"Inside vs. Outside"
“Inside vs. Outside”
Blessings folk!
Jesus continues His discourse of Truth proclamation to the “scribe, Pharisees, hypocrites”.
Matthew 23:25-26
25 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full of robbery and self-indulgence.
26 You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the dish, so that the outside of it may become clean also.
This Word of Woe was speaking against the religious rulers concern over appearance.
On the outside they looked perfect.
Put together.
Their lives appeared to be “holy”, “godly”.
They were the example of belief in God.
They used this “look” to control and manipulate the people.
Yet, on the inside they were full of robbery, greedy, extortionist, self-indulgent, prone to excess.
They were blind...a phrase Jesus used often.
He told them to clean the inside first, then the outside could be addressed.
The same occurs today.
Leadership is much concerned about appearances and practices.
You should see some of the man-made “requirements” that some organizational churches demand of the people as proof of their faith and allegiance to the organization and leadership. Very distressing. All in the name of God.
This is evidence of what is on the inside of the leaders.
Let us begin with ourselves.
Let us clean the inside first.
Then the outside will be clean also.
With a clean inside, the Lord will be free to address any “outside” concerns.