Day 291, Year 1

Avoiding Hidden Contamination

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like graves which are not seen, and the men who walk over them are not aware of them.” (Luke 11:44 NKJV)

Some people think that the Bible has many contradictions. For example, yesterday’s verse compared the Pharisees, etc., to “whitewashed tombs,” whereas today’s verse compared them to “graves which are not seen.” Yet, they might have misunderstood the use of metaphor in the text. A metaphor is a rhetorical device used to depict things or explain concepts by comparing one thing to another, indicating the similarities between them. The relationship between the two entities in a metaphor cannot be completely identical. Thus, I believe that “tombs” and “graves” can illustrate precisely the craftiness of the Pharisees, etc. Looking back at today’s verse, on the one hand, Matthew points out that they desire to be the center or ultimate authority of others; on the other hand, Luke’s description here indicates that they are a road that defiles those who walk over it.

The word “tomb” in Matthew chapter 23 verse 27, taphos in Greek, refers to the place where ancestors are commemorated by descendants with some relics of the ancestors. Yet, in today’s verse, the word “grave” is mnemeion in Greek, which specifically refers to walkable, ordinary tombs. Thus, the former can be beautifully decorated, while the latter can be walked upon unnoticed. Numbers chapter 19 verse 16 goes, “Anyone who in the open field touches … a grave, shall be unclean for seven days.” (NASB) Clearly, Jesus pointed out that people would be defiled by the Pharisees, etc., unconsciously and thus become ritually unclean. So, “the men who walk over them are not aware of them” might also mean that those who walked according to their teaching had been misled and deceived. The Pharisees, etc., directed others to a path for salvation through their interpretation of the law. Yet, Jesus pointed out that the path was unclean, which can never connect to God.

In Jesus’ eyes, the Pharisees, etc., were easily capable of corrupting others because they misinterpreted the Old Testament. So, interpreting the Bible correctly is crucial. When we lead an upright and pure life, we can feel whether the people and things around us are spiritually clean or unclean. With the Lord’s help, we can also expose misguidance and falsehood and bring people back to God. Here, Jesus reminds us to be cautious of hidden contamination in spirit, and to carefully safeguard the pure life that the Lord has given us in faith.

Reflection questions:

1) Do you understand the meaning of the metaphors in the Bible?

2) Is your life pure enough that you are able to discern the uncleanness, deceit, or misguidance of others? If you are lacking, how would you sharpen your spiritual discernment?