Meaning of Luke 11:39

This verse from Luke 11:39 records Jesus' sharp rebuke of the Pharisees, whom he accuses of a superficial religiosity. The "cleaning of the outside of the cup and dish" refers to their meticulous observance of ritual purity laws concerning outward appearances and practices, often for public display. However, Jesus contrasts this outward cleanliness with their internal state, which he describes as being "full of greed and wickedness." This highlights a core critique of the religious establishment of his day: their focus on external conformity masked an inner spiritual corruption, a profound disconnect between their outward actions and their inward character and motives.

Context and Background

This statement is made within a larger discourse where Jesus is dining at the home of a Pharisee. The Pharisee is surprised that Jesus did not first perform a ritual washing before the meal, as was customary. Jesus uses this moment to pivot from a discussion about ritual purity to the deeper issue of spiritual purity. The Pharisees, along with scribes, were prominent religious leaders in Jewish society, known for their strict adherence to the Law of Moses and their own extensive oral traditions. While some were sincere, many, as Jesus indicates here, had become more concerned with appearances and self-righteousness than with genuine righteousness and mercy.

Key Themes and Messages

• Hypocrisy: The central theme is hypocrisy – the pretense of piety while harboring inner sin. Jesus exposes the disconnect between the Pharisees' outward show of righteousness and their inward reality.
• Inner Purity vs. Outward Observance: The verse emphasizes that true righteousness originates from the heart. External rituals and observances, while not inherently wrong, are insufficient and even hypocritical if they do not correspond to an inner transformation.
• Greed and Wickedness: Jesus specifically identifies greed and wickedness as the "inside" of the Pharisees. These are not merely minor flaws but fundamental corruptions of character that infect their entire being.

Spiritual Significance and Application

This passage serves as a timeless warning against the dangers of superficial faith. It calls believers to examine their own hearts and motivations, ensuring that their outward actions of worship and service are expressions of genuine inner transformation. It challenges the tendency to focus on outward religious activities or the appearance of piety while neglecting the cultivation of virtues like love, compassion, justice, and integrity. True spirituality is characterized by a heart that is cleansed and renewed by God, not merely by adherence to external rules.

Relation to the Broader Biblical Narrative

Jesus' critique of the Pharisees resonates with a consistent biblical emphasis on the importance of the heart. The Old Testament prophets frequently condemned outward sacrifices and rituals when they were not accompanied by justice and righteousness (e.g., Isaiah 1:11-17, Amos 5:21-24). Jesus' teachings, particularly in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), consistently reorient religious practice from external actions to internal attitudes and motivations, such as loving one's enemies or forgiving others. This verse also foreshadows the broader redemptive work of Christ, which aims to purify not just outward actions but the inner person, making them "new creations" (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Analogies

• A Painted Tomb: Jesus uses a similar analogy elsewhere, calling the Pharisees "whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but are full of dead men’s bones, and all kinds of impurity" (Matthew 23:27). This vividly illustrates the deceptive nature of outward appearances that conceal inner decay.
• A Beautifully Wrapped Empty Box: Imagine a gift box elaborately wrapped with a bow, but when opened, it is completely empty. The outward presentation is appealing, but it fails to deliver the expected substance.

Relation to Other Verses

• Matthew 23:25-26: In this parallel passage, Jesus says, "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and extravagance. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean." This reinforces the immediate priority of inner cleansing.
• Proverbs 4:23: "Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the source of all that you do." This proverb underscores the foundational importance of the heart's condition in directing all of one's actions.
• Jeremiah 17:9-10: "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct and as their deeds deserve." This highlights God's awareness of and judgment upon the inner state.