Scripture

“Outwardly you look like righteous people, but inwardly your hearts are filled with hypocrisy’ and lawlessness.”

Observation

Jesus continues his judgement against the teachers of the law and the Pharisees.

He calls them “whitewashed tombs” that look beautiful on the outside, but inside they are full of corruption and decay. They look righteous on the outside, but their hearts filled with hypocrisy and lawlessness.

They build monuments to the prophets of old, whom their ancestors killed. They say, “If we had lived then, we would never have joined in killing the prophets.” Jesus says He will send prophets and wise men, and the same people will kill them by crucifixion and have them flogged in the synagogues.

Jesus laments over Jerusalem, the city that kills God’s messengers. He wanted to gather them together, but they would not let him. Now, desolation is coming.

Application

Jesus condemns the hypocrisy of religious people who try to live from the outside in.

There are many people who act like Christians on Sundays, but the rest of the week are terrible people. Some people are righteous in public, but violent and hateful at home. Some just try to act like they think Christians should.

God wants us to be transformed from the inside out. He doesn’t want a paint job over a festering dung pile.

He gives us the resources that are needed to allow this to happen. When we give our lives and our hearts over to Jesus, then the Holy Spirit starts to work in us. The works of the flesh give way to the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians chapter 5).

As we follow Jesus each day, read the Bible, and pray, the corruption in our heart gives way to holiness.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, I commit my life into your hands. Take every part of me and make me new. Amen.