While Jesus was speaking, a Pharisee asked him to dine with him, so he went in and reclined at table. The Pharisee was astonished to see that he did not first wash before dinner. 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 greed and wickedness. You fools! Did not he who made the outside make the inside also? But give as alms those things that are within, and behold, everything is clean for you. Comment: – This is a classical setup! Jesus as He was travelling to His death, wished to powerfully make some points, which we all need to learn from! The fish took the hook and Jesus begins His lessons – Core cleanliness is much more important than outward show!
42 “But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and every herb, and neglect justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. Woe to you Pharisees! For you love the best seat in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces. Woe to you! For you are like unmarked graves, and people walk over them without knowing it.” – Jesus gives three examples each with an explosive ‘woe’. 1. You demand the last cent from others but don’t know what Justice really means. 2. You are self-important hypocrites! 3. In the long run you are as individuals insignificant!
One of the lawyers answered him, “Teacher, in saying these things you insult us also.” And he said, “Woe to you lawyers also! For you load people with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do not touch the burdens with one of your fingers. Woe to you! For you build the tombs of the prophets whom your fathers killed. 48 So you are witnesses and you consent to the deeds of your fathers, for they killed them, and you build their tombs. ……Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge. You did not enter yourselves, and you hindered those who were entering.” – Comment: The lawyers were those who added burdensome appendices to the Mosaic Law but carefully managed it so that they didn’t involve themselves. This is much like many modern day politicians, the law makers of our day! They stopped people from living the way God meant them to live! Jesus accused them of hiding the truth under the weight of your added laws!!
As he went away from there, the scribes and the Pharisees began to press him hard and to provoke him to speak about many things, lying in wait for him, to catch him in something he might say. – Comment: They were out to get Him!
Micah 6: 7&8 – Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?”
He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
Prayer: Help me to walk Your narrow but glorious Way, Oh my God.
As I read it! 