There are some things that soap & water can’t get clean.
On Sunday, we talked about how Jesus’ sacrifice actually address the guilt we feel in our hearts. Jesus’ death doesn’t simply put a new coat of paint over the sin, but removes it entirely. In today’s reading in Luke 11:37-42, we get a great picture of what Jesus has in mind for the heart of His followers.
“37 When Jesus had finished speaking, a Pharisee invited him to eat with him; so he went in and reclined at the table. 38 But the Pharisee was surprised when he noticed that Jesus did not first wash before the meal. 39 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. 40 You foolish people! Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also? 41 But now as for what is inside you—be generous to the poor, and everything will be clean for you. 42 “Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone.”
The reason the Pharisee was upset with Jesus wasn’t because Jesus didn’t wash his hands. He was upset because Jesus hadn’t done the ritual purification that was required of priests before the meal. The Pharisees were essentially taking the rules and regulations that were expected of priests and trying to hold the entire jewish nation accountable to living by them. This wasn’t God’s design. He had different sets of rules for different groups of people for a reason.
Keep the heart in mind as we work through this passage. First, Jesus responded by saying: “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?”
Some think that Jesus is talking about washing the outside of the bowl, but leaving the inside part that you use dirty. And that’s completely possible. But, it seems like Jesus is talking more about the internal contents that make up the cup and dish. It would appear that Jesus is saying, you can wash the outside of the cup and dish, but your cleaning regulations can do nothing for the inner makeup of the dish itself. If you have ceramic dishes in your house, you know the outside is washable, and has a glaze on it to make it easier to clean. But, the part underneath the glazing, the part beneath that shiny, exterior surface, that never gets washed.
So Jesus says, “Did not the one who made the outside”, the part that can be cleansed by purification rituals “make the inside also?” the part that purification rituals cannot address. In the context of the illustration, this makes way more sense to me than Jesus saying they didn’t wash their dishes. But, I could be wrong.
Notice, however, the application that Jesus makes after sharing this illustration. “But as for what is inside you…” Jesus knew what was inside them. We read that a few times in the John’s gospel account, that Jesus perceived people’s thoughts and knew what was in their hearts. Jesus knew what was in the heart of pharisees. Greed and pride. It was very lucrative to be a pharisee. And there was a lot of pride associated with the higher roles. Jesus addresses what was inside them with a command they should have been obeying all along. Isn’t it interesting that the pharisees embraced and enforced all the commands that enriched them but ignored the ones that required them to be compassionate and merciful. “As for what is inside you-be generous to the poor, and everything will be clean for you.”
Jesus goes to his “loving your neighbor as yourself” theme for teaching. “Be generous to the poor, and everything will be clean for you.” That wasn’t going to happen. Jesus knew that. This is why he “woed” them. He gets on the religiosity of their tithing practice. Remember, doing the right things for the wrong reasons is still wrong in Jesus’ world.
The Pharisees were ridiculous in their tithing practice. Assuming that they tithed off of their income, they took the first fruits teaching to its extreme. The law says to pay a tithe, so we’re going to give a tithe off of every little thing in our lives, all the way down to the herb garden. Notice, that Jesus does not condemn their doing this. He actually says, you should have practiced the latter (tithing on everything) without leaving the former (being generous to the poor) undone.
There were actually three tithes that were supposed to be given. We only ever talk about one, but in the Old Testament, there were three. Three tithes means 30% of your income. One of them was specifically for festivals. That would be some party! Jesus says we should tithe. Jesus also says we should be generous to the poor.
But this involves more than just money. It’s a heart issue. Remember, Jesus has been talking about their purification rites. He says that God made the inside and outside of a person. It’s not only the outside that needs to be purified, but the inside as well. The part that you can’t get to with soap and water.
Jesus knew that the desires, beliefs, ambition and identity of the Pharisees was only for themselves all the time. There was no being generous to the poor or loving their neighbor. There was putting a yoke on their neighbor and crushing them for their own benefit.
