Ye fools, did not he that made that which is without make that which is within also?
Luke 11:40 belongs to Christ's rebuke of religious leaders who set themselves up as judges of others while neglecting what God required of them. That judging spirit went with resistance to God's Word and the Holy Spirit, setting outward religious claims against inward rebellion. The rebuke calls it folly to separate outward observance from inward devotion, since He who made that which is without made that which is within also. The Creator made both the outside and the inside, the outward person and the inner life, so His claims apply to the whole person. Outward religious observance therefore cannot excuse an unfaithful heart, because God requires faithfulness within as well as right conduct without.
Luke 11:40 belongs to Christ's rebuke of religious leaders who set themselves up as judges of others while neglecting what God required of them. That judging spirit went with resistance to God's Word and the Holy Spirit, setting outward religious claims against inward rebellion. The rebuke calls it folly to separate outward observance from inward devotion, since He who made that which is without made that which is within also. The Creator made both the outside and the inside, the outward person and the inner life, so His claims apply to the whole person. Outward religious observance therefore cannot excuse an unfaithful heart, because God requires faithfulness within as well as right conduct without.