Making Clean the Outside of the Cup and Platter - Luke 11:39

Luke the beloved physician wrote concerning Jesus, “a certain Pharisee besought him to dine with him: and he went in, and sat down to meat. And when the Pharisee saw it, he marveled that he had not first washed before dinner”, and in chapter eleven and verse thirty-nine of his book Luke shared how Jesus said, “Now do you Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter” where we read:

And the Lord said unto him, Now do you Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter; but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness.

The verse reads, “And the Lord said unto him, Now do you Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter;” Luke began with the words, “and the Lord” or “and the One to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master and the title given to God the Messiah” “said unto him” which means “uttered, declared and proclaimed to the Pharisee”, “now do you Pharisees” or “at this present time do the religious leaders known as Pharisees” “make clean” which means “cleanse from defilement, purify and consecrate” “the outside of the cup” or “the outward part belonging to a drinking vessel” “and the platter” which refers to “and the tablet, dish or plate”. Luke shared how Jesus referred to the way the “religious leaders” known as “Pharisees” “cleansed” the outward parts of their “cups and plates”.

The verse continues, “but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness.” Luke added the words, “but your inward part” or “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover that which is within or inside the Pharisees” “is full of ravening” which means “is filled and swelling with the act of plundering and robbery of spoil” “and wickedness” or “and depravity, iniquity, malice and evil purposes and desires”. Luke shared how Jesus said that which is “within” the Pharisees was “filled and swelling” with “robbery, plundering, depravity and evil purposes”.

When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we see how Jesus was more concerned with the “inward” parts of the “Pharisees” than the “outward”. Though the Pharisees presented themselves as “righteous” and “holy” before people, they were actually “corrupt and wicked” inside. This “Pharisee” was concerned over Jesus “washing” His “outward” hands because He did not follow his tradition, however, Jesus pointed out that he and the religious group to which he belonged did nothing to address the “filth” that was within them. God desires to have a personal, loving relationship with every person through His Son Jesus, and when they put their faith and trust in Him as their “Savior and Lord”, He cleanses them from the “inside – out” and their entire lives are changed.

Next time Luke shares how Jesus says, “you fools, did not he that made that which is without make that which is within also?”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".