In summarizing the law Jesus says the two greatest commands are: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” (Luke 10:27)
What does it mean to love God with all your heart, soul, strength and mind? Well, the heart is where desire comes from. The soul is where our identity comes form. Strength is where ambition comes from. Mind is where beliefs come from. So, when we love God with all our heart, soul, strength and mind, it means: all our desire is for God, our identity is in Christ, our ambition for His Kingdom and our beliefs are His truth. This was not true of the Pharisees. They were deceived in every one of those areas. And they certainly didn’t love their neighbor as themselves.
They may have been externally pure, but their insides were filthy. And no matter how many times they washed the cup, it would never come clean.
There are just some things that soap and water can’t fix.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: RSS
Thank you David.
My spouse and i have been very fulfilled that Raymond managed to deal with his web research via the ideas he grabbed through the weblog. It’s not at all simplistic just to find yourself giving out concepts that others may have been selling. So we recognize we’ve got the website owner to appreciate for this. The most important illustrations you’ve made, the easy blog menu, the relationships you will aid to create – it’s got many powerful, and it’s really making our son and the family feel that the matter is thrilling, which is certainly especially indispensable. Many thanks for the whole thing!
I and also my buddies ended up checking out the nice thoughts from your web blog then instantly came up with a terrible suspicion I never thanked the website owner for those techniques. The men ended up so excited to learn them and now have in actuality been using these things. Appreciation for really being so thoughtful and for making a decision on some excellent information most people are really wanting to be aware of. My personal sincere apologies for not saying thanks to you sooner.
My spouse and i were very excited when Jordan could round up his reports from the precious recommendations he had from your web page. It’s not at all simplistic to just possibly be giving freely key points which many others may have been making money from. We really consider we have you to be grateful to for this. These illustrations you’ve made, the easy web site menu, the relationships you will make it possible to promote – it’s got mostly incredible, and it is helping our son and the family consider that this matter is fun, and that is extraordinarily essential. Many thanks for the whole lot!
I must express some appreciation to the writer just for rescuing me from this challenge. As a result of browsing throughout the world wide web and seeing things that were not beneficial, I figured my life was done. Living minus the solutions to the problems you have resolved by means of your good article content is a critical case, and the kind which may have in a wrong way damaged my entire career if I had not discovered your blog post. Your personal ability and kindness in touching the whole thing was invaluable. I am not sure what I would’ve done if I hadn’t encountered such a subject like this. I can now look ahead to my future. Thanks a lot so much for your expert and sensible guide. I will not be reluctant to recommend your web page to anybody who should have support on this subject.
Thanks so much for providing individuals with an extremely superb possiblity to read critical reviews from this site. It’s always very useful and as well , jam-packed with a lot of fun for me and my office mates to search your website at a minimum thrice in a week to learn the latest tips you have got. And lastly, I am just always happy with the remarkable thoughts you give. Selected 4 tips on this page are ultimately the most beneficial we’ve ever had.
My husband and i were now thankful Emmanuel managed to finish off his studies out of the ideas he received using your web page. It’s not at all simplistic to just always be offering steps some others could have been trying to sell. And we also do understand we need the writer to appreciate because of that. Those illustrations you’ve made, the easy blog navigation, the relationships you will help to instill – it’s all great, and it’s really aiding our son and the family consider that this subject is fun, which is exceedingly pressing. Many thanks for the whole thing!
I just wanted to construct a small message so as to say thanks to you for the pleasant recommendations you are writing on this website. My prolonged internet lookup has at the end been rewarded with really good facts to write about with my relatives. I ‘d claim that most of us visitors actually are extremely lucky to dwell in a notable website with many awesome professionals with valuable techniques. I feel quite happy to have come across the webpages and look forward to many more entertaining minutes reading here. Thank you again for everything.
I have to get across my passion for your kindness for individuals that need guidance on the field. Your real dedication to getting the message throughout had been quite advantageous and has surely enabled regular people much like me to achieve their aims. Your new valuable help and advice denotes a great deal to me and especially to my peers. With thanks; from each one of us.
