REFLECTIONS
REFLECTION ON LK 11: 42-46-HYPOCRISY OF PHARISEES AND LAWYERS
October 14, 2020
Today’s gospel passages expressed Jesus’ direct condemnation of the malpractices of the Pharisees and Scribes. Jesus pronounces three woes upon the Pharisees for three sins, viz : (1) Hypocrisy, shown in pretending to be very careful when they were extremely careless; (2) Vainglory (Luke 11:43); (3) Corruption of public morals (Bible Commentary by McGarvey & Pendleton)
Jesus rebukes the Pharisees because they were so exact in offering the tenth part of the seed even of the spearmint, rue, and other small garden herbs but they overlooked big things, such as justice, and the love of God as expressed in the texts, “Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone.”
The Pharisees were vainglorious, loving the honors and attention given by men (John 5:44). They loved on weekdays to be saluted in the marketplace, and on the Sabbath to sit in the semi-circular row of seats which were back of the lectern, or desk of the reader, and which faced the congregation on the synagogue, see Mark 1:39. “Woe to you Pharisees, because you love the most important seats in the synagogues and respectful greetings in the marketplaces.
Jesus likens a Pharisee to graves which defiled men unawares. Their hypocrisy concealed their true nature so that men were injured and corrupted by their influence without being aware of it. “Woe to you, because you are like unmarked graves, which people walk over without knowing it.”
Having heard Jesus, the Scribe hinted that Jesus had spoken hastily and suggested to him to correct or modify his unguarded words. But Jesus made no mistakes and spoke no hasty words. The Scribes were exigent to lay burdens upon others but were lax to bear them themselves, not even to keep the law of Moses (Matthew 23:2,3). “Teacher, when you say these things, you insult us also.” Jesus replied, “And you experts in the law, woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you will not lift one finger to help them.
The excessive emphasis on the observance of the law to the extent of disregarding human considerations or human rights defeats its purpose. Laws are promulgated to maintain PEACE and ORDER, safeguard human freedom, and the enhancement of the constituents’ welfare. Those in authority are not exempted in the observance of the law, rather, they have the moral obligation to be the “INCARNATION OF THE LAW” or in lay man’s language ’WALK THEIR TALK”.
The Pharisaical way is imminent in us when we stress so much on observing the law per se and does not regard human considerations, extreme attention on details and not on the essentials, immersed in maintaining our survival but neglect the needy neighbors and house helpers, and forgetful of GOD’S LOVE AND PROVIDENCE.
LET US PRAY
Lord, we beg you to send us your Holy Spirit to direct our way today that we may be attentive to the essentials and pursue them according to your will. Teach us to be sincere in our relationship with others, easing their burdens and be a sure refuge in their difficulties. We pray for those in authority, who implement the law, to be humane, and to address those guilty respecting their dignity and human freedom. This we ask in Jesus’s name. AMEN.
