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..."
Luke 11:39 (NIV)
In this passage, we find a Pharisee inviting Jesus to his home for dinner. The first observation he makes about Jesus is the fact that he does not wash his hands according to the Jewish custom of the time. Washing hands before eating was more ceremonial than a matter of hygiene. Instead of conforming to the Pharisee's critical observation, Jesus takes the opportunity to point out his way of living according to outward appearance rather than transforming himself from the inside.
Jesus' response is not only addressed to the Pharisee who invites him to his table, but also to the entire Pharisaic system. He begins with the example of the cup and plate whose outsides are washed and then he points out their sin by addressing them directly. The Pharisees were more concerned with rituals, ceremonies, and their outward appearance, always deceptive, that they believed purified them than with obedience to the moral laws and precepts of God. In the following verses, Jesus emphasizes that they should be more concerned with their inner state by citing the “woes” that await them.
This same message applies to you and me today according to what concerns us most in our Christian journey. If we are more inclined to conform to the desires and expectations of those around us in order to please them, we will lose sight of God’s ultimate goal of drawing closer to Him; we will end up being, as Jesus told the Pharisees, filled with extortion and wickedness. So, even if you must live in harmony with everyone, do not conform to their desires in order to please them, but be renewed in the Holy Spirit in order to please God.
May the grace and peace of God be with you all.
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