Unit 1: Love Completes, Law Falls Short
Key Verse:
Luke 11:39 NLT
39 Then the Lord said to him, “You Pharisees are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy—full of greed and wickedness!
I don’t know about you, but my heart is desperately wicked. Thank God for His merciful Grace, exemplified in His loving Son, Jesus.
Prelude:
Leviticus 23:23-25 NASB
23 Again the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 24 “Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘In the [a]seventh month on the first of the month you shall have a [b]rest, a reminder by blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation. 25 You shall not do any laborious work, but you shall present an offering by fire to the Lord.’”
Thus, in these few words to Moses, the Lord instituted Rosh Hashana, recognized by Israel as the Jewish New Year. Every year, I share my appreciation that the Sunday School Commentary aligns with this ancient Jewish celebration in that the new lessons for the year begin in the Fall, right around the time of Rosh Hashana. It is to be a time of reflection, remembrance, and reflection. As it turns out, this first lesson of the 2023 / 2024 session should produce the contrition God seeks from us, His children. Enjoy the Lesson.
Psalm 51:1-2 NASB
1
Be gracious to me, God, according to Your faithfulness;
According to the greatness of Your compassion, wipe out my wrongdoings.
2
Wash me thoroughly from my guilt
And cleanse me from my sin.
The Lesson
Luke 11:37 NASB
37 Now when He had spoken, a Pharisee asked Him to have lunch with him; and He went in and reclined at the table.
There are a couple of notable details in this first verse. First, the invitation. Prior interactions between Jesus and the Pharisees had become increasingly adversarial, especially in regard to the Pharisees based in Jerusalem. But Jesus readily accepted their invitation. Any opportunity to share the good news with others was His primary mission focus. Additionally, It was not uncommon for Jesus to accept the invitations of religious leaders (Mark 4, Luke 7). However, Jesus maintained a more amenable relationship with the leaders in Galilee and northern Israel, away from the center of religious authority (Jerusalem). The second point of interest in this verse is the fact that Jesus ‘reclined’ at the table. It was common for the Jews to recline o the floor at a very low table. Sitting in a chair is the wrong way to think about it. It is more accurate to understand that they reclined at shared meals (the Last Supper). It will make a difference in a minute.
Luke 11:38 NASB
38 When the Pharisee saw this, he was surprised that Jesus had not first [a]ceremonially washed before the [b]meal.
We can infer that if Jesua had reclined, His feet had already been washed. However, the Pharisees required additional washing. They washed their hands before meals, after meals, as well as numerous other occasions. Additionally, they recited a specific prayer during the hand-washing ritual. Doesn’t that sound good? I mean, what’s the harm in praying while washing my hands? In fact, it sounded so good to me that I was immediately brought under conviction because I could not immediately understand Jesus’ immediate consternation with His host. Let’s continue.
Luke 11:39 NASB
39 But the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and of the dish; but your inside is full of greed and wickedness.
Jesus goes off. The food smells wonderful. He’s looking forward to a good meal and challenging, engaging conversation, but the Pharisee’s reaction to His failure to wash His hands ruins the moment. Sadly, it does not appear that the Pharisee’s reaction was planned but, rather, reflexive. So steeped was he (the host) in his religious practices that he did not recognize his ignorance nor his error. But Jesus quickly and correctly identifies the problem: the self-righteousness and sanctimoniousness of the Pharisees, particularly those headquartered in Jerusalem (this meeting probably happened in or near Bethany, a couple of miles southeast of Bethany. Jesus has just kinda had it with these folk. They were so self-centered that the mission of Heaven (Peace on Earth) was completely lost on them. It was always all about…them. To the detriment of everyone else. Jesus correctly identified the true content of their hearts (and mine’s).
Luke 11:40 NASB
40 You foolish ones, did He who made the outside not make the inside also?
Jesus continues to reprimand His host(s). What they thought made them holy really revealed their foolishness. Did they not understand that they were entirely transparent before God? Did they not think that could see right through their extra-biblical religious traditions? In fact, the hand-washing ritual actually revealed the hardness of their hearts to even the casual observer not blinded by their religious gaslighting.
