GOSPEL READING
THE GOSPEL OF LUKE
Pharisees and Lawyers: Lk 11,37-54
After the scene is set in 11,37-41, Jesus utters a series of woes on Pharisees and then lawyers. In the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 23, Jesus pours out woes on scribes and Pharisees at some length - seven altogether.
We don't need to make a detailed comparison between Matthew and Luke. A glance will show us how Luke is using similar material in a different way: Where do these woes come in the story of the two Gospels? What is the set up? To whom is Jesus speaking? How are the woes divided into two groups?
It's useful to consider these questions as a way of setting the scene for our reading of Luke. So go now to my response.
Woe to you Pharisees: Lk 11,37-44
The scene begins in 11,37 with a Pharisee inviting Jesus to a meal. In Luke's Gospel, he usually meets Pharisees at meals: look back to 7,36 and there will be a third meal at 14,1. Note the contrast between the conclusions in 7,43 and 11,53-54.
In verses 38 and 39 comes the comment and accusation. For Washing with unclean hands: see Mark 7,1-8. What is the implication of Jesus' action?
How does the inside/outside contrast in verse 39 apply to the climax of almsgiving in 11,41? See 12,33.
"Fools" in verse 40 has clear OT echoes. See Psalm 14,1 or Proverbs 1,20-22.
The first woe comes in verse 42 and concerns tithing: see Deuteronomy 14,22-29
The second woe in verse 43 also has implications for the Christian community, see for example Galatians 1,10.
The third woe in verse 44 speaks of "unmarked graves": see Numbers 19,16 for clean and unclean. Look back to verse 41.
Before we move on to the woes over lawyers, pause and take look at my response.
Woe also to you Lawyers: Lk 11,45-54
Luke in 11,45 now introduces a lawyer. How does he address Jesus? See 10,25.
The first woe this time in verse 46 could not be more specific to them.
The second woe in 11,47-51 concerns prophets and apostles and is by contrast much more general - see for example Acts 7,52. Is it possible that verse 48 is ironic? For Abel see Genesis 4,8-10 and for Zechariah see 2nd Chronicles 24,20-22. 2nd Chronicles is not a book which features much, but see if you can find out where it comes in the Hebrew Bible.
The third woe in verse 52 is again specific to lawyers. More irony, perhaps.
Verses 53-54 then indicates the breakdown in relations and further controversy. Mark 3,6 comes to mind, though it is different in one important respect.
It's now possible to draw up a useful one word summary of each stage of this development.
It's time to look at my response.
We are now ready move on to chapter 12, which picks up the theme of the last verses of chapter 11.