Reader’s Guide: “The Word for Today” Thursday, February 21, 2013 Read –Luke 11:37-12:12 We noticed earlier that Luke omitted a large section of Mark’s gospel (Mark 6:45 – 8:26). We have already noticed that a brief part of this section of Mark may be recalled in Luke’s discussion of the evil generation seeking a sign (Luke 11:29-32 = Mark 8:11-13). In the section of Luke that we are reading today there are more hints that Luke was aware of what Mark had written but chose to omit it since small sections of Mark seem to make their way into Luke’s story much like the seeking of the sign. It is also likely that Luke is following “Q” for the basic outline of this section of his gospel since Matthew relates much of the same material, though in various places. Having noticed that it is also clear that Luke is striking out on his own expanding his sources – Luke’s material is more developed and longer than Matthew’s. The overall point of Luke’s narrative is to proclaim a series of “woes” upon the Pharisees for their lack of understanding and lack of faith. Luke begins with a hint that he is aware of Mark’s condemnation of the religious leaders for their hypocrisy regarding the “traditions of the elders” (Mark 7:1ff). Luke mentions that the Pharisee who had invited Jesus to a meal notices that Jesus does not wash first his hands. That had been the center of dispute in Mark 7. Luke takes the discussion in a different direction than Mark did by showing the shallowness of the piety of the Pharisees. The Pharisees seem to like rules because they help set them aside from the more ordinary people – yet the following of these strict rules leads to Pharisees to neglect what is more important. That is the point of the sayings Luke brings us from “Q”. Luke may have also found a helpful support in a later part of Mark’s gospel where Mark is again denouncing the Pharisees by saying that they love to go around in long robes and choose the best places in the festivals (Mark 12:38-40). Luke will repeat what Mark says when he is following Mark at that time (Luke 20:45-47 = Mark 12:38-40). As Luke moves forward there are more hints that parts of Mark that he has omitted appear in this section. Mark had said, “For there is nothing hidden, except to be disclosed; nor is anything secret, except to come to light” (Mark 4:22). Luke had shared those words of Mark in that context when he was talking about parables. Now Luke repeats Mark’s words. In Mark, after Jesus had asked his disciples who they think he is and Peter had responded that Jesus is the Messiah, Mark goes on the talk about the cost of being a follower. That section ends with Jesus saying that Jesus will be ashamed of those who are ashamed of him (Mark 8:38). Luke followed Mark at that time with similar words which are repeated here (Luke 9:26 = Luke 12:8-9). Most telling of all is the way in which Luke uses Mark’s discussion of the “sin against the Holy Spirit” (Mark 3:28-30). We have already noticed how Luke moves this section of Mark to a much later time and separates it from any discussion of Jesus’ family (Luke 11:14-23). Matthew did something similar. However in that earlier discussion regarding Beelezebul, Luke removes Mark’s statement regarding blaspheme against the Holy Spirit – Matthew does not remove it (Matthew 12:31-32 = Mark 3:28-30). Now that part of Mark is inserted into Luke’s discussion (Luke 12:10 = Mark 3:28-30). Luke will get to saying the same things that are in his sources – though he seems to be free to say them in his own way!