Luke 11:37-44 The Battle Over Hand Washing
Format for Your Devotions
Instructions: Do not read my example devotion until you have completed your own devotional time in the scriptures. Reading my thoughts first may limit your own understanding. Let the Holy Spirit speak to you alone before looking to see what anyone else has to say, whether it is me, a Bible commentary, or a friend. Let God speak to you before you let another person speak to you. I have provided a format, but modify it to fit your needs. For example, I usually combine my application and prayer together talking to God about the application to my own life. You can go through this devotion process mentally, speaking out loud, or in writing as you wish. Don’t worry if you are not following this process exactly. Sometimes, I add extra information and sometimes I emphasize one part more than others. However, you should always think about what you learn about God from this passage.
Step 1: Pray–Ask for the Holy Spirit’s guidance first of all and that God may reveal the lessons that He wants you to have that day. Request that God protect you from Satan’s distractions (and the devil will try to distract you whether it is pinching the baby or putting you to sleep). Ask to see God more clearly as you read and think about the passage.
Step 2: Read the passage–Read to get an overview of the information first. Then start looking at specific parts after the first reading. You may read a larger or smaller section than I have here because you do not have to follow my organization at all.
Step 3: Understand the passage–You can summarize, ask and answer your own questions about the passage, visualize the story, analyze the characters, and relate this passage to other scriptures and personal experiences.
Step 4: What does this reveal about God?–What do you learn about the Father, Son, and/or Holy Spirit from this passage?
Step 5: Apply this to your own life.
Step 6: Prayer
My Example Devotion: September 6, 2018 Luke 11:37-44
Note: In the devotion examples, I leave my questions and thought processes in the text because I am trying to demonstrate that a devotional time is a dialogue with God about what you are reading from His word. As such, any questions or ideas that you have should be explored by talking it out with God. These example devotions are not my attempts to teach you what the meaning of a particular scripture is. They are an attempt to teach you the process of devotions, which is a combination of prayer and Bible study where you explore ideas with God as you read His word.
After Jesus had said this, a Pharisee invited him to have a meal with him. So Jesus went and took his place at the table. The Pharisee was surprised to see that he didn’t first wash before the meal. But the Lord told him, “Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but on the inside you are full of greed and evil. You fools! The one who made the outside made the inside, too, didn’t he? So give what is inside to the poor, and then everything will be clean for you. “How terrible it will be for you Pharisees! You give a tenth of your mint, spices, and every kind of herb, but you neglect justice and the love of God. These are the things you should have practiced, without neglecting the others. How terrible it will be for you Pharisees! You love to have the places of honor in the synagogues and to be greeted in the marketplaces. How terrible it will be for you! You are like unmarked graves—people walk on them without realizing it.”
(Understanding the Text) This passage starts out talking about one Pharisee, but by the end of the chapter, it is clear that there were more Pharisees and scribes present as guests. Now, Jesus’ words seem harsh and rude as a guest in the house. One of the others even says this in a way. “Then one of the experts in the Law told him, “Teacher, when you say these things, you insult us, too” (Luke 11:45). Upon which, Jesus started to speak against the lawyers. I think the best way to look at this is the chairman of the board of directors raking his subordinates over the coals for not leading the company well. These were a group of leaders gathered in one place where Jesus could try to whip them into shape so that they would begin to lead the people more wisely.
Why did the Pharisee invite Jesus to eat with a bunch of other Pharisees and scribes? Who was this Pharisee? What effect did Jesus’ words have on him?
(Revelation of God) The Pharisee was not concerned with dirt. The washing of hands had become a ceremony symbolizing cleanness, but not a means of actual cleansing. The Pharisee was not offended by Jesus eating with dirty hands like some street person. Instead, he was offended by the lack of ceremony and ritual. I do not believe that Jesus was ignorant of the ritual like a country bumpkin who does not know which knife and fork to use. Instead, I think that Jesus simply refused to participate in a meaningless ceremony that He had never sanctioned and that was itself symbolic of all the problems of the Pharisees. Then, Jesus used the opening created by His refusal to lecture the Pharisees on their hypocrisy. He pronounced woes like in the Old Testament covenants.
(Understanding the Text) Jesus was condemning the Pharisees, and by implication many of us today, for paying attention to the outward forms while cherishing evil in their hearts. He specifically indicates greed, injustice, no love for God, and pride. Jesus’ solution is to give to the poor, practice justice, love God, continue to give tithe, and (implied) practice humility. Jesus’ accusations revolve around loving God, treating other people well, and taking self out of the center of the focus.
Jesus says that it is our inward self that needs cleansing. We are prideful and greedy treating others poorly while expecting to receive others’ respect. We think too highly of ourselves without realizing that in putting ourselves on the pedestal, we are not loving God. I am not sure what telling them that they were like unmarked graves that people will walk on refers to or means.
(Application / Prayer) My application to myself is that I need to focus on loving God and treating others well. If I feel pride that I am better than someone else, it is a warning sign that I am not focusing on loving God and am focusing instead on my prideful self. Luke places this right after the lesson where Jesus says to look at Him and speaks of the eye as the light of the body. When I put these two passages together, it speaks to me of the problems caused by not looking to Jesus, but looking to self for solutions. I pray to always look to You first and not be distracted by my pride and self-protection.