Topical Encyclopedia In the context of the New Testament, the concept of hospitality is a significant theme, particularly in the interactions between Jesus and the Pharisees. The Pharisees, a religious group known for their strict adherence to the Law of Moses and oral traditions, often found themselves at odds with Jesus' teachings and actions. Despite this tension, there are notable instances where hospitality is extended by the Pharisees to Jesus, providing a complex backdrop for their relationship.One of the most prominent examples of Pharisaic hospitality is found in the Gospel of Luke. In Luke 7:36, a Pharisee named Simon invites Jesus to dine with him: "Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to eat with him, so He entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table" . This act of hospitality, however, is juxtaposed with Simon's internal judgment of both Jesus and a sinful woman who anoints Jesus' feet during the meal. Jesus uses this opportunity to teach about forgiveness and love, highlighting the contrast between Simon's lack of hospitality in spirit and the woman's genuine act of devotion. Another instance is recorded in Luke 11:37, where a Pharisee invites Jesus to dine with him, and Jesus accepts the invitation: "As Jesus was speaking, a Pharisee invited Him to dine with him; so He went in and reclined at the table" . During this meal, Jesus does not perform the traditional ceremonial washing before eating, which astonishes the Pharisee. Jesus uses this moment to critique the Pharisees' focus on outward rituals rather than inner purity, saying, "Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness" (Luke 11:39). The hospitality of the Pharisees towards Jesus often serves as a narrative device to reveal deeper spiritual truths. While the Pharisees extend invitations to Jesus, their hospitality is frequently marred by a lack of understanding and acceptance of His message. In Matthew 23:25-26, Jesus addresses the Pharisees' hypocrisy, emphasizing the importance of inner cleanliness over mere external observance: "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, so that the outside may become clean as well" . The interactions between Jesus and the Pharisees during these meals highlight the tension between outward religious observance and the inward transformation that Jesus advocates. The Pharisees' hospitality, while genuine in its social form, often lacks the spiritual depth that Jesus seeks to instill. Through these encounters, Jesus challenges the Pharisees—and by extension, all believers—to embrace a form of hospitality that goes beyond mere tradition and reflects the love and grace of God. Nave's Topical Index Luke 11:37,38And as he spoke, a certain Pharisee sought him to dine with him: and he went in, and sat down to meat. Nave's Topical Index Library Christ's Reprehension of the Pharisees Seeking a Sign his Censure ... The Contemptuous Rejection. The Lessons of a Feast B. The Second Stages. Chs. 13:22 to 17:10 The Call of Matthew The Mind which was in Christ Jesus. Rev. George Wood. The Strife for Precedence at Feasts. --The Poor, not the Rich, to ... Dining with a Pharisee. Sabbath Healing and Three Lessons ... The Morning-Meal in the Pharisee's House - Meals and Feasts among ... The Early Ministry in Judea Resources What does it mean that “as a man thinks, so is he” in Proverbs 23:7? | GotQuestions.orgAre there angels among us? | GotQuestions.org Who was Diotrephes in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org Hospitality: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Subtopics Hospitality: A Test of Christian Character Hospitality: Abimelech to Abraham Hospitality: Abraham to the Angels Hospitality: David to Mephibosheth Hospitality: Elisha to the Syrian Spies Hospitality: General Scriptures Concerning Hospitality: Isaac to Abimelech Hospitality: Joseph to his Brothers Hospitality: Laban to Abraham's Servant Hospitality: Lydia to Paul and Silas Hospitality: Man of Gibeah to the Levite Hospitality: Melchizedek to Abraham Hospitality: Onesiphorus to Paul Hospitality: Pharaoh to Abraham Hospitality: Pharisees to Jesus Hospitality: Rahab to the Spies Hospitality: Required in Ministers Hospitality: Rewarded: Rahab's Hospitality: Rewarded: Widow of Zarephath's Hospitality: Simon the Tanner to Peter Hospitality: Sons of Heth to Abraham Hospitality: Specially to be Shown to Enemies Hospitality: Specially to be Shown to Strangers Hospitality: Specially to be Shown to The Poor Hospitality: The Shunammite Woman to Elisha Hospitality: The Widow of Zarephath to Elijah Hospitality: Zacchaeus to Jesus Inhospitableness: Ammonites and Moabites Inhospitableness: Men of Gibeah Toward a Levite Inhospitableness: Nabal Toward David Inhospitableness: some Samaritans Toward Jesus Related Terms |
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