ACC ~ Luke 11 v37 - 54

OVERVIEW:

At this his second meal with Pharisees, the controversy between Jesus and these religious authorities continues, this time over purification laws and the Old Testament precedents for the practice of the Pharisees. Jesus uses the metaphor of washing the inside and outside of a cup or dish to show that the Pharisees may appear clean on the outside, when in reality they are full of covetousness and wickedness on the inside (CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA).

The God who created “the inside” and “the outside” requires both to be cleansed. The cup represents the suffering of our body and shows that for the outer body to be cleansed, the contents of the cup must be pure, and this happens through almsgiving, compassion and the Word of God (AMBROSE). Almsgiving includes all acts of mercy, including the forgiveness of sins (AUGUSTINE). The Pharisees pay attention to outward shows of piety, such as tithing, first seats in the synagogue and greetings in the marketplaces, but they neglect to show true justice and love to others and love for God (CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA). Thus Jesus compares them with “unmarked tombs” that deceive those who follow them (AMBROSE). These beautifully adorned but unmarked graves are a sign of hypocrisy that keeps them from receiving what Jesus has come to bring and that leads others to follow the path of wickedness (CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA).

Jesus’ teaching against the Pharisees, in general, is perceived also by one of the lawyers as an insult (CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA). They follow the pattern of their ancestors, who killed the prophets who prepared for Jesus because these prophets pointed out their wickedness. By building their tombs, they emulate them (AMBROSE), for the tomb that they are building is the tomb of Jesus, the Prince of life and the Savior and Deliverer of all (CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA). What Jesus is offering the lawyers and Pharisees is an opportunity to repent of what they will do to him, the final eschatological prophet (EPHREM THE SYRIAN).

The “key of knowledge” is the Messiah proclaimed in the Old Testament Scriptures, the door into the prophets (EPHREM THE SYRIAN). He is “the key of David” [1] that opens the kingdom to all who interpret the Old Testament by the Spirit (JEROME). The key that unlocks the door into the law interprets the law through Christ (CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA). The key of knowledge lost by the Pharisees is found by the apostles (MAXIMUS OF TURIN).

[1] Is 22:22; Rev 3:7.

11:37-38 | The Teaching and the Meal

CONTROVERSY OVER PURIFICATION LAWS

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: The Pharisee invites him to an entertainment for his own purpose. The Savior of all submits to this for providence’s sake. He made the matter an opportunity of giving instruction, not consuming the time of their meeting in the enjoyment of food and delicacies but in the task of making those who were assembled there more virtuous. The dull Pharisee himself supplied an occasion for his speech, “because he wondered,” it says, “that he did not wash before dinner.” Did he wonder at him as having done something of which he approved, as being especially worthy of the saints? This was not his view. How could it be? On the contrary, he was offended because although he had the reputation of a righteous man and a prophet, he did not conform himself to their unreasonable customs. …

Our argument is this. “O foolish Pharisee, you boast much of your knowledge of the sacred Scriptures. You are always quoting the law of Moses. Tell us where Moses gave you this commandment? What commandment ordained by God requires people to wash before eating? The waters of sprinkling were indeed given by the command of Moses for the cleansing of bodily uncleanness, as being a type of the baptism which really is holy and cleansing, even that in Christ. Those who were called to the priesthood were also bathed in water. The divine Moses bathed Aaron and the Levites. The law thereby declared by means of the baptism enacted in type and shadow that even its priesthood did not have what is sufficient for sanctification. On the contrary, it needs divine and holy baptism for the true cleansing. COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 83. [1]

[1] CGSL 337-38**.

11:39-41 | The Hypocrisy of the Pharisees

JESUS TEACHES ABOUT TRUE PURIFICATION

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: What did the Savior say? He appropriately rebuked them, saying, “Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but what is in you is full of looting and wickedness.” It would have been easy for the Lord to use other words with the view of instructing the foolish Pharisee, but he has found an opportunity. He connects his teaching with what was before their eyes. Since it was the time for eating and sitting at the table, he takes as a plain comparison the cup and the dish. He shows that those who sincerely serve God must be pure and clean, not only from bodily impurity but from what is hidden within in the mind. Utensils that serve the table must be cleansed from those impurities that are on the outside as well from those that are within. He says that he who made that which is on the outside also made that which is on the inside. This means that he who created the body also made the soul. Since they are both the works of one virtue-loving God, their purification must be uniform. COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 83. [1]

[1] CGSL 338**.

