Christian Reflection and Prayer

Scripture:

Read Luke 11:37-54.
TEXT: The Pharisee was astonished to see that
He did not first wash before
dinner (Luke 11:38).

Jesus is on His way to Jerusalem for the last time.
One Sabbath He stops to teach in a synagogue.
After the service a Pharisee invites Him to share His
morning meal. Before they eat, the Pharisee and his
other guests carefully wash their hands, according to
Jewish traditions. They believe eating with unwashed
hands would contaminate the food which, in turn,
made the body unclean in God's eyes.

It was time for Jesus to confront that error. Knowing
all humans are contaminated by the sinful nature they
receive from their parents and not from eating unclean
food, Jesus refuses to wash His hands. His host is
astonished, but Jesus refuses to back down.

He then starts blasting the traditions they trust to earn
their way to heaven. It may seem unwise for Jesus to
turn up the heat, but it is the greatest act of kindness
anyone could do for them. If they keep straining to wash
a little uncleanness from their hands, they will never let
God remove the uncleanness and sin from their hearts,
minds and souls.

This brings a complaint from the scribes. When He
attacks the Pharisees Jesus is really attacking the
scribes, whose traditions the
Pharisees are following. Jesus turns
the heat up again. He accuses the scribes of
burying God's gracious Old Testament
promises beneath their traditions, which deceive
people into relying on their own
works rather than God's free forgiveness, as given
through His Son, the Messiah.

The Pharisees and scribes strenuously object. They
pressure Him to speak on more
things, lying in ambush hoping He will blurt out
something carelessly.

THE PRAYER:

Almighty God, Your Son Jesus made clear there is
only one way into Your presence, through faith in Him.
Drive from my heart and mind the lie that
there are many ways. I pray in Jesus' Name. Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)