The Meaning of Luke 11:41 Explained

Luke 11:41

KJV: But rather give alms of such things as ye have; and, behold, all things are clean unto you.

YLT: But what ye have give ye as alms, and, lo, all things are clean to you.

Darby: But rather give alms of what ye have, and behold, all things are clean to you.

ASV: But give for alms those things which are within; and behold, all things are clean unto you.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

But rather  give  alms  of such things as ye have;  and,  behold,  all things  are  clean  unto you. 

What does Luke 11:41 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Jesus" point was that giving to the poor would demonstrate that the person had cleansed himself inwardly and adequately. He may have been continuing the metaphor and speaking of a dish or vessel, which the NIV has supplied, but He was thinking of a person. He may have meant that the Pharisees should give food as an act of charity, but the giving of what was theirs was the important thing.

Context Summary

Luke 11:33-44 - Dark And Foul Within
"The spirit of man is the candle of the Lord," Proverbs 20:27. How many unlit candles there are! Will you not ask whether Christ has ever kindled you with His divine light and life? You have the capacity for God, but this is not enough: Christ must give you light, Ephesians 5:14. Seek the clear shining of the inner light, and remember that it will grow clearer and brighter just in proportion as it is obeyed and followed. What a glorious conception this is, that the Lord Jesus shall so fill us with the radiance and warmth of His love that there shall be no part dark!
Our Lord's denunciations of the religious leaders of His time reveal the wrath of infinite truth and purity against all that is inconsistent with either. Because He loved His sheep, the Good Shepherd must warn them against wolves. Notice Luke 11:41, r.v., which means that our faith, love and joy are to be shared with others. Let us be munificent and generous in self-giving. There is no law of the tithe here! Give all! [source]

Chapter Summary: Luke 11

1  Jesus teaches us to pray, and that instantly;
11  assuring us that God will give all good things to those who ask him
14  He, casting out a demon, rebukes the blasphemous Pharisees;
27  and shows who are blessed;
29  preaches to the people;
37  and reprimands the outward show of holiness

Greek Commentary for Luke 11:41

Such things as ye have [τὰ ἐνόντα]
Only here in New Testament. Commentators differ as to the meaning, but generally reject that of the A. V. Rev., those things which are within. The meaning is, give alms of the contents of the cups and platters. Jesus is insisting upon inward righteousness as against pharisaic externalism, and says: “Your virtue consists in washing the outside, and making a respectable appearance. Cultivate rather the loving, brotherly spirit of inward righteousness, which will prompt you to give of the food which the vessels contain (that which is within) to your suffering brother.” “Do you think it is enough to wash your hands before eating? There is a surer means. Let some poor man partake of your meats and wines” (Godet). So Bengel, Meyer, Alford. Compare Matthew 9:13; Hosea 6:6. Wyc., That thing that is over (i.e., remaining in the dishes) give ye alms. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Luke 11:41

1 Corinthians 8:7 Being used until now to the idol [τηι συνητειαι εως αρτι του ειδωλου]
Old word συνητεια — sunētheia from συνητης — sunēthēs “It is defiled, not by the partaking of polluted food, for food cannot pollute (Mark 7:18.; Luke 11:41), but by the doing of something which the unenlightened conscience does not allow” (Robertson and Plummer). For this great word αστενης — suneidēsis (conscientia, knowing together, conscience) see note on Acts 23:1. It is important in Paul‘s Epistles, Peter‘s First Epistle, and Hebrews. Even if unenlightened, one must act according to his conscience, a sensitive gauge to one‘s spiritual condition. Knowledge breaks down as a guide with the weak or unenlightened conscience. For μολυνεται — asthenēs weak (lack of strength) see Matthew 26:41. Defiled Old word molunō to stain, pollute, rare in N.T. (1 Timothy 3:9; Revelation 3:4). [source]
1 Corinthians 8:7 Being weak [συνειδησις]
“It is defiled, not by the partaking of polluted food, for food cannot pollute (Mark 7:18.; Luke 11:41), but by the doing of something which the unenlightened conscience does not allow” (Robertson and Plummer). For this great word αστενης — suneidēsis (conscientia, knowing together, conscience) see note on Acts 23:1. It is important in Paul‘s Epistles, Peter‘s First Epistle, and Hebrews. Even if unenlightened, one must act according to his conscience, a sensitive gauge to one‘s spiritual condition. Knowledge breaks down as a guide with the weak or unenlightened conscience. For μολυνεται — asthenēs weak (lack of strength) see Matthew 26:41. [source]

What do the individual words in Luke 11:41 mean?

But [of] the things being within give alms and behold all things clean to you are
πλὴν τὰ ἐνόντα δότε ἐλεημοσύνην καὶ ἰδοὺ πάντα καθαρὰ ὑμῖν ἐστιν

πλὴν  But  [of] 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: πλήν  
Sense: moreover, besides, but, nevertheless.
τὰ  the  things 
Parse: Article, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
ἐνόντα  being  within 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root: ἔνειμι  
Sense: to be in, what is within, i.
δότε  give 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Imperative Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: διδῶ 
Sense: to give.
ἐλεημοσύνην  alms 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: ἐλεημοσύνη  
Sense: mercy, pity.
ἰδοὺ  behold 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Imperative Active, 2nd Person Singular
Root: ἰδού  
Sense: behold, see, lo.
πάντα  all  things 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Neuter Plural
Root: πᾶς  
Sense: individually.
καθαρὰ  clean 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Neuter Plural
Root: καθαρός  
Sense: clean, pure.
ὑμῖν  to  you 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative 2nd Person Plural
Root: σύ  
Sense: you.