Denunciation of the Pharisees

Today's Reflections

                                                                                        

 

Denunciation of the Pharisees

Lk 11:37-41

³⁷After [Jesus] had spoken, a Pharisee invited him to dine at his home. He entered and reclined at table to eat. ³⁸The Pharisee was amazed to see that he did not observe the prescribed washing before the meal. ³⁹The Lord said to him, “Oh you Pharisees! Although you cleanse the outside of the cup and the dish, inside you are filled with plunder and evil. ⁴⁰You fools! Did not the maker of the outside also make the inside? ⁴¹But as to what is within, give alms, and behold, everything will be clean for you.”

INSIDE YOU ARE FILLED WITH PLUNDER. Jesus is invited by a Pharisee to dinner—whether out of good will or for an occasion to find fault, the evangelist does not say. The Pharisee notices that Jesus dispenses with the prescribed washing before a meal.

Jesus decries the Pharisees’ preoccupation with cleaning the outside of cup and dish while neglecting the inside. They give more importance to external matters, seeking praise for their meticulous observance of rules and regulations.

Jesus makes his host realize that the inside matters more than the outside. What is in the heart and mind is more important than what is on the face.

We become like the Pharisees when we give more importance to external cleanliness than to the observance of God’s commandments. Inner beauty results from doing God’s will. We have to take a better care of our soul than of our body. Priority should be given to what is more important.

Am I more concerned about my inner cleanliness

than my external appearance?