Luke 11:37-44 · Bible study
Luke 11:37-44 Commentary: Why Jesus Accepted a Pharisee's Invitation
Greek · 11 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Jesus dines with a skeptical Pharisee and launches a sharp critique of religious hypocrisy, calling for inward transformation over ritual purity.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Jesus rejects performative religion, calling for inner holiness expressed through mercy and justice.
- Key words: katharizō (cleanse), external vs. internal; harpagē (plundering), what fills the cup; ta enonta (things within), debated as possessions or heart.
- Main debate: Does 'give alms of those things which are within' mean give from your possessions (Clarke) or give the inward self transformed by grace (Calvin, Wesley)?
- Theological theme: God desires mercy, not sacrifice; the heart determines true purity; judgment begins with God's household.
- Best use: Preaching on hypocrisy, social justice, genuine repentance, and the integration of faith and action.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
37As Jesus was speaking, a Pharisee invited Him to dine with him; so He went in and reclined at the table.
38But the Pharisee was surprised to see that Jesus did not first wash before the meal.
39“Now then,” said the Lord, “you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.
40You fools! Did not the One who made the outside make the inside as well?
41But give as alms the things that are within you, and you will see that everything is clean for you.
42Woe to you Pharisees! You pay tithes of mint, rue, and every herb, but you disregard justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without neglecting the former.
43Woe to you Pharisees! You love the chief seats in the synagogues and the greetings in the marketplaces.
44Woe to you! For you are like unmarked graves, which men walk over without even noticing.”
WEB World English Bible 2000
37Now as he spoke, a certain Pharisee asked him to dine with him. He went in and sat at the table.
38When the Pharisee saw it, he marveled that he had not first washed himself before dinner.
39The Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the platter, but your inward part is full of extortion and wickedness.
40You foolish ones, didn’t he who made the outside make the inside also?
41But give for gifts to the needy those things which are within, and behold, all things will be clean to you.
42But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and every herb, but you bypass justice and God’s love. You ought to have done these, and not to have left the other undone.
43Woe to you Pharisees! For you love the best seats in the synagogues and the greetings in the marketplaces.
44Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like hidden graves, and the men who walk over them don’t know it.”
KJV King James Version 1769
37And as he spake, a certain Pharisee besought him to dine with him: and he went in, and sat down to meat.
38And when the Pharisee saw it, he marvelled that he had not first washed before dinner.
39And the Lord said unto him, Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter; but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness.
40Ye fools, did not he that made that which is without make that which is within also?
41But rather give alms of such things as ye have; and, behold, all things are clean unto you.
42But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
43Woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye love the uppermost seats in the synagogues, and greetings in the markets.
44Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are as graves which appear not, and the men that walk over them are not aware of them.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
37Now as he spake, a Pharisee asketh him to dine with him: and he went in, and sat down to meat.
38And when the Pharisee saw it, he marvelled that he had not first bathed himself before dinner.
39And the Lord said unto him, Now ye the Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the platter; but your inward part is full of extortion and wickedness.
40Ye foolish ones, did not he that made the outside make the inside also?
41But give for alms those things which are within; and behold, all things are clean unto you.
42But woe unto you Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and every herb, and pass over justice and the love of God: but these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
43Woe unto you Pharisees! for ye love the chief seats in the synagogues, and the salutations in the marketplaces.
44Woe unto you! for ye are as the tombs which appear not, and the men that walk over them know it not.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
37And in his speaking, a certain Pharisee was asking him that he might dine with him, and having gone in, he reclined (at meat),
38and the Pharisee having seen, did wonder that he did not first baptize himself before the dinner.
39And the Lord said unto him, `Now do ye, the Pharisees, the outside of the cup and of the plate make clean, but your inward part is full of rapine and wickedness;
40unthinking! did not He who made the outside also the inside make?
41But what ye have give ye as alms, and, lo, all things are clean to you.
42`But woe to you, the Pharisees, because ye tithe the mint, and the rue, and every herb, and ye pass by the judgment, and the love of God; these things it behoveth to do, and those not to be neglecting.
