VII.
With this week’s Scripture we have begun a focus on “God’s Law Is Love: Love Completes, Law Falls Short.” As we spend time with this Scripture and notice how it speaks of love and law.

VIII.
Luke 11:37-44 (NRSVue)

While he was speaking, a Pharisee invited him to dine with him, so he went in and took his place at the table. The Pharisee was amazed to see that he did not first wash before dinner. Then the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. You fools! Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also? So give as alms those things that are within and then everything will be clean for you.

“But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and herbs of all kinds and neglect justice and the love of God; it is these you ought to have practiced, without neglecting the others. Woe to you Pharisees! For you love to have the seat of honor in the synagogues and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces. Woe to you! For you are like unmarked graves on which people unknowingly walk.”

IX.
What law or laws do you see identified in the passage?

What law or laws do the Pharisees seem to pay attention to?

What does Jesus say or suggest about those laws?

In what way or ways do the Pharisees stress the importance of love?

What does Jesus identify as the Pharisees’ object or objects of their love?

How does Jesus speak of love?

Read the passage once more and identify what characterizes those without the kind of love Jesus expects of his disciples?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}