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Luke 11:37

King James Version (KJV)

“In our prayers we talk to God, in our Bible study God talks to us, and we had better let God do most of the talking.”
— D.L. Moody

Luke 11:37

Verse 37 of 54

Scripture focus

And as he spake, a certain Pharisee besought him to dine with him: and he went in, and sat down to meat.

Luke 11:37 — KJV

Commentary

Commentary on Luke 11:37

Theological / Devotional

A certain Pharisee. [Dining With a Pharisee, Luke 11:37-54. Cf. on Matt. 23:1—39; Luke 20:45-47.] There seems to be no reason for not considering that the occasion referred to in vs. 37-54 is entirely distinct from that of Matt. 23:1-39; 47; Luke 20:45-47. The words “as he spake” (ch. 11:37) closely connect the remainder of the chapter with that which precedes it. Here, Jesus is dining in the home of a Pharisee, whereas upon the other occasion He was in the courts of the Temple in Jerusalem (see on Matt. 23:38; 24:1). This incident occurred a “few months” before the close of Jesus’ ministry (COL 253; see on Luke 12:1).

The higher critical contention that Luke took various source materials as he found them and, without understanding their connection with other events in the life of Jesus, arranged them as he saw fit, has no factual basis. Modern preachers often use the same sermon material, with major or minor variations, upon many different occasions, and there is no reason whatever to think that Jesus did not do similarly in the presentation of His messages. In fact, it would be strange indeed if, in His teaching from village to village and from district to district, He had never repeated the same general truths. The verbal similarity between accounts which, as the context reveals, were clearly spoken at different times is not at all strange either. If at times the words of Luke are similar to what others wrote, even in the recording of different incidents in the life of Christ, that is no reason to deny that he was guided by the Spirit of inspiration. At the same time it should also be remembered that the gospel writers do not always follow a strictly chronological order in the presentation of the gospel narrative (see EGW Supplementary Material on 2 Peter 1:21).

Although the incident described in ch. 11:37-54 is distinct from that presented in Matt. 23:1-39, the great similarity of content makes it desirable to give the principal comment there rather than here.

Dine with him. Concerning Jewish table customs see on Mark. 2:15.

By SdaBc