43`Woe to you, the Pharisees, because ye love the first seats in the synagogues, and the salutations in the market-places.
44`Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because ye are as the unseen tombs, and the men walking above have not known.'
Darby Darby Bible 1890
37But as he spoke, a certain Pharisee asked him that he would dine with him; and entering in he placed himself at table.
38But the Pharisee seeing [it] wondered that he had not first washed before dinner.
39But the Lord said to him, Now do ye Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish, but your inward [parts] are full of plunder and wickedness.
40Fools, has not he who has made the outside made the inside also?
41But rather give alms of what ye have, and behold, all things are clean to you.
42But woe unto you, Pharisees, for ye pay tithes of mint and rue and every herb, and pass by the judgment and the love of God: these ye ought to have done, and not have left those aside.
43Woe unto you, Pharisees, for ye love the first seat in the synagogues and salutations in the market-places.
44Woe unto you, for ye are as the sepulchres which appear not, and the men walking over them do not know [it].
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
37And as he was speaking, a certain Pharisee prayed him that he would dine with him. And he going in, sat down to eat.
38And the Pharisee began to say, thinking within himself, why he was not washed before dinner.
39And the Lord said to him: Now you, Pharisees, make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter: but your inside is full of rapine and iniquity.
40Ye fools, did not he that made that which is without make also that which is within?
41But yet that which remaineth, give alms: and behold, all things are clean unto you.
42But woe to you, Pharisees, because you tithe mint and rue and every herb and pass over judgment and the charity of God. Now these things you ought to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
43Woe to you, Pharisees, because you love the uppermost seats in the synagogues and salutations in the marketplace.
44Woe to you, because you are as sepulchres that appear not: and men that walk over are not aware.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Koine Greek)
New Testament · Koine Greek · Luke 11:37
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that Jesus accepts the invitation from a Pharisee who likely had hostile intentions, using the setting to expose the gap between outward observance and inner character. Barnes notes that the Pharisee's astonishment at Jesus not washing before the meal reflects a tradition the Pharisees prized more than Scripture itself. Calvin comments that Jesus does not here discuss human traditions directly but focuses on hypocrisy, the desire to appear pure before people while ignoring God who sees the heart.
The cup-and-platter image, familiar from Matthew 23, is pressed by Clarke and Jamieson-Fausset-Brown as a vivid illustration: the Pharisees meticulously clean the outside of vessels but fill them with goods gained by extortion (ἁρπαγή, harpagē, 'plundering'). Wesley and Gill take 'give alms of such things as ye have' (τὰ ἐνόντα, ta enonta) as a call to use one's resources for mercy, thereby proving that genuine cleansing has begun inside.
The three 'woes' (vv.42-44) parallel Matthew 23 but are set here at a private meal, making the rebuke both personal and public. All sources read the 'hidden graves' as a warning: the Pharisees' plausible exterior conceals spiritual corruption, defiling those who come near without realizing it.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Alms as material possessions: Clarke and Gill argue 'ta enonta' means what you have at hand — give from your stores, even if gained unjustly, as restitution.
- Alms as inner transformation: Calvin and Wesley read it as 'the things within you' — your heart, your affections — given to God and neighbor, which then makes all things clean.
What is clear: Jesus condemns hypocrisy and demands that outward religious practice be matched by inward righteousness expressed in mercy, justice, and love for God.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning of 'give alms of those things which are within' (v.41) | All agree Jesus calls for inner transformation to produce outward acts of charity, rejecting mere ritual. | Some (Clarke, Gill) read 'things within' as material possessions, give from what you have, even if gained unjustly, as evidence of repentance. Others (Calvin, Wesley) read it as 'your inner self', give the heart, and then all actions become clean. |
| Comparison with hidden graves (v.44) vs. whited sepulchres (Matthew 23:27) | Both images show that the Pharisees' exterior masks inward corruption. | Matthew's 'whited sepulchres' emphasizes deceptive beauty; Luke's 'hidden graves' adds the danger of unconscious defilement, the Pharisees pollute others without being noticed, a different angle on hypocrisy. |
| Jesus' acceptance of the dinner invitation | Jesus engaged actively with Pharisees, even those likely hostile. | Barnes sees it as an opportunity to teach in private; Gill suggests the Pharisee intended to monitor Jesus. Both agree Jesus used the setting prophetically, not naively. |
Historical & Cultural Context
The meal Jesus attended was the ariston, the lighter morning meal taken after synagogue prayers, not the main evening supper (Clarke, Vincent). The Pharisee's surprise at Jesus not washing before eating reflects a rigorous tradition that had grown beyond the biblical purity laws (see Mark 7:2-5). Calvin notes that God had commanded certain washings in the Law, but the Pharisees had added many more, and they treated these human rules as if they secured righteousness.