Luke 11:41 NASB
41 But give that which is within as a charitable gift, and [c]then all things are clean for you.
God finds no pleasure in the sacrifice of bulls ad goats, or in any number of religious traditions the Pharisees had institued. Instead, God judges the heart and finds pleasure in a humble and contrite spirit. I am a little OCD, but I do not mistake my obsessions as something that pleases God. Istead, I recognize that I am prone to religion and must take care to to mistake my religiosity for righteousness. It’s not that easy. As demonstrated by Jesus’ host, religion can be reflexive and…addictive. I hope this speaks to some of you. In the spirit of the Rosh Hashana, pause for a moment of self reflection. A better indicator of my righteousness before God would be my propensity for giving, would it not? Jesus thought so.
Selah.
Luke 11:42 NASB
42 “But woe to you Pharisees! For you pay tithes of mint, rue, and every kind of garden herb, and yet you [d]ignore justice and the love of God; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others.
Jesus continues. In another of their ‘traditions’ the Pharisees took great pains to tithe on garden herbs that grew so profusely that they could not be accurately measured. In essence, they were straining gnats within their traditions while ignoring what mattered most to God: people. Beloved, a good part of the present day Church wants to ignore the issues of social justice in the earth today. Yet, Jesus correctly states that social justice is near to the heart of God and must the Old not be ignored. Both the Law and Old Testament Prophets made it clear that at the head of God’s agenda in the earth was His concern for the widow, the orphan and the immigrant; all examples of those regarded as least in our communities. Beloved. As the Church, are we doing all that we can on behalf of the dispossed? Another point to ponder in a moment of self reflection.
Selah.
Luke 11:43 NASB
43 Woe to you Pharisees! For you love the seat of honor in the synagogues and personal greetings in the marketplaces.
Jesus begins His closing statement by, again, revealing the sin-stained hearts of the Pharisees: their desire for self-aggrandizement. They love recognition. Their pride obscures their understanding of who God really is and what He really wants to do in their lives. Except for Jesus, every other man born of a woman has needed a Savior. The Pharisees were hopelessly blind and corrupt, bound by their commitment to their religious traditions rather than being committed to God. Jesus is the Messiah. They missed it. They missed it because they were trapped in their misunderstanding of the Law of Moses.
Luke 11:44 NASB
44 Woe to you! For you are like [e]unseen tombs, and the people who walk over them are unaware of it.”
This is the third ‘woe’ in this passage that Jesus has pronounced upon His adversaries. And perhaps, this one is the most damning. What Jesus is accusing them of is misleading others with their traditions in such a way that those who follow them are at risk of losing their salvation. Beloved, all of the children of Abraham were heirs to the promise of God (Jesus). Additionally, that same promise is available to all who would accept it by faith, whether they be Jew or Gentile. Do we deny this precious gift to others through our religious traditions that push people away from our congregations because of what we perceive that we are, and they are not? Jesus made it clear that our actions along these lines could do eternal harm. Woe to those of us who fail to recognize that our godly selfishness and pride will have negative, eternal consequences. May God have mercy on our souls.
Selah
wb
Psalm 51:10-12 NASB
10
Create [i]in me a clean heart, God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11
Do not cast me away from Your presence,
And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
12
Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,
And sustain me with a willing spirit.
13
Then I will teach wrongdoers Your ways,
And sinners will [j]be converted to You.
James 1:27 NASB
27 Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained [aa]by the world.
Micah 6:8 NASB
8
He has told you, mortal one, what is good;
And what does the Lord require of you
But to do justice, to love [d]kindness,
And to walk [e]humbly with your God?
Psalm 82:1-4 NASB
1
God takes His position in [a]His assembly;
He judges in the midst of the gods.
2
How long will you judge unjustly
And show partiality to the wicked? Selah
3
Vindicate the weak and fatherless;
Do justice to the afflicted and destitute.
4
Rescue the weak and needy;
Save them from the hand of the wicked.
Epilogue: On a personal note, I took some time away from this space. I found it difficult to return. Thanks to a few friends who took note and reached out, encouraging me to return to this space. You know who you are. Thank you for your prayers and continued support.
Blessing,
wb
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