THE CUP OF OUR BODY

AMBROSE: In what follows there is no doubt that the suffering of the body is shown by the name of cup, [1] when the Lord says, “Should I not drink the cup that my Father has given me?” [2] Whoever swallows bodily frailty in spiritual love and pours it into the mind and spirit so that the interior drains the weakness of the exterior drinks his body. You perceive that the inside, not the outside, of this cup or platter defiles us. A good teacher taught us how we should cleanse the pollution of our body, saying, “Give alms, and behold, all things are clean to you.” [3] Do you see how many remedies there are? Compassion cleanses us. The Word of God cleanses us, according to what it is written: “Now you are clean by reason of the word that I have spoken to you.” [4] Not only in this passage but also in others you have revealed how great grace is. “Alms delivers from death.” [5] “Store up alms in the heart of the poor, and it shall obtain help for you on the evil day.” [6] EXPOSITION OF THE GOSPEL OF LUKE 7.100-101. [7]

[1] See Lk 22:42.

[2] Jn 18:11.

[3] Cf. Acts 10:14-15.

[4] Jn 15:3.

[5] Tob 12:9.

[6] Sir 29:12.

[7] EHG 273**.

ACTS OF MERCY ARE EXAMPLES OF ALMSGIVING

AUGUSTINE: What our Lord says, “Give alms, and behold, all things are clean to you,” applies to all useful acts of mercy. It does not apply just to the one who gives food to the hungry, drink to the thirsty, clothing to the naked, hospitality to the wayfarer or refuge to the fugitive. It also applies to one who visits the sick and the prisoner, redeems the captive, bears the burdens of the weak, leads the blind, comforts the sorrowful, heals the sick, shows the erring the right way, gives advice to the perplexed, and does whatever is needful for the needy. Not only does this person give alms, but the person who forgives the trespasser also gives alms as well. He is also a giver of alms who, by blows or other discipline, corrects and restrains those under his command. At the same time he forgives from the heart the sin by which he has been wronged or offended or prays that it be forgiven the offender. Such a person gives alms not only because he forgives and prays but also because he rebukes and administers corrective punishment, since in this he shows mercy. …

There are many kinds of alms. When we do them, we are helped in receiving forgiveness of our own sins. ENCHIRIDION 19.72. [1]

[1] LCC 7:382**.

11:42-44 | Three Woes Against the Pharisees

PHARISEES PASS OVER JUDGMENT AND LOVE OF GOD

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: The transgression of one commandment transgresses the law. It proves the man to be without the law. When anyone disregards those commandments, which especially are important above the rest, what words will he find able to save him from deserved punishment? The Lord proved that the Pharisees merited these severe censures, saying, “Woe to you, Pharisees, who tithe mint, rue and all herbs and pass over judgment and the love of God!” You should have done these things and not passed by the others, that is, to leave them undone. They omitted as of no importance those duties which they were especially bound to practice, like justice and the love of God. They carefully and scrupulously observed, or rather commanded the people subject to their authority to observe, only those commandments that were means of great revenues for themselves. COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 84. [1]

[1] CGSL 340-41.

THE PHARISEES DECEIVE THEIR FOLLOWERS

AMBROSE: He also rebukes the arrogance and showy display of the Jews when they seek the first places at feasts. [1] The sentence of condemnation is also pronounced on those who, skilled in law, are as “sepulchers that are not seen.” They cheat with their show and deceive with their practice, so that when they speak fair words outwardly, they are full of foulness within. [2] Very many teachers do this when they demand from others what they themselves cannot imitate. They are tombs, as elsewhere it says, “Their throat is an open sepulcher.” [3] EXPOSITION OF THE GOSPEL OF LUKE 7.103. [4]

[1] See Mt 23:6; Mk 12:39; Lk 20:46.