First-century Jewish practice included tithing even tiny garden products like mint, rue, and every herb, a subject of elaborate debate in the Talmud (Cambridge Bible). The 'first seats in the synagogues' were a semicircle of benches facing the congregation, places of public honor that the Pharisees actively sought. Greetings in the marketplace were not mere politeness; they were status displays, with titles like 'Rabbi' exchanged among peers.
The image of 'hidden graves' draws on Numbers 19:16, contact with a grave made a person ceremonially unclean for seven days. Graves were normally whitewashed to warn passersby, but Jesus says these Pharisees are like unmarked tombs (τὰ μνημεῖα τὰ ἄδηλα, ta mnēmeia ta adēla, 'the tombs, the unseen ones'). People walking over them on daily business became defiled without knowing it. The charge is severe: the Pharisees' influence pollutes those it touches.
Why would Jesus accept such an invitation? The surrounding passage, the teaching on the lamp, the good eye, and light (vv.33-36), shows that Jesus came to expose darkness, not avoid it. He enters the Pharisee's house the way light enters a closed room: to reveal what is hidden.
Textual Notes
Reception History
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The Hostile Invitation (vv.37-38). A Pharisee asks Jesus to dine, then marvels that he does not perform the customary washing. The setting is charged with suspicion. Jesus goes anyway, showing that grace meets us where we are most guarded.
- The Inside-Out Kingdom (vv.39-41). Jesus uses the cup and platter to flip the Pharisees' values: the outside they scrub clean is trivial compared to the inside that God sees. True purity begins with the heart, a heart that produces mercy instead of extortion.
- The Woes That Expose (vv.42-44). Three 'woes' strip away the mask. The Pharisees tithe garden herbs but neglect justice and love. They crave honor but are spiritually lethal, hidden graves that defile without warning.
Five-point outline
- Setting the Table (v.37). Jesus accepts the invitation, a pattern of engagement with opponents, not avoidance.
- The Stumbling Block (v.38). The Pharisee expects external conformity; Jesus challenges the premise.
- The Cup and the Heart (vv.39-40). Outward cleanliness is hollow if the inner life is full of greed and wickedness. God made both outside and inside; He claims both.
- The Path to Cleanliness (v.41). 'Give alms of those things which are within', the call to let inner transformation produce tangible compassion.
- The Costs of False Piety (vv.42-44). Three woes: misplaced priorities, secret pride, and hidden corruption. Each exposes a different face of hypocrisy.
Illustration hooks
- A person who meticulously cleans their home before guests arrive but shouts at their spouse behind closed doors. The outside shines; the inside seethes.
- The athlete who posts training videos for praise but never actually competes. The performance is real; the discipline is not.
- A church that tracks attendance numbers and offering totals but neglects the widow, the orphan, and the stranger. The metrics look healthy; the soul may be sick.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Does Jesus expect us to stop following church traditions like fasting or confession? Where is the line between tradition and hypocrisy?
- How can I know whether my 'inside' is really clean, or if I am just fooling myself with good behaviour?
- Is it wrong to want recognition for my service, like a seat of honour or a thank-you, or does Jesus condemn all desire for respect?
Leading a Discussion
This passage shows Jesus at a meal where the host is more interested in ritual than in relationship. The conversation moves from a washing dispute to a full exposure of what God truly values. Let the text ask you: what do I care most about, my reputation or my heart?
