Luke 11:37-38

Luke 11:37-38

[37] And  as  he spake,  Pharisee  besought  him  to  dine  with  him:  and  he went in,  and sat down to meat.  [38] And  when the Pharisee  it, he marvelled  that  not  first  washed  before  dinner. 

What does Luke 11:37-38 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

Many of Jesus" teaching opportunities arose during meals (cf. Luke 14:1-24; Matthew 15:1-20; Matthew 23:1-36; Mark 7:1-22). This was one such occasion. Jesus offended His host by not washing ritually before eating. Luke omitted an explanation of the Jewish custom (cf. Matthew 15:1-9; Mark 7:1-4) and only recorded the reason for the Pharisee"s objection. The Mosaic Law did not demand this washing (Gr. baptizo), but it had become customary, and the Pharisees viewed it as a safeguard against defilement.