While Jesus was speaking, a Pharisee asked him to dine with him, so he went in and reclined at table.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus accepts an invitation from a Pharisee, going in and reclining to eat, seemingly without performing the customary ritual washing beforehand. This simple act of accepting the meal, and his immediate reclining, sets the stage for the confrontation that follows, highlighting Jesus' willingness to engage with those who opposed him and his subversion of their rigid traditions.
While Jesus was speaking, a Pharisee asked him to dine with him, so he went in and reclined at table.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus had just been teaching and confronting the crowds, particularly criticizing the Pharisees. A Pharisee then invited Jesus to his home for a meal, an invitation Jesus accepted, entering the house and sitting down to eat without performing the customary ceremonial washing beforehand.
Jesus was in the middle of a powerful teaching moment when a Pharisee unexpectedly invited Him to dinner. Was this a genuine act of hospitality, or something else entirely?
This invitation wasn't just a casual offer for a meal. The Pharisee likely invited Jesus not out of pure kindness, but with ulterior motives.
A Strategic Move
Jesus's Calculated Response
What did Jesus actually eat when He accepted this dinner invitation? Understanding the timing reveals a lot about the culture and Jesus's routine.
The meal Jesus was invited to wasn't a grand evening feast. It was the morning meal, known as the 'dinner' in many translations.
A Mid-Morning Repast
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Cultural Context of Meals
Jesus enters the Pharisee's home and immediately, without washing, sits down to eat. This wasn't just a social faux pas; it was a deliberate statement.
Jesus's decision to recline at the table without performing the ritual washing was a direct challenge to the Pharisee's understanding of purity.
The Pharisee's Expectation
Jesus's Counter-Challenge
Understand the original words
Pharisaios · Greek Noun
A member of a Jewish religious and political party known for their strict adherence to the oral law and traditions, often characterized in the Gospels by their emphasis on outward ritual purity and legalistic righteousness.
This invitation occurred during a period of intense public ministry and direct confrontation with the Pharisees, who were increasingly plotting against Jesus. The Pharisee's invitation, though seemingly hospitable, was likely a trap to expose or discredit Jesus in a more controlled setting.
c. AD 27
Jesus begins public ministry
Jesus commences his public ministry, calling disciples and teaching throughout Galilee, proclaiming the Kingdom of God.
c. AD 28
Jesus preaches Sermon on the Plain
Jesus delivers a significant sermon, similar to the Sermon on the Mount, teaching about righteousness, love for enemies, and the nature of God's kingdom.
c. AD 29
Jesus' ministry intensifies
Jesus' fame grows, leading to large crowds following him. His teachings become more challenging, particularly to the religious elite like the Pharisees.
c. AD 29— this verse
Jesus denounces hypocrisy
Jesus publicly rebukes the Pharisees and scribes for their hypocrisy, their focus on outward rituals, and their neglect of justice and the love of God. This occurs in the context of a meal at a Pharisee's house.
c. AD 30
Jesus' final journey to Jerusalem
Jesus begins his final journey to Jerusalem, knowing his arrest and crucifixion await him. His teachings become more urgent and focused on his impending passion.
AD 30
Crucifixion and Resurrection
Jesus is crucified in Jerusalem and, according to Christian belief, is resurrected on the third day, fulfilling prophecy and offering salvation.
This passage describes a similar encounter where a Pharisee invites Jesus to eat, highlighting Jesus' willingness to engage with those who opposed him, even when they held critical views.
Matthew 23:25-26Jesus directly confronts the Pharisees about their hypocrisy, contrasting their meticulous cleansing of the outside of cups and dishes with their inner impurity, which directly parallels the critique that follows this invitation in Luke 11.
1 Corinthians 10:31This verse offers a principle that applies to Jesus' actions: whether eating or drinking or anything else, we should do it for the glory of God. Jesus' willingness to dine with the Pharisee, and the subsequent teaching, could be seen as an act done for God's glory.
Romans 14:14Paul states, 'I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it is unclean.' This echoes Jesus' eventual teaching to the Pharisee, suggesting that the core issue isn't the food or the act of eating, but the heart of the one partaking or hosting.
barnesLuke 11:37: "And as he spake, a certain Pharisee besought him to dine with him: and he went in, and sat down to meat."
And as he spake - While he was addressing the people, and particularly while he was reproving that generation and declaring its crimes. A certain Pharisee - The Pharisees had been particularly referred to in the discourse of the Saviour recorded in the previous verses. This one, perhaps, having felt particularly the force of the remarks of Jesus, and being desirous of being alo…
vincentLuke 11:37: "And as he spake, a certain Pharisee besought him to dine with him: and he went in, and sat down to meat."
Besought (ἐρωτᾷ)Too strong. Better, as Rev., asketh. The present tense.Dine (ἀριστήσῃ)See on dinner, Matthew 22:4. The morning meal, immediately after the return from morning prayers in the synagogue.
Jesus accepts an invitation from a Pharisee, going in and reclining to eat, seemingly without performing the customary ritual washing beforehand. This simple act of accepting the meal, and his immediate reclining, sets the stage for the confrontation that follows, highlighting Jesus' willingness to engage with those who opposed him and his subversion of their rigid traditions.
Jesus had just been teaching and confronting the crowds, particularly criticizing the Pharisees. A Pharisee then invited Jesus to his home for a meal, an invitation Jesus accepted, entering the house and sitting down to eat without performing the customary ceremonial washing beforehand.
Jesus had just been teaching and confronting the crowds, particularly criticizing the Pharisees. A Pharisee then invited Jesus to his home for a meal, an invitation Jesus accepted, entering the house and sitting down to eat without performing the customary ceremonial washing beforehand.
"While Jesus was speaking, a Pharisee asked him to dine with him, so he went in and reclined at table." — Jesus accepts an invitation from a Pharisee, going in and reclining to eat, seemingly without performing the customary ritual washing beforehand. This simple act of accepting the meal, and his immedi…
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Last reviewed October 2026