The Judgmental Meal: Luke 37-38
“37) Now when He had spoken, a Pharisee *asked Him to have lunch with him; and He went in, and reclined at the table. 38) When the Pharisee saw it, he was surprised that He had not first ceremonially washed before the meal.” Luke 11:37-38
This meal invitation set the stage for a lengthy conversation about the difference between righteous and being religious. True righteousness is the inward condition of the heart. Being religious is the outward practice of legalism.
As Jesus went into the house of a Pharisee to dine, He did not observe the ceremonial washings before the meal. These washings were not prescribed in the Law. They were the outcome of years of religious rituals, traditions and ceremonies assembled by the religious elite.
But it made them look and feel good and devoutly religious. These outward ceremonies had became a measuring stick of spirituality. These traditions and ceremonies soon became etched in stone and became a standard to judge others.
But Jesus and the disciples were cut from very different fabric. Jesus had spent most of His life as a carpenter. He came from the working class. Four of the disciples were from a commercial fishing background. Godly they were; religious they were not!
Can you imagine how hungry and hard working men prepared for a meal? Jesus focused on His heart and not His hands. He was holy inwardly. These men most likely grabbed a sandwich while working.
This clash set the stage for a lengthy conversation. Jesus used it to expose all kinds of religious sin and hypocrisy. You can paint the barn but until you remove the manure it’s still a barn.
The Pharisees were painting the outward barn thinking it turned them into cathedrals, but inwardly they were full of sinful manure. That’s the problem with religious legalism. It makes people look good and feel good outwardly, but It ignores the inward condition of the heart. It ignores the manure pile of human depravity.
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
Sent from my iPhone
“37) Now when He had spoken, a Pharisee *asked Him to have lunch with him; and He went in, and reclined at the table. 38) When the Pharisee saw it, he was surprised that He had not first ceremonially washed before the meal.” Luke 11:37-38
This meal invitation set the stage for a lengthy conversation about the difference between righteous and being religious. True righteousness is the inward condition of the heart. Being religious is the outward practice of legalism.
As Jesus went into the house of a Pharisee to dine, He did not observe the ceremonial washings before the meal. These washings were not prescribed in the Law. They were the outcome of years of religious rituals, traditions and ceremonies assembled by the religious elite.
But it made them look and feel good and devoutly religious. These outward ceremonies had became a measuring stick of spirituality. These traditions and ceremonies soon became etched in stone and became a standard to judge others.
But Jesus and the disciples were cut from very different fabric. Jesus had spent most of His life as a carpenter. He came from the working class. Four of the disciples were from a commercial fishing background. Godly they were; religious they were not!
Can you imagine how hungry and hard working men prepared for a meal? Jesus focused on His heart and not His hands. He was holy inwardly. These men most likely grabbed a sandwich while working.
This clash set the stage for a lengthy conversation. Jesus used it to expose all kinds of religious sin and hypocrisy. You can paint the barn but until you remove the manure it’s still a barn.
The Pharisees were painting the outward barn thinking it turned them into cathedrals, but inwardly they were full of sinful manure. That’s the problem with religious legalism. It makes people look good and feel good outwardly, but It ignores the inward condition of the heart. It ignores the manure pile of human depravity.
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
Sent from my iPhone