Discussion questions
- Read Luke 11:37-38. Why do you think the Pharisee invited Jesus? What might have been his expectations?
- Verse 39 says the Pharisees 'cleanse the outside of the cup and of the platter.' In everyday life, what are some 'outsides' people focus on while neglecting the inner life?
- Jesus says the inside is full of 'extortion and wickedness.' How does he see what others miss? What does this tell us about God's knowledge of our hearts?
- The Greek word for 'wash' in v.38 is baptizō, used for immersion. Why does Jesus choose the cup-and-platter image rather than directly debating the washing tradition?
- Verse 41 is difficult: 'give for gifts to the needy those things which are within.' How have you understood this command? What does it mean for your own habits of generosity?
- The first 'woe' (v.42) contrasts tithing herbs with passing over 'justice and God's love.' Why does Jesus say both should be done? How can we hold together small duties and big loves?
- Hidden graves (v.44) cause defilement without anyone noticing. Do you think religious people can harm others unconsciously? How might we become more aware of our impact?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Luke 7:36 | One of the Pharisees invited him to eat with him. He entered into the Pharisee’s house and sat at the table. |
| Luke 14:1 | When he went into the house of one of the rulers of the Pharisees on a Sabbath to eat bread, they were watching him. |
| I Corinthians 9:19 | For though I was free from all, I brought myself under bondage to all, that I might gain the more. |
| I Corinthians 9:23 | Now I do this for the sake of the Good News, that I may be a joint partaker of it. |
| Matthew 15:2 | “Why do your disciples disobey the tradition of the elders? For they don’t wash their hands when they eat bread.” |
| Matthew 15:3 | He answered them, “Why do you also disobey the commandment of God because of your tradition? |
| Mark 7:2 | Now when they saw some of his disciples eating bread with defiled, that is unwashed, hands, they found fault. |
| Mark 7:5 | The Pharisees and the scribes asked him, “Why don’t your disciples walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat their bread with unwashed hands?” |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
7 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes notes that Jesus accepted the Pharisee's invitation despite knowing his malicious intent, choosing to speak truth even in a private, hostile setting. He then directly confronted the Pharisee's hypocrisy: their careful ceremonial washing masked lives built on extortion and injustice.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin emphasizes that Christ deliberately ignored human-invented ceremonies to show God values inner righteousness, not mere outward cleanness. The Pharisees' extreme care in washing cups while harboring cruelty proves they forgot they deal with God, not mortals. Almsgiving from what one has purifies food, not as a payment for sins, but because sharing with the needy is proper use of God's provision.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
This commentary stresses that the Pharisee's astonishment at Jesus not washing before the meal was rooted not in Scripture but in the Oral Law, which had turned a simple cleanliness practice into an elaborate, superstitious ritual. The Pharisee party considered these human traditions more sacred than the Written Law itself. Jesus' rebuke exposed the irony of scrupulous external purity paired with internal greed and wickedness.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill interprets Jesus' rebuke about washing by highlighting the specific Jewish custom of full immersion after being in crowds, and notes that the Greek word for "make clean" echoes a Hebrew term for beautifying or cleansing. He also reads the command to give alms as referring to the food inside the cups
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB highlights Jesus' principle that giving alms makes everything clean, even the unavoidable defilement of daily work. Inner generosity expressed in charity, not mere ritual washing, purifies the outer life before God. He also notes that Jesus condemns the Pharisees for obsessing over minor tithes while neglecting justice and love.
Vincent's Word Studies Evangelical 1887
Vincent argues that the common translation "such things as ye have" misses the point. He reads the Greek as "those things which are within," meaning the food inside the cups and platters. Jesus is commanding inner righteousness expressed through giving that food to the poor, not merely washing the outside of dishes.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley insists that giving alms from a purified heart directly counters the Pharisees' greed and wickedness, making their ritual washings pointless. He then compares the scribes to hidden graves that defile people unaware, stressing that their corruption is dangerous precisely because it is not obvious.