It is Dorian Gray in Oscar Wilde’s “The Picture of Dorian Gray.” You know, a young man who puts all of his emphasis on appearance. He is a beautiful young man and wants to stay that way. But he also wants to be a horrible person; a user and ruination of other persons. He is consumed by fear that such behavior will make wrinkles appear on his beautifully smooth face. A master painter creates a portrait of him. Dorian discovers that the ravages of sin appear on the painting of him but not on him. Winning! He can be as evil as he wants and still remain a hauntingly beautiful young man. But his life is shallow and ugly and eventually he knows it. He slashes the painting and all of the ugly drains out of the picture into him and he dies. Now you don’t have to read the book. You’re welcome.
Luke 11:37-44 is about more than outward actions; it is about ugly insides. Luke ties the words of Jesus (Luke 11:17-36) to the event of Jesus eating an early meal with a Pharisee. And there is good reason to see this connection. Jesus is the light. The Pharisee is dark inside and unable to see that light. Once again, we see Jesus eating at the house of a Pharisee. This is significant and often overlooked. Yes, Jesus did eat with sinners and tax collectors. But he didn’t do so to the exclusion of the religious elite. He went to their houses as well. That Jesus! Trying to teach anyone who may have an ear to hear.
And Jesus has a lesson to teach here. He reclines at table without ceremonial washing his hands. I don’t think this was just an oversight on his part, like the smell of good food clogged his reason. He knew that the Pharisee would notice and be shocked by the lapse of ritual. The word “wash” here is the word “baptize” and it means to immerse or dip. There is some debate today concerning what the actual custom was. It may be that various sects of Pharisees had different traditions. Some poured water over their hands; some sprinkled them; some immersed them. That seems likely to me. Either way, this particular Pharisee expected Jesus to meet his ceremonial expectations and was shocked when he didn’t. Can you say “Teaching moment”? Sure, I knew you could.
Jesus responded with “You Pharisees are all about cleaning the outside of cups and plates, but inside of you – where it really matters – you are full of violent greed and wickedness.” But God made both the outside and the inside. And the way God made us, when the inside is good and full of relationship with him, the outside shows it with good works like giving to the poor. But here’s a quandary for you: we can do the same thing with giving. Jesus said as much on the sermon on the Mount (Matthew 6:1-4). Jesus is not telling us that if we see someone giving to the poor, you can know they are clean on the inside. The Pharisees would have practiced charitable giving – you know, when a crowd was around to witness it.
Then Jesus pronounces some woes on them. A woe is like saying, “the horror!” or “how dreadful!” They get all worked up about making sure they tithe, even to the point of tithing things that are not commanded, like rue. And then they pass right on over things like justice and love of God. These are the things they should have practiced without leaving undone the tithing thing. Jesus is not suggesting they love God and respect people and then just ignore the ritual. If they love God and justice, the rest will not be left undone. He also woes them for cherishing the first seats in the synagogue and respectful greetings in the market place. In the two main social gathering places, they wanted to be respected above others. But on the inside, they are like concealed or unnoticed tombs. In Numbers 19:16 if you come into contact with a tomb, you are considered unclean for seven days. So, interacting with a Pharisee is like walking on an unmarked tomb. The result is uncleanness. Much more so than any lack of ritualistic washing of hands. The real danger is inside. The outside may look fine, but beware, there be dead things here; things that rob and defile.
Going to church is important. But I’m afraid that there are many walking tombs sitting and singing in many a worship. They wear suits and they have learned the lingo. But the light of Jesus has not reached inside. They may even have theological degrees attached to their names. They sound smart and impressive. But there be dead things here. So, clean up. But start on the inside. Love God and justice so much that it shows up in your actions; in how you treat the poor and oppressed. Anybody can wear a suit. Anyone can sound religious. Be beautiful on the inside and the outside will follow. Grace and peace.