"Clean Inside and Out"

 N.T.#572 "Clean Inside and Out"

June 17, 2025 

Luke 11-Part 10 

LET IT GLOW

Jesus had accused the religious leaders of cleaning the outside of the cup, but inside they were full of greed and evil. (verse 39) The washing wasn't done for health reasons but as a symbol of washing away any contamination from touching anything unclean. They made a public show of their washing and commanded others to follow the practice, yet it was originally meant for the priests only. The Pharisees loved to think of themselves as clean, but their stinginess toward God and the poor proved they were not as clean as they thought. (Life Application Study Bible)

Jesus didn't stop with the cup metaphor. He let the Pharisees and scribes have it with truth and woes. They were the religious leaders in Israel, yet they were called fools and hypocrites by the Lord. I wonder if the host regretted having invited Jesus to dinner. (It seems like there must have been more Pharisees present, but we aren't told.)

Then Jesus spoke of 6 woes for the Pharisees, accusing them of:

1. deceit (verses 41-42) They failed to show justice to neighbors and love for God. Yet they tithed garden herbs and loved the front seat in the synagogues. 
2. pride (verse 43)
3. inconsistency (verses44-46)
4. condone murder
5. condone conspiracy (verses 47-51)
6. hindering people from being saved. (verse 53) (Liberty Bible Commentary)

Luke tells us the Pharisees were trying to provoke Jesus to say things that enabled them to put Him to death. They opposed Jesus, questioned Him, plotted against Him, and sought to trap Him in His answers. Yet they were no match for the Savior. (verse 54)

LET IT GROW

What can we learn from this?

 Covering up wrong within by cleaning up the externals of our life does not work. God sees all and knows all about us. Keep a heart check. What is our motive for doing things? Confess sin so we have a clean vessel for the Lord to use. How is our relationship with the Heavenly Father?

LET IT GO

We are Your servants, Lord. Tell us what You want us to do today.