Week 2, Thursday December 8
Matthew 23:13-26
Vs 25-26
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you cleanse the outside of the cup and of the plate, but inside they are full of extortion and rapacity. You blind Pharisee! first cleanse the inside of the cup and of the plate, that the outside also may be clean.
Years ago there was a recall on a particular brand of applesauce that was packaged in squeeze pouches. These pouches were made so that the applesauce inside could not be seen and the opening to eat was the size of a straw. As a result, a number of young children ingested rotten applesauce; the pouches had grown mold and rancid inside. Because this was not discernible from looking at the shiny-nice label of the package, it was only after eating the applesauce that anyone knew it was bad. No parent knowing the content would have given this to their child.
The Pharisees have gone moldy and rancid on the inside, yet it is not evident to the naked eye. Jesus can see their heart, their thoughts, their rotten intentions. Jesus says they are not truly ‘clean’, as their culture demands, until their private intentions are clean.
As Christians, we are filled with the living God in a transparent package. The Lord can see our hearts and our intentions as clearly as the Pharisees. The best news about all of this, is that is is Christ alone that cleanses our insides; our hearts, intentions and mind are made right by his grace.
Yes, we all have nooks and crannies of our hearts that need a good deep cleaning. The point is lean on Christ and trust that it is him alone that will make us and our hearts (the proverbial cup) clean.