Whitewashed Tombs

Matthew 23:25-26

“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. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean."

Andy's part:

If you are stuck in sin, simply stopping the action is not enough. To fix the problem, address the problem. You need to change your heart.

Catherine's part:

The entire 23rd chapter of Matthew is interesting. Jesus' speech to the Pharisees about being legalistic hypocrites (which is the modern day definition of a Pharisee, interestingly enough), makes them sound like the type of people we would all hate to meet. And yet we all have it within us to become this type of person. How do we avoid it? Like Andy said, address the root of the problem, what's in our hearts. Only God can change our hearts, and He wants to! Look at His words at the very end of this chapter:

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing. Look, your house is left to you desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’” (vs 37-39)

I really reflected on those verses. What an interesting chapter!

I'd love to hear your thoughts on any or all of Matthew 23!