Luke 11

“Now then, you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness” (39). The Pharisees saw themselves as the “keepers of the Law” and they, along with the scribes, made sure the Jewish people did not become like the pagan Romans. But Jesus condemned them for practicing an outward, heartless religion that won them the respect of crowds but did not truly honor God (43). Rather than ignoring hidden attitudes (greed, anger, selfishness, lust), Jesus taught that the “whole body” – the whole person – should be light-filled (36).

“Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us” (11:4). Jesus’ prayer keeps us from becoming judgmental or hypocritical. As people needing forgiveness, we forgive.