Luke 11:40

"The Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the platter, but your inward part is full of extortion and wickedness."

Key Reflection

In Luke 11:40, Jesus criticizes the Pharisees for their hypocritical behavior. He points out that while they meticulously clean the outer surfaces of cups and dishes, their inner character is marred by greed and evil intentions (επιθυμία, epithymia in Greek). This stark contrast between appearance and reality reflects a deeper issue of spiritual hypocrisy, challenging the Pharisees to address not just external cleanliness but also the moral and ethical integrity within.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

Verse 40. Ye fools. How unwise and wicked is your conduct! The word denotes not only want of wisdoms, but also wickedness. Comp. Ps 14:1; Pr 13:19; Pr 14:9. Your conduct is not merely foolish, but it is a cloak for sin--designed to countenance wickedness. Did not he, &c. Did not God, who made the body, make also the soul? You Pharisees take great pains to cleanse the body, under a pretence of pleasing God. Did he not also make the mind? and is it not of as much importance that that should be pure, as that the body should? __________________________________________________________________

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