What Old Testament laws relate to the Pharisee's concern in Luke 11:38? Setting the Scene “But the Pharisee was astonished to see that Jesus did not first wash before the meal.” The concern was not about basic hygiene but about ceremonial purity. Below are the Old Testament laws that lie behind the Pharisee’s expectation. Key Old Testament Roots of Ceremonial Washing • Exodus 30:17-21 – Priestly Basin v. 20 “Whenever they enter the Tent of Meeting, they shall wash with water so that they will not die.” – Hand-and-foot washing was mandatory for priests before approaching God’s presence. • Exodus 40:30-32 – Ongoing Priestly Practice – Moses, Aaron, and his sons “washed their hands and feet whenever they went into the Tent of Meeting.” • Leviticus 11:32, 40 – Contact with Unclean Animals – Anyone touching an unclean carcass had to “wash his clothes” and remain unclean until evening. • Leviticus 15:5-11 – Bodily Discharges – Whoever touched an unclean person or object had to “wash his clothes and bathe in water.” • Numbers 19:11-22 – Defilement by a Corpse – Washing with the water of purification on the third and seventh days was required. • Deuteronomy 21:6-7 – Hand-washing for Innocence v. 6 “All the elders … shall wash their hands over the heifer whose neck was broken.” – Linked outward washing with moral responsibility. • Psalm 26:6 – Symbolic Cleansing “I wash my hands in innocence and go around Your altar, O LORD.” How the Pharisees Connected These Texts • They reasoned that if priests had to wash before approaching God’s table (the altar), then every Israelite should wash before any meal, treating the dining table as a miniature altar (cf. Malachi 1:7). • They blended the written Law with “the tradition of the elders” (Mark 7:3-4), creating detailed rules (netilat yadayim) for washing hands, cups, pitchers, and dining couches. • Their goal was to prevent even accidental violation of purity laws, building fences around Scripture. Jesus’ Reaction Luke 11:39-40 – He exposes the danger of externalism: “You cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.” Mark 7:8 – “You have disregarded the commandment of God to keep the tradition of men.” Summary The Pharisee’s expectation in Luke 11:38 grew out of Old Testament commands for priests (Exodus 30; 40) and purity regulations for the entire nation (Leviticus 11, 15; Numbers 19; Deuteronomy 21), expanded by later traditions that applied priestly standards to everyday meals. Jesus upheld the Law’s intent but rejected man-made add-ons that emphasized outward ritual while ignoring inner holiness. |
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