woe to you experts in the law, because you have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering.”

53 When Jesus went outside, the Pharisees and the teachers of the law began to oppose him fiercely and to besiege him with questions, 54 waiting to catch him in something he might say.

Jesus seems to be a very different dinner guest, depending on who He is with. Jesus is tender and welcoming to those who are marginalized, but for those with religious power, he has some challenging words.

We all have parts of us that need the tender mercy and gentleness of Jesus. But, for today, consider the parts of you that need to sit in the presence of this challenging Jesus. Are there parts of you that need to heed his warnings?   

Examine your heart and locate the parts of you that know the truth about God and use it to condemn or judge others. Are there parts of you that use God’s word and commands to create barriers for others to experience God’s grace? Where are the parts of you that want to keep others out rather than welcome them in?  

Bring this to Jesus. Feel him lift that burden from you and listen to him instruct and train you in the way of grace.