Can We Be Clean? (Luke 11:37-54)
In Luke 11:37-52, Jesus is invited to a Pharisee’s home to dine with the movers and shakers of God’s people. One would expect Christ to fall in line and seek to work with these men to promote his messianic identity. However, Christ initiates sharp rebukes, exposing the dangers of religious hypocrisy after Christ fails to comply with their washing tradition. The Pharisees, think they are clean, but they only cleanse the outside and miss God’s intention for internal transformation. Christ comes to establish true holiness that flows from a changed heart, and not mere behavior. Jesus calls out the futility of trying to cleanse the inside with outward strategies.
The lawyers are offended because Jesus is not just rebuking the Pharisees, but also the lawyers. Jesus’ woes Are against the details of the law, but not the substance which only burdens God’s people. The Pharisees love their significance while the scribes build prestigious tombs that elevate the prophets. However, Christ points out they only show themselves to be in the line of Cain. The Pharisees corrupt the people by being unmarked graves and the lawyers hinder people from entering the kingdom.
The problem: They weaponize God’s law, making it oppressive. They stand in the way of seeing God’s life-giving gospel. This is a warning for all who use religion to control or manipulate. The gospel liberates us because Jesus bore the ultimate burden of our sins, Christ gives us new life, and we are continually being called to rest in His finished work. When we use faith as a tool of pride or power, we distort its purpose and alienate others from God’s grace.