Luke 11:37-54

Luke 11:37-54

[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.  [39] And  the Lord  said  unto  him,  Now  Pharisees  make clean  the outside  of the cup  and  the platter;  but  inward part  is full  of ravening  and  wickedness.  [40] Ye fools,  not  he that made  that which  is without  make  that which  is within  also?  [41] But rather  give  alms  of such things as ye have;  and,  behold,  all things  clean  [42] But  woe  Pharisees!  for  ye tithe  mint  and  rue  and  all manner  of herbs,  and  pass over  judgment  and  the love  of God:  ought ye  to have done,  and not  the other  [43] Woe  Pharisees!  for  ye love  the uppermost seats  in  the synagogues,  and  greetings  in  the markets.  [44] Woe  and  for  as  graves  which  appear not,  and  the men  that walk  over  not  aware  [45] Then  answered  one  of the lawyers,  and said  unto him,  Master,  saying  thou reproachest  also.  [46] And  he said,  Woe  also,  ye lawyers!  for  ye lade  men  with burdens  grievous to be borne,  and  ye yourselves  touch  not  the burdens  with one  fingers.  [47] Woe  for  ye build  the sepulchres  of the prophets,  and  fathers  killed  them.  [48] Truly  that  ye allow  the deeds  fathers:  for  they  indeed  killed  them,  and  build  their  [49] Therefore  also  said  the wisdom  of God,  I will send  them  prophets  and  apostles,  and  some of  them  they shall slay  and  [50] That  the blood  of all  the prophets,  which  was shed  from  the foundation  of the world,  may be required  of  generation;  [51] From  the blood  of Abel  unto  the blood  of Zacharias,  which  perished  between  the altar  and  the temple:  verily  I say  It shall be required  of  generation.  [52] Woe  lawyers!  for  ye have taken away  the key  of knowledge:  not  in  yourselves,  and  them that were entering in  ye hindered.  [53] as he  the scribes  and  the Pharisees  began  to urge  him vehemently,  and  him  to speak  of  many things:  [54] Laying wait for  him,  to catch  something  out of  his  mouth,  him. 

What does Luke 11:37-54 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

The theme of opposition to Jesus continues in this section, but the source of opposition changes from the people generally to the Pharisees and, even more particularly, to their lawyers (scribes). Jesus" responses also changed from warnings and exhortations to denunciations. Jesus condemned the teachings of the Pharisees, the light that was darkness ( Luke 11:35), rather than the Pharisees and the lawyers as individuals.
The differences in the Matthean account of Jesus" condemnation of the Pharisees ( Matthew 23:1-36) raise questions about what Jesus really said and how the evangelists recorded what He said.
"We know from his practice elsewhere that Matthew combines material from several sources and rearranges the order, whereas on the whole Luke does not conflate his sources or Revelation -order his material. It Isaiah , therefore, unlikely that Matthew has preserved the original order here ..." [1]
Probably we are again dealing with two different teaching occasions. This is Jesus" last address to the Pharisees recorded in Luke.