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Home Luke 11:37-41 NRSVue

Luke 11:37-41 NRSVue

37While he was speaking, a Pharisee invited him to dine with him, so he went in and took his place at the table. 38The Pharisee was amazed to see that he did not first wash before dinner. 39Then the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. 40You fools! Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also? 41So give as alms those things that are within and then everything will be clean for you.

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition (NRSVUE)

“Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.”

Reflection on Luke 11:37-41

Inspiration from 2025-10-14 Daily Prayer

Jesus denounces the Pharisees and Scholars of the Law for their blindness in judging goodness by the external observance of the Law. Evil deeds come from within the human heart, and he accuses them of being full of greed and wickedness. Human pride leads to an inner blindness much deeper than any loss of sight. Let us ask the Lord to show us how we may be blocking the light of the Gospel in our own lives.

Further reflection

When I read Jesus' statement to the Pharisees again, perhaps I could insert my own name instead of the word "Pharisees".

How does that feel? Remember that Jesus never scolds without the desire for change and growth.

What do those words "give for alms those things that are within" mean? Can I allow myself to be moved forward by them?

How much energy and care I spend on my outside, Lord! Not just my appearance, but taking trouble about the way others see me. Homer Simpson used to cry: I didn't do it! Nobody saw me! You can't prove it! There is still some of that child in me. You read my heart, Lord. You know the movements and deviances under the surface of my behaviour. Teach me to live first of all in your presence, free from human respect.

We are introduced in these chapters of St Luke to sayings of Jesus, held together in no particular fashion. These sayings are about being clean on the inside as well as the outside. God sees the heart, and judges us on what we try to be, and understands that much of the meanness and even the sin of everyone has to do with the human weakness all of us inherit at birth and gather during our lives.