Divine Dining March 15, 2026 Devotional

LUKE 11:37-41 | ³⁷ While he was speaking, a Pharisee invited him to dine with him, so he went in and took his place at the table. ³⁸ The Pharisee was amazed to see that he did not first wash before dinner. ³⁹ Then the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. ⁴⁰ You fools! Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also?  ⁴¹ So give as alms those things that are within and then everything will be clean for you.

This dinner party turned into a holy debate, in which we get to see the sharp contrast between Jesus’ perspective on the true spiritual life, and the approach of the scribes and Pharisees. There are seven points of difference and we will take one each day.

The first point of contention revolves around the relationship between the internal and external aspects of religious practice. Jesus tells the Pharisees they are wrong to emphasize external observances and underemphasize, or ignore, the development of their hearts and souls. They have reduced Mosaic religion to a code of regulations, assuming external obedience is a guarantee of inner purity and spiritual maturity. But it is very possible to obey many detailed laws without becoming a person filled with God's love and goodness. A cup can be clean on the outside but dirty on the inside. It is inner goodness upon which outer righteousness ultimately depends.

Are you cultivating inner goodness?

Gracious God,

Save me from majoring in the minors and from reducing great obligations to petty rules. I ask in Jesus’ name.

Amen.