Luke 11:14-54

“But give as alms those things that are within, and behold, everything is clean for you” (v41).  Jesus deliberately skipped the ceremonial washing before dinner in order to teach a lesson to his companions.  They were extremely concerned about obedience to certain commands (v38, 42), yet they had no concern for “those things that are within.”  Jesus saw their hearts, and he pointed out the greed and evil that flourished there (v39).

The Pharisees’ angry reaction to Jesus (v54) revealed their hard-heartedness.  If we acknowledge our sin and want to be clean, Jesus forgives us and cleanses us, inside and out.