What does Luke 11:39 mean?

Jesus accepts an invitation to dine with a Pharisees and other lawyers. Jesus immediately horrifies His host by not adhering to the extra-biblical rule of ceremonially washing hands before a meal (Luke 11:37–38). Jesus now responds.

This metaphor is particularly appropriate. The Pharisees rinse their hands before a meal, but their hearts are still darkened: unclean. Jesus' reference to "cleanse" and "clean" follow the Pharisees' ceremonial interpretation. If an unclean insect fell onto a cup or plate, no Pharisaical tradition-abiding Jew would just wipe off the outside. A wooden bowl would be thoroughly cleaned and a ceramic bowl would be broken and thrown away (Leviticus 11:32–33). Jesus implies that these Pharisees are more concerned about how they look—how they're perceived by others—than how they really are.

Jesus elaborates on His charge of "greed and wickedness" at other times. He warns the disciples that the "scribes"—the lawyers of the Pharisees—"devour widows' houses" (Luke 20:47). They value the money in the temple more than the temple itself (Matthew 23:16–22). And they keep money that should go to the care of their elderly parents by "promising" it to the temple (Mark 7:9–13).

This event is not found in the other Gospels, but Matthew records Jesus saying similar words to His disciples shortly before the crucifixion (Matthew 23:25–26).