I definitely wanted to send a brief message so as to say thanks to you for some of the unique tricks you are showing on this site. My particularly long internet search has at the end been paid with good quality tips to share with my neighbours. I ‘d assume that many of us readers are truly endowed to exist in a superb community with so many outstanding professionals with insightful pointers. I feel rather lucky to have used your entire web site and look forward to many more exciting minutes reading here. Thank you once again for a lot of things.
I precisely wished to say thanks again. I do not know the things that I might have created without those concepts contributed by you relating to this situation. Entirely was a real alarming scenario in my position, nevertheless witnessing the very specialised style you treated it took me to leap for delight. I am happier for your help and even expect you comprehend what a great job that you’re carrying out educating many people thru your web blog. I am certain you haven’t encountered any of us.
I needed to compose you a little word to be able to say thanks as before about the pleasant tricks you’ve contributed in this case. It is so incredibly generous with you to allow freely all that numerous people could have made available for an ebook in order to make some bucks for their own end, particularly now that you might have done it if you ever desired. Those concepts also acted to become good way to fully grasp the rest have similar desire similar to my own to know the truth very much more related to this matter. I believe there are many more enjoyable times in the future for folks who take a look at your blog.
I must express my respect for your kind-heartedness for women who have the need for help with this particular study. Your personal dedication to getting the solution up and down appears to be exceptionally functional and has specifically made women like me to get to their dreams. The informative tutorial can mean a whole lot a person like me and still more to my colleagues. Thanks a ton; from each one of us.
I would like to express my thanks to you just for bailing me out of such a trouble. Because of surfing through the the net and obtaining things that were not beneficial, I assumed my life was gone. Being alive without the presence of approaches to the difficulties you’ve sorted out through your main guideline is a serious case, and those that would have in a wrong way affected my career if I had not come across your website. The ability and kindness in maneuvering a lot of stuff was useful. I am not sure what I would’ve done if I hadn’t come across such a thing like this. I can also at this point look ahead to my future. Thanks very much for this expert and results-oriented help. I will not be reluctant to recommend your blog post to anyone who should get direction on this topic.
I must show some appreciation to the writer just for bailing me out of this particular predicament. Because of searching throughout the world-wide-web and coming across tricks which are not powerful, I believed my entire life was over. Living without the approaches to the problems you have solved by way of the write-up is a crucial case, and the kind that would have adversely affected my entire career if I hadn’t discovered your web blog. That talents and kindness in playing with everything was valuable. I am not sure what I would’ve done if I hadn’t discovered such a point like this. It’s possible to at this point relish my future. Thanks for your time so much for this high quality and sensible guide. I will not be reluctant to endorse your blog to any person who would need guide on this subject matter.
My husband and i got now comfortable when Ervin could do his homework through the entire ideas he received out of the web page. It is now and again perplexing to just choose to be giving away tips which often people today have been selling. We really see we now have you to thank because of that. These explanations you’ve made, the simple website menu, the friendships you can give support to foster – it is all astounding, and it’s really facilitating our son in addition to the family understand that content is fun, and that is quite fundamental. Many thanks for all!
I not to mention my guys were actually reviewing the best procedures on the website then at once I got a horrible feeling I had not expressed respect to the web site owner for those tips. Most of the men are actually as a result excited to learn them and already have in actuality been making the most of these things. Appreciate your getting quite thoughtful and also for picking out this kind of superb subjects millions of individuals are really eager to understand about. My personal sincere regret for not expressing gratitude to you sooner.
I have to get across my admiration for your kindness in support of persons who have the need for guidance on the concern. Your special commitment to getting the solution all-around was unbelievably powerful and has consistently made somebody like me to get to their aims. The interesting key points signifies a whole lot a person like me and even further to my colleagues. With thanks; from all of us.
I must get across my love for your kind-heartedness supporting folks who have the need for guidance on in this content. Your real dedication to passing the message all-around appeared to be quite functional and has in every case enabled regular people much like me to attain their aims. Your personal warm and friendly useful information can mean so much to me and additionally to my colleagues. Regards; from each one of us.
