Word@Work Luke191 - Luke 11:37-41
Published: Wed, 09/15/10
Word@Work from BeaconLight
DOUBLE STANDARDS
Luke 11:37-41 When Jesus had finished speaking, a Pharisee invited him to eat with him; so he went in and reclined at the table. But the Pharisee, noticing that Jesus did not first wash before the meal, was surprised. Then the Lord said to him, "Now then, you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. You foolish people! Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also? But give what is inside the dish to the poor, and everything will be clean for you. (NIV)
Sinful human nature enjoys double standards, so much so that the problem can be found in everybody. The Pharisee who invited Jesus for conversation over a meal followed strict religious rules about washing before eating. This was not a matter of personal hygiene but to ensure that the food was not ritually contaminated by any possible contact with 'unclean' things which may have been accidentally touched along the way. Jesus did not wash His hands in the ritual bowl and His host expressed surprise.
Jesus took the opportunity to expose the double standards. Using a food related analogy, Jesus likened His host to a food bowl! He said that although he may have taken care to wash the outside, his heart was far from clean. He even accused the religiously scrupulous Pharisee and his friends of being full of greed and wickedness, and that they were foolish. His heart was transparent to Jesus who saw through his pretence that, although religious, he wanted wealth more than being right with God. If greed was not his motivator for being in 'ministry' he would have no difficulty in giving the money away; but although Jesus gave him the opportunity to repent, there is no evidence that he did.
No believer can settle with double standards for long, if they let Jesus speak to them. The choice is then between hardening our hearts against the truth; or agreeing that we are sinners, and changing our heart so that we repent and change. Religious games do not please the Lord because He sees right through them. He always gets to the heart of the matter, which is really very good for those who want to live in the Light; but those who don't will suffer the woes which Jesus is about to explain in the next few verses. So the challenge is to integrity and consistency, knowing our transparency before God ... allowing His light in and taking action on what is revealed. The time to start is today!
Prayer: Gracious God. Thank You for these verses which remind me that I cannot hide behind any wall of fantasy or delusion because I know that You see everything. Please forgive me for those areas of life in which double standards creep in so easily, and help me to change with Your help. Please shine Your light into my life today. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
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Sinful human nature enjoys double standards, so much so that the problem can be found in everybody. The Pharisee who invited Jesus for conversation over a meal followed strict religious rules about washing before eating. This was not a matter of personal hygiene but to ensure that the food was not ritually contaminated by any possible contact with 'unclean' things which may have been accidentally touched along the way. Jesus did not wash His hands in the ritual bowl and His host expressed surprise.
Jesus took the opportunity to expose the double standards. Using a food related analogy, Jesus likened His host to a food bowl! He said that although he may have taken care to wash the outside, his heart was far from clean. He even accused the religiously scrupulous Pharisee and his friends of being full of greed and wickedness, and that they were foolish. His heart was transparent to Jesus who saw through his pretence that, although religious, he wanted wealth more than being right with God. If greed was not his motivator for being in 'ministry' he would have no difficulty in giving the money away; but although Jesus gave him the opportunity to repent, there is no evidence that he did.
No believer can settle with double standards for long, if they let Jesus speak to them. The choice is then between hardening our hearts against the truth; or agreeing that we are sinners, and changing our heart so that we repent and change. Religious games do not please the Lord because He sees right through them. He always gets to the heart of the matter, which is really very good for those who want to live in the Light; but those who don't will suffer the woes which Jesus is about to explain in the next few verses. So the challenge is to integrity and consistency, knowing our transparency before God ... allowing His light in and taking action on what is revealed. The time to start is today!
Prayer: Gracious God. Thank You for these verses which remind me that I cannot hide behind any wall of fantasy or delusion because I know that You see everything. Please forgive me for those areas of life in which double standards creep in so easily, and help me to change with Your help. Please shine Your light into my life today. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
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