Luke 11:49–54

Luke 11:49-54 

English Standard Version 

  It's heartbreakingly sad to hear Jesus rebuke here.  He's talking about people who were meant to lead people closer to God, and yet they couldn't open their hearts enough to be converted and fall in love with Christ.  Not only did they miss the point themselves, but they then hindered others in coming to Christ.  

  The Pharisees and others heard these words, but rather than examine themselves, they opted to kill Jesus instead.  

  Do we have the humility to hear Jesus speak to us, even when it's not words that we want to hear?  Are our hearts open to his words, so that we might be convicted, so that we might hear what is so important for us to hear?  Jesus loves us and wants us to draw closer, and when our pride gets in the way, it's easy to resist out of fear.  None of us like change, but Jesus is calling us to change for a good reason, that we might turn back to Christ.

Luke 11:45–48

Luke 11:45-48 

English Standard Version 

  I have always liked this part of the Gospels.  A lawyer raises his hand and reminds Jesus that his words are cutting the lawyers, too, and so Jesus goes even harder at the lawyers!  He tells them that their words are making it burdensome on the people, heaping up demands while they ignore the heart of the teachings of the prophets.

  We do this with Jesus sometimes.  We focus on his life, but ignore the heart of his teachings.  Are we listening to what Jesus has to say to us?  Do we allow it to confront our hearts?  Do we let ourselves be challenged, or do we skip ahead to the verses we like and only honor Jesus by celebrating the verses that don't cause us any conflict?

  May we read every word of the Gospels, and let them challenge us where appropriate.

Luke 11:42–44

Luke 11:42-44 

English Standard Version 

  Imagine being more focused on tithing the correct amount of herbs but uncaring about the dramatic needs of others.  That's where the Pharisees ended up -- they were so focused on details of religious observance but missing the larger drive to practice reconciliation between all people.  Jesus confronts them on this.  

  This is love in action -- Jesus sees the Pharisees off course and doesn't leave them there.  He is harsh, but does so with a spirit of love, hoping that his language will open their eyes to their brokenness.  He does the same for us, too.  Jesus wants you to see the places where we're more focused on practices than on love of neighbor.  We all do this -- Jesus calls us to love our neighbors as ourselves, but this is almost impossible.  We always prefer our own selves.  But let us open our eyes and hearts to see the opportunities around us.  

Luke 11:37-41

Luke 11:37-41 

English Standard Version 

  When someone asks you how you are, what do you say?  The socially acceptable answer is somewhere between 'fine' and 'good'.  Are you really?  

  Now, it's not a great idea to always burden someone with the full and honest answer to that question, because there's a time and a place for everything, but if we never acknowledge that perhaps we aren't fine and good, then that's not the best, either.  

  Jesus is being honest with the Pharisees -- they're so focused on looking righteous that they've forgotten to take the next step and actually live a righteous life.  Everything may look good from the outside, but they're rotting away.  It's like one of those avocados you get at the grocery store that looks great and is completely brown on the inside to the point you just throw it away.  It's such a disappointment.  

  Jesus isn't saying that the exterior acts don't matter.  He wants us to insure that our interior life matches.  Are we pursuing God in our private lives?  Do we have integrity?  Are we the kind of people in private that we are in public?  What do you do when you have free time?  Do our hearts seek God?

  All of these are important questions to ask, and to listen for the answers.  Discipleship is a lifelong goal.  May we never stop seeking God and being humble to listen for the Holy Spirit as it offers correction and guides us towards God.