Section 10
Him if He would have a meal with him; and He went in and reclined at the table." The word for "meal" here is primarily the first meal, taken early in the morning. Verse 38 says, "But the Pharisee marveled, observing that He had not first washed before the meal." Literally, the Greek word for "washed" means "baptized," a ceremonial wash ing. The Pharisee's reaction gave the Lord an opportunity to unveil something to the hypo critical Pharisees and lawyers.
In verses 39 and 40 the Lord said to him, "Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and the platter, but your inside is full of robbery and wickedness. Senseless ones! Did not He who made the outside also make the inside?" Here the Lord seems to be saying, "You wash your hands, but what about your hearts? Your hands may be clean, but your hearts are not clean. Your hearts are filled with robbery and covetousness. You need to cleanse the inside as well as the outside."
In verse 41 the Lord goes on to say, "But give the things which are within as alms, and behold, all things are clean to you." The word "within" here refers to the contents of the cup and the platter (v. 39), signifying what is in the hearts of the Pharisees. They have covetousness within their hearts; hence, their inside is full of robbery and