Tim Maas Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

In another passage in the gospels (Matthew 23:27), Jesus compared the scribes and Pharisees to whitewashed tombs that were clean by appearance (that is, on the outside), but inwardly were full of dead men's bones and all manner of corruption.

The verse from Luke cited in the question uses the same imagery from another perspective. Here, Jesus compares the scribes and Pharisees to unmarked graves that give no appearance of being abodes of the dead, but that make those who come in contact with them ceremonially unclean (Numbers 19:16). Similarly, those who follow the example of the scribes and Pharisees in their conduct are unsuspectingly drawn into a lifestyle of sin.

September 23 2017 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Philip Davies

Jesus used very powerful language and searching metaphors in his speech. By Likening the Pharisees to tombs that contain dead men's bones; all rotten and full of corruption is an intensely powerful way of saying that the teaching of the Pharisees was corrupt and they were spiritually dead. Matt 23:27

To say they were like unmarked graves adds further the idea that people did not see them for what they were. People passed by them every day and were unsuspecting. They didn't realise they were spiritually bankrupt and their teaching was dead.

The same is true today of those who give an appearance of spirituality and are far from God. And sadly many people are still taken in and unaware.
Regards
Phil

September 29 2017 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report