Notes on Luke 11:36-43

Those that respond to God's word, which will be filled with spiritual light. This will change their whole life in ways visible to others (see Matt. 5:16; Rom. 12:1-2; 2 Cor. 4:16-18).

Pharisee. See note on 5:17.

The "woes" are covered in detail in the Gospel of Matthew (below). Hendriksen notes the differences between Luke 11:37-54 and Matthew 23:13-36:

a. Luke 11 records six woes; Matthew records seven.

b. Those reported by Luke were addressed to Pharisees (Luke 11:42-44) and law-experts, scribes (Luke 11:46, 47, 52). Those reported by Matthew, though also directed to the scribes and Pharisees, were addressed "to the crowds and to Christ's disciples."

c. Those found in Luke were spoken somewhat earlier than those found in Matthew (the latter on Tuesday of Passion Week).

d. The six were pronounced in a home, the seven in the temple.

However, there are also similarities:

Luke 11	Phrase	Matthew 23
Luke 11:39	"but inside full of"	Matthew 23:25
Luke 11:42	"you tithe mint," etc.	Matthew 23:23
Luke 11:43	"you love the chief seat"	Matthew 23:6, 7
Luke 11:46	"heavy burdens"	Matthew 23:4
Luke 11:47, 48	"prophets tombs"	Matthew 23:29-32
Luke 11:49	"some they [you] shall kill"	Matthew 23:34
Luke 11:50, 51	"the blood of Abel"	Matthew 23:35, 36
Luke 11:52	"you not entering"	Matthew 23:13

The reader should note Luke forms a chiastic structure (a writing style that uses a unique repetition pattern for clarification and emphasis) focusing upon the double witness of the testimony (Deut. 17:6; Matt. 18:16; John 8:17; 2 Cor. 13:1; 1 Tim. 5:19; Heb. 10:28; cf. Num. 35:30) of the guilt of his enemies:

• A. you build the tombs (Luke 11:47-48)
  • B. your fathers killed (Luke 11:47)
    • C. So you are witnesses and you consent to the deeds of your fathers (Luke 11:48)
  • B'. they killed them (Luke 11:)
• A'. you build their tombs (Luke 11:48)

Of particular interest here is Luke 11:51 saying, "from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who perished between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, it will be required of this generation" (cf. Matt 23:35 says "blood of Zechariah son of Berekiah," for "Berekiah" see Zech 1:1, 7). The "altar" = bronze basin. The "blood of Abel" is seen in Genesis 4:8. The "blood of Zechariah" is seen in the last book of the Jewish Bible (not English) in 2 Chronicles 24:20-22. Here Jesus lays out the canon of the Old Testament - 39 books. Jesus referenced the Jewish Old Testament canon from the beginning (Abel) to the end (Zechariah) which did not include the time of the Apocrypha, which was after the time of Zechariah. The Apocrypha were written during the 400 years of silence after the canon of the Old Testament was "biblically" closed. See "The Intertestamental Period - Years of Silence" below. Jesus is very clear about the Old Testament canon - we should not add to it!

did not wash. This was not for the purpose of hygiene, but for ritual purity. Before the Pharisees touched their food, they had water poured over their hands so that the defilements of the world might be washed away. However, this was not commanded by the Old Testament law. It was a tradition meant to keep one from breaking the law.

outside . . . inside. Jesus taught that most Pharisees worried about an external obedience and an appearance of righteousness. But their hearts were not right with God (Mark 7:6; Rom. 2:23).

senseless men. A fool. Such people are blind to God and his ways (Prov. 1:22; 10:8; 12:15; 14:9; 15:2). made. God created humanity, inside and outside. It is foolish to only worry about cleaning the outside and not the inside. Jesus called them to examine and clean their hearts with repentance and faith.

clean. Acceptable to God, when offered with pure hearts (see 19:8).

woe. See notes on 6:20-26. tithe. The Old Testament law commanded all people to give a tenth of what they owned to God in a tithe (Num. 18:21-24). The Pharisees went beyond what was required. neglect. The Pharisees were very careful to obey some particulars of the law but missed the main point. They failed to act justly toward their neighbor (Isa. 1:17; Mark 7:9-13) and love God with all their heart (Deut. 6:4-5).

Woe. See notes on 6:20-26. front seats . . . greetings. The Pharisees enjoyed having reputations of godliness. But they failed to seek God and cultivate true godliness.