Matthew 23:25
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter...
This is not just a woe pronounced on the Pharisees of Jesus’ day; I believe this warning applies to all such people of every age. Eight times in this chapter, Jesus pronounces woe upon this group of religious zealots. All of us who claim to be religious should carefully read this chapter and examine our hearts to ensure we are not guilty of the same mindset.
The Pharisees were deeply devoted to their religion—far more so than most people. They tithed even their spices, decorated the tombs of prophets from days gone by, traveled far and wide to convert others to Judaism, and offered long, eloquent prayers. Outwardly, they seemed like the most pious men. Yet Jesus saw through their façade of religion.
Their outward appearances were nothing more than an elaborate show, so convincing that they had even fooled themselves. This type of self-deception goes beyond individual hypocrisy—it becomes ingrained in generations of men and systems that teach their religious exercises as righteousness. For someone caught in such a system to break free and see past its hypocrisy requires nothing short of a miracle from God. Paul is a prime example; he was one of these men, utterly convinced of his righteousness until Jesus met him on the road to Damascus and revealed the truth.
Pray for people trapped in religious systems who are still lost in their sins. Religious lost people are perhaps the hardest to reach because they are convinced they are already right with God.
Although the Pharisees could not see past their self-righteousness, Jesus could. He saw that their tithing of spices was not from a genuine heart but from pride. Their long prayers were offered not to commune with God but to gain preeminence among men. All their outward observances were rooted in sin-filled hearts.
It is sobering to realize that we can do the right things for the wrong reasons and still fail to please God. We often assume that as long as we are doing good, God will be satisfied—but that simply isn’t true. Scripture tells us that God will try our works to determine their true nature (1 Corinthians 3:13). In fact, without the love of God as our foundation, all our giving, going, and talents amount to nothing (1 Corinthians 13:1-3).
The point is this: God is not impressed by outward appearances. What satisfies others—and even ourselves—does not satisfy Him.
In closing, let us take these woes to heart. Allow them to pierce us to the core and expose even the smallest traces of hypocrisy in our lives. Let us cleanse the inside of the cup—our hearts. Be honest with yourself, honest with others, and most of all, honest with God.
If you are weary and convicted of the religious show you’ve been putting on, give it up today. Call on Him as a sinner, and He will cleanse your heart. Only He can make you truly clean.
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