Luke 11:45-54

content/bible_journal/luke_11:45-54.md

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+title = "Luke 11:45–54"
+date = "2022-12-14"
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+
+### [Read the passage.](https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Lk11.45-54)
+
+After the verbal thrashing Jesus gave the Pharisees, one of the experts of the
+law has the nerve to tell Jesus, "Hey, you insult us too when you say things
+like that." I mean, did he really think it was unintentional? Or that by
+calling attention to it Jesus would back down with an "Oops, sorry. No
+offense"?
+
+Jesus doubles down instead. He condemns them for adding extra rules and
+requirements to the Law of Moses that make it a burden to those trying to
+follow them. They said things like "Don't let your wife look in the mirror on
+the Sabbath, or she may see a gray hair and pluck it out, which would be work,
+and thus forbidden," or "Only walk 200 steps on the Sabbath, unless it's to and
+from your own property." In that last case, the rich could send servants to put
+broken items out on Friday every 200 steps so they could go wherever they like
+since they would only be going to their property each time. All of these extra
+rules were insanely hard to remember, much less fulfill, and they got very far
+from what the Lord originally said: "Six days you shall labor and do all your
+work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall
+not do any work…" (_Deut 5:13–14_)
+
+The religious elite considered themselves pious for building tombs to honor the
+prophets of old, but by rejecting Jesus they were rejecting the prophets'
+message, just like their forefathers did when they persecuted and killed those
+prophets. They hid the truth from the people and themselves by twisting the Law
+to their own devices and neglecting what the prophets had said.
+
+* * *
+
+Give us ears to hear what You have said in Your Word with clarity and a will to
+follow it.