Luke 11:29-54
The Sign of Jonah
29 When the crowds were increasing, he began to say, “This generation is an evil generation; it asks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah. 30 For just as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so the Son of Man will be to this generation. 31 The queen of the South will rise at the judgment with the people of this generation and condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to listen to the wisdom of Solomon, and see, something greater than Solomon is here! 32 The people of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the proclamation of Jonah, and see, something greater than Jonah is here!
The Light of the Body
33 “No one after lighting a lamp puts it in a cellar, but on the lampstand so that those who enter may see the light. 34 Your eye is the lamp of your body. If your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light; but if it is not healthy, your body is full of darkness. 35 Therefore consider whether the light in you is not darkness. 36 If then your whole body is full of light, with no part of it in darkness, it will be as full of light as when a lamp gives you light with its rays.”
Jesus Denounces Pharisees and Lawyers
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 for alms those things that are within; and see, everything will be clean for you.
42 “But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and herbs of all kinds, and neglect justice and the love of God; it is these you ought to have practiced, without neglecting the others. 43 Woe to you Pharisees! For you love to have the seat of honor in the synagogues and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces. 44 Woe to you! For you are like unmarked graves, and people walk over them without realizing it.”
45 One of the lawyers answered him, “Teacher, when you say these things, you insult us too.” 46 And he said, “Woe also to you lawyers! For you load people with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do not lift a finger to ease them. 47 Woe to you! For you build the tombs of the prophets whom your ancestors killed. 48 So you are witnesses and approve of the deeds of your ancestors; for they killed them, and you build their tombs. 49 Therefore also the Wisdom of God said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and persecute,’50 so that this generation may be charged with the blood of all the prophets shed since the foundation of the world, 51 from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who perished between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, it will be charged against this generation. 52 Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge; you did not enter yourselves, and you hindered those who were entering.”
53 When he went outside, the scribes and the Pharisees began to be very hostile toward him and to cross-examine him about many things, 54 lying in wait for him, to catch him in something he might say.
What Does the Passage say?
V. 29-32 When Jesus was sharing the kingdom of Heaven, the people might have been asking for ‘evidence’ for them to believe in Jesus. Jesus shares that the only ‘evidence’ they need to know is the ‘sign of Johna.’ What is the sign of Johna? People heard the message to repent and receive salvation. (Of course, Jesus dying for three days resembles Johna in the big fish for the same time.) Jesus was challenging the people at that time, and today, ‘When the Queen of Sheba came to Jerusalem to hear the wisdom of Solomon, why are you listening to me, with a message that is far greater than Solomon?’
V. 33-36 We have the light of Jesus Christ. It shines through our eyes and our entire life. Remember this song? ‘This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.’
V. 37-54 After his sermon, Jesus was invited to dine at a house of a Pharisee. It says, “The Pharisee was amazed to see that he did not first wash before dinner” (v. 38 NRSV). According to the law, what Jesus was done was an unlawful act. However, Jesus points out their hypocrisy of their intention of keeping their outside clean, but not having a heart to repent. (Remeber what the sign of Johna was?)
He condemns them for not keeping the indie and outside the same. The balance of loving God and loving others should be evident, but it wasn’t for them. He says, “I’ve had it with you! You’re hopeless, you Pharisees! Frauds! You keep meticulous account books, tithing on every nickel and dime you get, but manage to find loopholes for getting around basic matters of justice and God’s love. Careful bookkeeping is commendable, but the basic are required” (v. 42 The Message).
What Does it Mean to Me/ Us?
Are we keeping a balance of loving God and loving others? Are we like the Pharisees who said they loved God but forgot the love to others? Or are we doing the opposite? By loving others in justice, but forget the basic of the love of God? Or we could have just lost the love of both and just loving ourselves.
Where are you at?
Prayer
Lord, we are called to love you and others. Help us to repent from being captured by the love ourselves. And help us to love you and the world. In Christ Name, Amen
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