Sinful human nature enjoys double standards, so much so that the problem can be found in everybody (Romans 3:10).  The Pharisee who invited Jesus for conversation over a meal followed strict religious rules about washing before eating.  This was not a matter of personal hygiene but to ensure that the food was not ritually contaminated by any possible contact with 'unclean' things which may have been accidentally touched along the way.  It was ‘holiness by ritual’ which involved no change of heart; and therefore, it was not holiness at all.

Jesus did not wash His hands in the ritual bowl and His host expressed surprise.  Was this real surprise, or had the Pharisee hoped to catch Jesus out in order to expose Him as a religious fraud? (Luke 11:53-54)  Whatever the circumstances, Jesus took the opportunity to expose the religious leaders’ double standards.  At the same time, He was teaching the trainee apostles about the importance of being single-hearted in the truth (Luke 11:33-36).

Using a food related analogy, Jesus likened His host to a food bowl!  He said that although he may have taken care to wash the outside, his heart was far from clean.  He even accused the religiously scrupulous Pharisee and his friends of being full of greed and wickedness, which is why they were foolish (Luke 12:16-21).  His heart was transparent to Jesus who saw through his pretence that he really wanted to use his religious status to get wealth; and that was more important than being right with God.  Although Jesus gave him the opportunity to repent, there is no evidence that he did.

No believer can live with double standards for long (James 1:8).  If we allow Jesus space to speak to them, the choice is then between hardening our hearts against the truth or agreeing that we are sinners and changing our heart so that we repent and change.  Religious games never please the Lord because He sees right through them.  He always gets to the heart of the matter, which is very good news for those who want to live in the Light.  But those who refuse to repent and change will suffer the woes which Jesus is about to explain in the next few verses (Luke 11:39-52).  The challenge today is to integrity and consistency, knowing our transparency before God ... allowing His light in and taking action on what is revealed.  The time to start is today!