37 While Jesus was speaking, a Pharisee asked him to dine with him, so he went in and reclined at table. 38 The Pharisee was astonished to see that he did not first wash before dinner. 39 And the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. 40 You fools! Did not he who made the outside make the inside also? 41 But give as alms those things that are within, and behold, everything is clean for you. 42 “But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and every herb, and neglect justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. 43 Woe to you Pharisees! For you love the best seat in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces. 44 Woe to you! For you are like unmarked graves, and people walk over them without knowing it.”
The Pharisee had not said a word, but Jesus could see it in his heart and mind: judgment. This man viewed Jesus as unclean because He did not go through the Pharisee-prescribed cleansing ceremony. Jesus did not do what He did last time He ate with a Pharisee, asking permission to address the guests; He speaks pointedly to the man: "Let's see what is inside of you, when you eat, when you give, when you tithe, when you worship. You are arrogant, hypocritical and self-righteous." Not only was Jesus concerned with this man's self-deception; He was also upset about the impact he had on others, leading them astray. People who followed his rules and path, would fall right into a grave, making them unknowingly unclean. Following Jesus means we let Him set the rules, we seek to follow, and hope we can lead others with us.
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