Needed to post you this very little note in order to thank you very much once again over the awesome opinions you have featured in this case. It is certainly generous with you to supply without restraint all a few people would’ve distributed as an e-book to end up making some profit for their own end, primarily since you might well have done it in the event you considered necessary. These solutions in addition acted to be the great way to realize that someone else have the identical eagerness much like mine to see a little more when considering this matter. I know there are millions of more fun situations up front for individuals who look into your blog.
I have to show thanks to this writer for bailing me out of such a problem. Right after scouting through the search engines and coming across tips that were not helpful, I was thinking my life was well over. Being alive minus the solutions to the issues you have fixed through this short article is a serious case, as well as those which could have in a wrong way affected my entire career if I hadn’t come across your blog post. Your good capability and kindness in taking care of all the things was vital. I am not sure what I would have done if I hadn’t encountered such a stuff like this. I’m able to at this moment look ahead to my future. Thanks a lot very much for this professional and sensible help. I will not hesitate to propose your web page to any person who will need care about this subject matter.
I have to express my thanks to you for rescuing me from this particular crisis. After exploring throughout the world-wide-web and finding ways which are not productive, I was thinking my life was done. Being alive without the presence of answers to the problems you have resolved as a result of your entire blog post is a crucial case, and the kind that could have badly affected my career if I hadn’t come across your site. Your good talents and kindness in touching almost everything was useful. I am not sure what I would have done if I hadn’t come across such a solution like this. I can at this time look ahead to my future. Thanks a lot so much for the expert and effective guide. I won’t be reluctant to endorse the blog to any person who needs to have guide on this issue.
I happen to be writing to make you be aware of of the great experience our daughter found going through your site. She noticed lots of pieces, including what it is like to have an incredible coaching spirit to let the others clearly comprehend a variety of complex things. You actually did more than her desires. I appreciate you for presenting the good, trusted, informative and also fun guidance on your topic to Sandra.
I wish to convey my gratitude for your generosity giving support to those people who must have assistance with this area. Your personal dedication to passing the solution across had been incredibly functional and have surely permitted guys and women much like me to attain their pursuits. Your personal valuable key points can mean so much to me and especially to my office workers. With thanks; from all of us.
I precisely wished to thank you very much yet again. I do not know the things I could possibly have tried without these pointers shared by you over my subject. It was a real frustrating problem in my opinion, but taking note of the very well-written form you managed it made me to jump over joy. Extremely happy for this advice and in addition hope that you realize what a great job your are carrying out training the others all through your web blog. Most likely you have never come across any of us.
Thank you for all of your hard work on this website. My mom delights in conducting research and it’s easy to see why. I notice all about the dynamic manner you offer powerful suggestions via your web site and even invigorate contribution from the others about this area of interest plus our child is always discovering a whole lot. Take advantage of the remaining portion of the year. You are always carrying out a splendid job.
I’m just commenting to make you be aware of of the amazing discovery our princess developed using yuor web blog. She figured out such a lot of issues, which included what it is like to possess an incredible helping style to make the others without hassle learn about a variety of tortuous topics. You undoubtedly did more than our own expectations. Thanks for supplying the invaluable, safe, educational not to mention easy guidance on this topic to Tanya.
A lot of thanks for each of your labor on this website. Gloria really likes participating in investigation and it’s really easy to see why. I know all about the lively manner you offer advantageous tips via your blog and even recommend contribution from people about this idea plus my girl is without a doubt becoming educated so much. Take advantage of the rest of the new year. Your doing a brilliant job.
I wanted to draft you this very small word so as to thank you as before for those wonderful methods you have provided at this time. This is really incredibly open-handed of you giving unhampered precisely what a number of people could have distributed as an ebook to help with making some money for themselves, certainly now that you could have done it if you ever desired. Those concepts as well acted like a fantastic way to comprehend other people have a similar desire really like my personal own to know the truth a great deal more in respect of this condition. I believe there are lots of more pleasurable instances in the future for individuals that take a look at your site.