Luke 11,36-54
Woes to the Pharisees and Lawyers
(Luke 11:37–54)
37 While Jesus was speaking, a Pharisee asked him to dine with him, so he went in and reclined at the table.
38 The Pharisee was astonished to see that he did not first wash before dinner.
39 And the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.
40 You fools! Did not he who made the outside make the inside also?
41 But give as alms those things that are within, and behold, everything is clean for you.
42 “But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and every herb, and neglect justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.
43 Woe to you Pharisees! For you love the best seats in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces.
44 Woe to you! For you are like unmarked graves, and people walk over them without knowing it.”
45 One of the lawyers answered him, “Teacher, in saying these things you insult us also.”
46 And he said, “Woe to you lawyers also! For you load people with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do not touch the burdens with one of your fingers.
47 Woe to you! For you build the tombs of the prophets whom your fathers killed.
48 So you are witnesses, and you consent to the deeds of your fathers, for they killed them, and you build their tombs.
49 Therefore also the Wisdom of God said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and persecute,’
50 so that the blood of all the prophets, shed from the foundation of the world, may be charged against this generation,
51 from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who perished between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, it will be required of this generation.
52 Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge. You did not enter yourselves, and you hindered those who were entering.”
53 As he went away from there, the scribes and the Pharisees began to press him hard and to provoke him to speak about many things,
54 lying in wait for him, to catch him in something he might say.
Introduction
Hello everyone, I am Kiki.
The Chinese name of the second phase of our program is “读经大讲堂”, and the English name is “Bible Study.”
We adopt a relaxed and enjoyable learning style to guide you into a new learning experience. Each time, I will share a personal summary and reflection from the perspective of a learner. Then Sister Ingrid will help lead us into deeper study and discussion.
We hope that this interactive process will bring new insights and enriching experiences to everyone.
Below is my discussion with Sister Ingrid on today’s topic.
Today’s lesson is the 32nd lecture on the Gospel of Luke.
Everyone is welcome to leave comments for discussion!
2. My Summary of the 32nd Study in Luke
Well, everyone! First, here is my personal study summary.
Jesus dines with a Pharisee who is shocked that Jesus does not wash his hands according to ritual tradition. Jesus uses this moment to expose hypocrisy: the Pharisees focus on outward behavior but neglect their hearts.
He says they clean the outside of the cup, but inside they are full of greed. They tithe tiny herbs yet ignore justice and the love of God. They seek honor in public but are spiritually empty, like unmarked graves that unknowingly harm others.
When a teacher of the law objects, Jesus addresses them as well. He condemns them for placing heavy burdens on people without helping them and for repeating their ancestors’ rejection of God’s messengers by honoring the prophets only after they were killed.
Jesus concludes that they have taken away the key of knowledge, preventing others from entering true faith.
In short, Jesus condemns empty ritual and hypocrisy and calls for genuine, heart-centered faith.
Now, Sister Ingrid will give a further summary.
3. Sister Ingrid’s Comments on My Summary
The first question is why the Pharisee invited Jesus for a meal. Since many others from the religious upper class were present, it is clear that he wanted to ask uncomfortable questions and trap Jesus through his answers in front of witnesses.
Already Jesus’ first behavior shocked those present and gave them a reason to criticize him. But instead of remaining accusers, they themselves became the accused when Jesus declared that external cleanliness does not matter if the inside is unclean.
Jesus pronounces several woes against them and rebukes them strongly, describing them as spiritually dead—like hidden graves. People listen to them and, without realizing it, are led into spiritual death as well.
Jesus concludes by pointing out that this pattern has continued throughout Israel’s history. After this, the religious leaders became even more determined to kill him and began seeking ways to do so.
4. Question List Based on the 32nd Study in Luke
Based on the Bible study above, I asked Sister Ingrid the following questions. We hope these are helpful for brothers and sisters who have recently become Christians.
1. Why was the Pharisee surprised that Jesus did not wash his hands before dinner?
Because it was a Jewish tradition. If Jesus wanted to be seen as a good Jew, he was expected to follow this ritual as well.
2. What did Jesus mean by saying they clean the “outside of the cup” but are dirty inside?
The Pharisees were very religious and respected in public, but inwardly their hearts were impure.
3. Jesus said to give “as alms those things that are within.” What can we give from within ourselves?
We should give what God has placed within us: the good works God prepared for us beforehand, as written later in the Letter to the Ephesians. Those around us should benefit from the fact that we are Christians.
4. What is the problem with tithing tiny herbs but forgetting justice and love?
In Luke, not all details are recorded. In other Gospels, such as Mark, Jesus explains that they focus on minor laws while neglecting serious responsibilities, such as caring for family members like elderly parents.
5. Why is desiring the best seats and public greetings a problem?
Because they want to be seen and honored by others rather than seeking God’s approval.
6. What does it mean to be like an “unmarked grave”?
The Pharisees were spiritually dead, but people did not recognize it and were influenced by them unknowingly.
7. How did the lawyers place heavy burdens on people without helping them?
They interpreted Scripture in an extremely rigid way. Trying to follow all these interpretations perfectly became an unbearable burden for the people.
8. What were the lawyers really doing by building tombs for the prophets their ancestors killed?
They were making excuses—distancing themselves from their ancestors’ guilt while continuing the same attitude of rejection.
9. Why does Jesus mention the blood of Abel to Zechariah?
Because throughout history, God’s kingdom has suffered violence from those who opposed God’s messengers.
10. What is “the key of knowledge,” and how did the lawyers take it away?
The key of knowledge is the Messiah, Jesus Christ. The lawyers replaced him with their own interpretations of Scripture.