[2] Mt 23:27.

[3] Ps 5:9 LXX.

[4] EHG 274**.

BEAUTIFULLY ADORNED UNMARKED GRAVES A SIGN OF HYPOCRISY

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: Those who desire to be greeted by everyone in the marketplace and anxiously consider it a great matter to have the foremost seats in the synagogue do not differ in any way from graves that do not appear as graves. On the outside, they are beautifully decorated but are full of all impurity. See here, I pray that hypocrisy is utterly blamed. It is a hateful malady toward God and humanity. The hypocrite is not whatever he seems to be and is thought to be. He borrows the reputation of goodness and conceals his real shame. He will not practice the very thing that he praises and admires. It is impossible for you to hide your hypocrisy for long. Just as the figures painted in pictures fall off as time dries up the colors, so also hypocrisies, after escaping observation for a very little time, are soon convicted of being really nothing. COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 84. [1]

[1] CGSL 342**.

11:45-54 | Jesus’ Teaching Against the Lawyers

THE LAWYERS WORTHY OF THE SAME REBUKE AS THE PHARISEES

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: The Savior of all was rebuking the Pharisees as men who were wandering far from the right way and fallen into unbecoming practices. … The band of wicked lawyers was indignant at these things, and one of them stood up to contradict the Savior’s declarations. He said, “Teacher, in saying these things, you reproach us also.” … These men subject themselves to blame. Rather, the force of truth showed that they were liable to the same accusations as the Pharisees and were of one mind with them. They are partners of their evil deeds if they consider that what Christ said to the others was spoken also against them. COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 85. [1]

[1] CGSL 343**.

THE PHARISEES EMULATE THEIR ANCESTORS

AMBROSE: It is also a good argument against the vainest superstition of the Jews, who by building the tombs of the prophets condemned the actions of their ancestors. Then, by imitating their ancestors’ actions, they turned the judgment back on themselves. By building the tombs of the prophets, they accused those who had killed them of their crime. By the imitation of similar acts, they declared themselves heirs of their ancestors’ iniquity. Not the building but the imitation is an offense. Those who by crucifying the Son of God added a crime worse than their ancestors’ wrongdoing cannot be absolved of their hereditary wickedness. He fittingly added elsewhere, “Fill up then the measure of your fathers,” [1] because there is no worse sin that they can commit than the assault on God. Wisdom sends the apostles and the prophets to them. Who is Wisdom if not Christ? EXPOSITION OF THE GOSPEL OF LUKE 7.106-7. [2]

[1] Mt 23:32.

[2] EHG 274-75**.

THE PHARISEES AND LAWYERS BUILD THE TOMB OF CHRIST

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: What wicked act were they guilty of in building the tombs of the saints? Were they not rather doing them a distinguished honor? What doubt can there be of this? It is necessary to see what Christ teaches us. From time to time, the ancestors of the Jews put to death the holy prophets who were bringing them the word of God and leading them into the right way. Their descendants, acknowledging that the prophets were holy and venerable men, built tombs over them, as bestowing on them an honor suitable to the saints. Their ancestors murdered them, but they, believing that they were prophets and holy men, became the judges of those who murdered them. By determining to pay honor to those who were killed, they accused the others of doing wrong. They, who condemned their ancestors for such cruel murders, were about to become guilty of equal crimes and commit the same, or rather more abominable, offenses. They murdered the Prince of life, the Savior and Deliverer of all. They also added to their wickedness toward him other abominable murders. They put Stephen to death, not for being accused of anything shameful but rather for admonishing them and speaking to them what is contained in the inspired Scriptures. Besides this, they committed other crimes against every saint who preached the gospel message of salvation to them. COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 85. [1]

[1] CGSL 345**.

