25 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 26 Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.”
27 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men's bones and everything unclean. 28 In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.”
Appearance, appearance, appearance – our culture is consumed with it. Whatever shows, whatever man can see this is what we often overly applaud and emphasize. Whether it is our physical beauty, our toned abs, our shiny cars, our houses, our jobs, our excellence in sports – whatever our darling may be - we vehemently embrace what man thinks – foolishly seeking his praise and approval. We spend so much time on the externals – prettying up the outside, the internal often suffers through neglect. Indeed, we look so nice in our church clothes, sitting in the second pew, singing the soulful songs but inside our hearts are often as black as the tar on the road we drove up on. We seek to avoid the overtly scandalous sins which would ruin our reputations before men yet allow heart wickedness to permeate us rendering us odious before a pure and holy God. Seriously, what are we thinking? Do we not realize that what we are inwardly is what we really are – all else is simply a mask to hide our gross insecurities, selfishness and greed – just like these teachers of the law and Pharisees which Jesus here rebukes. Filled with anger, rage, malice, slander, deceit, gossip, filthy language, etc. etc. our hearts can be found in desperate need of a bath – a cleansing of the Spirit. Thankfully, our way to the throne of grace for mercy is never blocked.
“Many who make a great profession of religion and abound in the exercise of devotion, are yet ruined by the love of the world. These covetous Pharisees could not bear to have that touched, which was their Delilah, their darling lust; for this they derided him, they turned up their noses at him, or blew their noses on him. It is an expression of the utmost scorn and disdain imaginable. They laughed at him for going so contrary to the opinion and way of the world. It is common for those to make a joke of the word of God who are resolved that they will not be ruled by it.” Matthew Henry
Consider for a minute with me if you will how often do we take into consideration the condition of our own hearts? How often do we seek to improve our character through the power of the Spirit? How often do we battle greed or lust or deception or whatever character flaw that seeks to consume us if left unchecked? The main business of a believer lies within him. Those sins which only the eye of God bears witness to. There is nothing new under the sun. These religious elite in Jesus’ day were up to the same heart shenanigans and Jesus here issues them a firm “Woe”, “Woe”. This serves as a “Heads-up” for us too for if the heart is well kept, all is well. It would behoove us to plead in prayer as King David – the man after God’s own heart:
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24 See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalms 139:23-24 (NIV)
“A little thorn can cause much suffering. A small cloud may hide the sun. Tiny foxes spoil the vineyards, and little sins do mischief to the tender heart. These small sins burrow in the soul and fill it with that is hateful to Christ, and thus our comfortable fellowship and communion with Him is spoiled. A great sin cannot destroy a Christian, but a little sin can make him miserable. Jesus will not walk with His people unless they drive out every known sin. He says, ‘If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love.’” Charles H. Spurgeon
Surely believer you understand that God looks at the heart – judging the thoughts and attitudes of it. The outward appearance is what man values. God cares about our character and while we might be able to fool man we never fool Him. I am reminded of the Lord’s Word spoken to the Prophet Samuel when he was sent to anoint a new king for Israel after King Saul’s rejection:
7 But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” 1 Sam 16:7 (NIV)
In our verses for today Jesus compares these religious leaders to cups and dishes which were cleaned on the outside yet inside they remained filthy, full of greed, self-indulgence, hypocrisy and wickedness. He states that if they were to get to the source of their corruption – deal with the inside - clean up their act by dealing with their heart – the outside would follow as well. This still holds true. May this be our heart’s desire.