Jesus is invited to dinner at the home of a Pharisee. Due to a confrontation regarding ceremonial hand-washing, Jesus uses the opportunity to rebuke the Pharisees and lawyers for their religious hypocrisy. This account gives us warning as well, that we might guard ourselves from slipping into pharisaical, religious hypocrisy.

In our passage this week Jesus addresses those who desired to see more signs and wonders. They had “postponed” their faith, so to speak, until their skepticism was satisfied. Jesus responds with lessons on spiritual blindness and the light of the gospel.

A major part of the Christian life is serving. We serve God and we serve others. But we must be careful to not have a focus on the work of our hands over and above the health of our hearts. At the end of Luke 10, Jesus visits Martha and Mary who offers this lesson when Martha expresses frustration in her service.

This familiar passage is the pinnacle of Christian ethical teaching. It shows us what it means to love a neighbor as ourselves. But it also does more. It shows us our need for a Savior and provides the motivation and heart change necessary for real obedience.