JESUS OFFERS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR REPENTANCE

EPHREM THE SYRIAN: He said, “That all the blood of the just may come on you,” [1] because they killed the Avenger of the righteous ones’ deaths. The vengeance for their deaths is sought from their hands. One who kills the judge is indeed a friend of murderers, because in killing the judge, he has suppressed vengeance and opened the way for murderers. The Lord also said, “From the blood of Abel, the righteous one, to the blood of Zechariah,” [2] and not only until then but even until this day. Although still among them, he did not avenge his own blood until after they killed him, lest they say that it had been predetermined that he do this. He pronounced the sentence of judgment in relation to the righteous who had gone before, so that they might respect the righteous who were to follow. He gave them an opportunity to do penance for having put him to death, although according to the law, there could be no opportunity for repentance for one who murders the prophets. The law says, “Let the one who kills die,” [3] and not, “See if he does penance, and then pardon him.” He gave them an opportunity to do penance, if they had wished, for having put him to death. COMMENTARY ON TATIAN’S DIATESSARON 18.9. [4]

[1] Mt 23:35.

[2] Mt 23:35.

[3] Ex 21:12.

[4] ECTD 274-75**.

JESUS AS THE DOOR INTO THE PROPHETS

EPHREM THE SYRIAN: Woe to you, lawyers, because you have hidden the keys! That is, because they had hidden the knowledge of our Lord’s manifestation which was in the prophecies. If our Lord is the door, as he has said, [1] it is clear that the keys of knowledge belong to him. The scribes and Pharisees did not want to enter through this door of life, in keeping with what he had said, “See, the kingdom is among you.” [2] [He was referring to] himself, for he was standing in their midst. COMMENTARY ON TATIAN’S DIATESSARON 18.8. [3]

[1] Jn 10:7-9.

[2] Lk 17:21.

[3] ECTD 274.

THE KEY OF KNOWLEDGE THAT OPENS THE KINGDOM

JEROME: John says in the book of Revelation, “He who has the key of David, he who opens and no one shuts, and who shuts and no one opens.” [1] The scribes and Pharisees held this key in the law. The Lord warns them in the Gospel, “Woe to you lawyers, who hold the key of the kingdom of heaven.” O you Pharisees, who hold the keys of the kingdom and do not believe in Christ who is the gate of the kingdom and the door. The promise is made to you, but it is granted to us. You have the flesh, but we have the spirit. Since you deny the spirit, you have lost the flesh with the spirit. HOMILY ON PSALM 88 (89). [2]

[1] Rev 3:7.

[2] FC 57:66-67*.

THE KEY OF KNOWLEDGE IS TO INTERPRET THE LAW IN CHRIST

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: We consider that the key of knowledge means the law itself, and by faith in him, I mean justification in Christ. Although the law was in shadow and type, yet those types show to us the truth, and those shadows depict to us in many ways the mystery of Christ. A lamb was sacrificed according to the law of Moses. They ate its flesh. They anointed the lintels with its blood and overcame the destroyer. The blood of a mere sheep could not turn away death. Christ was typified under the form of a lamb. He endures to be the victim for the life of the world and saves by his blood those who are partakers of him. One might mention many other instances as well, by means of which we can discern the mystery of Christ sketched out in the shadows of the law. When speaking to the Jews, he once said, “There is one that accuses you, even Moses, whom you trusted. For if you had believed Moses, you should have also believed me, because he wrote of me.” [1] “You search the Scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness to me.” [2] Every word of divinely inspired Scripture looks to him and refers to him. As it has been shown, if Moses speaks, he typified Christ. If the holy prophets that you name speak, they also proclaimed to us in many ways the mystery of Christ, preaching beforehand the salvation that is by him. COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 86. [3]

[1] Jn 5:45-46.

[2] Jn 5:39.

[3] CGSL 349-50**.

KEY OF KNOWLEDGE LOST BY THE PHARISEES BUT FOUND BY THE APOSTLES

MAXIMUS OF TURIN: This key is Christ the Lord, by whom the hidden places of our hearts are unlocked to believing faith. The Pharisees lost this key, and the apostles found it. The Lord says to Peter, “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven.” The hand of the synagogue, abandoning Christ, withered up among the leaders of the Jews. The hand of the synagogue grew unhealthy, for whoever deserts the source, which is Christ, immediately gets sick and is found sicker than all the other members. SERMON 43.2. [1]

[1] ACW 50:108*.