Jesus Dines With the Pharisee

Jesus Dines With the Pharisee

“And as He spoke, a certain Pharisee asked Him to dine with him. So He went in and sat down to eat.” Luke 11:37.

When the Prince of Peace went to the Pharisee’s house for dinner, you would think it would have brought glory and rejoicing. However, when the Pharisee saw that Jesus did not wash before dinner, he marveled. This “marveling” was more than enough for Jesus, who went right to the heart of a matter, refusing to be fooled even though He was the dinner guest. Directly against all polite, human etiquette, Jesus said, “Now you Pharisees make the outside of the cup and dish clean, but your inward part is full of greed and wickedness.” The Pharisee had probably never had such a dinner guest. If Jesus had only let it go with this one remark, the whole matter would probably have passed unnoticed, but He continued mercilessly: “Foolish ones! Did not He who made the outside make the inside also? . . . Woe to you Pharisees! For you love the best seats in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces.” You would think that would have been enough and that the meal should have proceeded toward a peaceful conclusion as a reward for the Pharisee’s hospitality, yet contrary to all human understanding of such matters, Jesus continues: “Woe to you! . . . For you are like graves which are not seen, and the men who walk over them are not aware of them.”

If the Pharisee and Jesus had been alone, we probably would never have heard about this dinner scene. As it was, there was a lawyer sitting there who apparently felt threatened by Jesus’ attack on the Pharisee.

“Then one of the lawyers answered and said to Him, ‘Teacher, by saying these things You reproach us also.’” The lawyer probably thought the Pharisee needed to hear what Jesus said; perhaps he was ready to support Jesus’ words. But when they went so far as to touch him, he could not remain silent.

Anyone but Jesus most likely would have been content just to attack the Pharisee and receive a little approval and support from the other people present. However, this was not the way the Master thought. With strong words He directed the sword against the lawyer, saying, “Woe to you also, lawyers! For you load men with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do not touch the burdens with one of your fingers. . . . Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge. You did not enter in yourselves, and those who were entering in you hindered.”

That was probably the end of the meal, because right after that it says, “And when He left there, the scribes and the Pharisees began to assail Him vehemently, and to cross-examine Him about many things, lying in wait for Him, and seeking to catch Him in something He might say.”

From this little incident we learn not to let our feet slip off the way when hypocrites seek to flatter us according to the flesh.