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.” (Luke 11:39, ESV)

When people look at religion, they usually think about a set of rules and codes to live by. They look at life as some kind of test that God is putting us through; trying to find out if we are “worthy” of heaven. Life is like the tryouts for the “big game”, they say, live well and you’ll make the cut.

The Pharisees were the best of the best when it came to religion. When they ate, they didn’t just rinse their hands, they practically took a bath. When they gave ten-percent to the temple, they measured everything out precisely so God wouldn’t be “short-changed.” If any law of Moses was unclear, they’d make new laws to cover all the bases. And if the people wanted to recognize their spirituality by giving them the best seats, then so be it.

Jesus took one look at the Pharisees and called them fools and hypocrites.

While the Pharisees were busy washing their outside, they allowed pride and arrogance to fester in their hearts. While they measured out exactly ten-percent, they ignored the needy people they could easily have provided for.

And while they were careful to follow any number of hundreds of little laws, they forgot the greatest command of God. “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might” (Deuteronomy 6:5, ESV).

Love! Love is what makes our connection to God into a relationship and not “try-outs” for heaven. Loving God is also about loving each other. It’s about putting the needs of others above our own. That’s what Jesus demonstrated in His life and what He encourages in ours.

Key Passage: Luke 11:37-54

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