October 18th, 2012
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

Polite Company?

Please see the links to our EXTRA Bible Study notes at the bottom of the page.

Opening Prayer

Dear Father, I praise You for this new day, a page in the present chapter of my life.

Read Luke 11:37-54

[37] When Jesus had finished speaking, a Pharisee invited him to eat with him; so he went in and reclined at the table. [38] But the Pharisee was surprised when he noticed that Jesus did not first wash before the meal. [39] Then the Lord said to him, “Now then, you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. [40] You foolish people! Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also? [41] But now as for what is inside you-be generous to the poor, and everything will be clean for you. [42] “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. [43] “Woe to you Pharisees, because you love the most important seats in the synagogues and respectful greetings in the marketplaces. [44] “Woe to you, because you are like unmarked graves, which people walk over without knowing it.” [45] One of the experts in the law answered him, “Teacher, when you say these things, you insult us also.” [46] Jesus replied, “And you experts in the law, woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them. [47] “Woe to you, because you build tombs for the prophets, and it was your ancestors who killed them. [48] So you testify that you approve of what your ancestors did; they killed the prophets, and you build their tombs. [49] Because of this, God in his wisdom said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and others they will persecute.’ [50] Therefore this generation will be held responsible for the blood of all the prophets that has been shed since the beginning of the world, [51] from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, this generation will be held responsible for it all. [52] “Woe to you experts in the law, because you have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering.” [53] When Jesus went outside, the Pharisees and the teachers of the law began to oppose him fiercely and to besiege him with questions, [54] waiting to catch him in something he might say.

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.

Meditate

“You can be as straight as a gun barrel theologically and just as empty as one spiritually” (A.W. Tozer).

Think Further

How do you picture polite society? Maybe lawyers and university professors? Perhaps serious musicians and bishops? Our host for the day had selected the most prestigious company he could, his colleagues the Pharisees and his friends the teachers of the law. He was paying Jesus a serious compliment, inviting him to his supper party as the equivalent of the after-dinner speaker. Jesus, however, was not always well behaved in such company. He didn’t even bother to wash his hands! Washing was not then an issue of hygiene but of respect–religious respect. Then, to make matters worse, he responded somewhat harshly to the host’s query and directed pointed attacks at the professionals in front of him, thus seriously embarrassing his kind and generous host.

What might he say to us? We studiously read our Bible and our Scripture Union notes, but do we sustain our relationship with God by expressing our love to him? Do we even stop to experience God’s amazing love–his perceptive, gently life-giving, affirming love? And then what about the way we think of the people at the cash registers at the supermarket? Do we consider them dull, uninteresting and slow? What do we do for them to help them feel valued? To help them realize they are precious to God who created them? To lessen the struggles they may have to cope with? How do we show God’s love to them? We go to our church regularly and are involved there in so many ways, but how much of what happens there is for our own comfort? How easily do homeless people find it to come and feel really at home there? How comfortable is “My house” (Luke 19:46) for all peoples–for those with disabilities–physical ones, and learning difficulties?  Jesus’ words challenge us, too.

Apply

What areas of your life might Jesus challenge? Write down three and make them issues for prayer and action.

Closing prayer

Lord, I want to be more than hearer of Your Word, I want to be a doer as well. Press in on me and call me to accept new challenges.

Click here to sign up to receive the EXTRAs via email each quarter.

© 2024 Scripture Union U.S.A. All rights reserved. Reproduction of the whole or any part of the contents without written permission is prohibited.

Encounter with God is published in the USA under license from Scripture Union England and Wales, Trinity House, Opal Court, Opal Drive, Fox Milne, Milton Keynes, MK15 0DF.

View all readings

Get ENCOUNTER:

in your email:

in Print:

Become a Member | Visit our store