Reflection

Luke 11:37-53

We have sat down to eat, and we all watch as Jesus appears to have forgotten to wash his hands. If it were me, I might have just gotten up, washed my hands, and moved on with the evening. What good is it to continue an argument of this nature? But Jesus does something different. He uses this moment to call out the ugliness of the Pharisees’ hearts. He points out that they do all the right things on the outside and make themselves look all shiny and holy but don’t actually love God or share in justice. 

Then someone speaks up to tell Jesus that He is insulting them, and again Jesus doesn’t hesitate to continue pointing out their brokenness and failure to be who God has actually called them to be. He is telling them that this isn’t just a problem for them but that they have ultimately kept others from God. He says they will have to answer for this in judgement. 

All of this because Jesus didn’t wash his hands. How might this impact my view of life? I do many things so that people see me a certain way, but on my inside is that who I actually am, and is that person who Jesus wants me to be? I sure hope so. 

Devotional Questions

Who is the person you hope others see you as? 

Who are you, and what thoughts do you think when no one is around? 

How are these the same or different from each other? 

Lord, search my heart and help me to become more like you, concerned with what really matters. Amen