We must walk mercifully through life, because we never know the things other people may be dealing with in their souls. Most people can cleverly put on an outward smile, but be filled with sorrow, fear, bitterness, or even anger on the inside. Frankly, as believers, we can be blind to certain things within ourselves that need God’s attention; behaviors that may be hindering our nearness to God or harming our souls without our awareness.
In our passage today from Luke’s gospel, the Pharisees and religious leaders have expectations not only for Jesus but for others, as well. These leaders want to think of themselves as “clean” or pure examples of righteousness. Yet, Jesus can see their hearts [inner life] and he calls their souls, “filthy!”
The Pharisees were always worried about being defiled by unclean [unholy] things or people; therefore, they neglected the infirm, outcasts, and needy. They believed if they touched anything unclean, they would not be able to perform their religious rituals in the Temple; things that made them feel important. Jesus wanted the Pharisees and religious leaders to understand he came to share the love of God with the world and everyone needs transformation even the Pharisees. But, instead of the Pharisees leading people toward God, they confused them and embraced a religion of their own making rather than helping others open their hearts to the truth.
Luke 11:37-52 NLT Jesus Criticizes the Religious Leaders
37 As Jesus was speaking, one of the Pharisees invited him home for a meal. So he went in and took his place at the table. 38 His host was amazed to see that he sat down to eat without first performing the hand-washing ceremony required by Jewish custom. 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! 40 Fools! Didn’t God make the inside as well as the outside? 41 So clean the inside by giving gifts to the poor, and you will be clean all over.
42 “What sorrow awaits you Pharisees! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore justice and the love of God. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things.
43 “What sorrow awaits you Pharisees! For you love to sit in the seats of honor in the synagogues and receive respectful greetings as you walk in the marketplaces. 44 Yes, what sorrow awaits you! For you are like hidden graves in a field. People walk over them without knowing the corruption they are stepping on.”
45 “Teacher,” said an expert in religious law, “you have insulted us, too, in what you just said.”
46 “Yes,” said Jesus, “what sorrow also awaits you experts in religious law! For you crush people with unbearable religious demands, and you never lift a finger to ease the burden. 47 What sorrow awaits you! For you build monuments for the prophets your own ancestors killed long ago. 48 But in fact, you stand as witnesses who agree with what your ancestors did. They killed the prophets, and you join in their crime by building the monuments! 49 This is what God in his wisdom said about you: ‘I will send prophets and apostles to them, but they will kill some and persecute the others.’
50 “As a result, this generation will be held responsible for the murder of all God’s prophets from the creation of the world— 51 from the murder of Abel to the murder of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, it will certainly be charged against this generation.
52 “What sorrow awaits you experts in religious law! For you remove the key to knowledge from the people. You don’t enter the Kingdom yourselves, and you prevent others from entering.”
Prayer: Father, we thank you for lifting the burdens off from our souls and helping us to live in your liberating love. We pray for opportunities to help others see and understand the Truth of your love, today. May we be a help and not a hindrance for others to hear and know the Truth. In Jesus’ name. Amen.