Luke 11:37-41 Revised Standard Version (RSV)
Jesus Denounces The Hypocrisy of the Pharisees and Lawyers
37 While he was speaking, a Pharisee asked him to dine with him; so he went in and sat at table. 38 The Pharisee was astonished to see that he did not first wash before dinner. 39 And the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of extortion and wickedness. 40 You fools! Did not he who made the outside make the inside also? 41 But give for alms those things which are within; and behold, everything is clean for you.
Pharisees are often testing Jesus. It seems as though they seek to set Him up. Is it even possible that this Pharisee invited Him in just to see if He would obey the tradition.
Jesus responds in a very clear manner. He points out that the Pharisees, from the outside look and appear to the world as though they are completely clean, and free from sin. The Pharisees would like to have you believe that the outside appearance is the indication of the person's interior, but Jesus clearly says that the inside is made just as the outside is.
I will use this analogy. Outside, a car can receive a brand new paint job, new rims, shiny grille and tints. From the outside the car may look immaculate, even divine, but inside the car there are roaches and mold on the seats, trash all over the floor, junk and even heaps of dirt. To others, you appear to be living a luxury, but you know inside that you are living like the roaches, and not only do you know, but God also knows.
However, Jesus, being the kind, loving God that He is, offers a way out even for those who have this messy interior life. He offers the chance for people to make the sacrifice of those dirty things with in, to give it up as a sacrifice for those with less. In the car analogy, I believe He asks us to clean the car, offer it up as a place for others to sit, so that there may be cleanliness within and without.
So, where do you need to clean your interior? The outside means nothing, and is in fact misleading without a pure inside.
Today, we ask Jesus to clean our interior, because He does not even make us do it alone. He is the friend that is constantly asking to help us, because He wants what is best for us.
Please, pray for me, and pray for the Church, that we as one Body, may understand His mysteries better.
Thank you and have a wonderful day.
Sincerely yours,
Jack
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