Clean Inside And Out

Scripture:
Matthew 23:23-31 (NASB)

“ Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others. You blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!

“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. You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the dish, so that the outside of it may become clean also.

“ Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. So you, too, outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

“ Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the monuments of the righteous, and say, ‘If we had been living in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partners with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ So you testify against yourselves, that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets.

Devotional:

In order to clean the inside of a cup the outside becomes wet.  As dip the cup in the dish water you automatically get soapy water on the outside.  A part of wiping out the inside is getting the outside wiped down as well.  Once inside the cup is clean the outside sparkles as well.  However, you can just wipe off the outside of the cup making it look cleaner without even touching the inside of your cup.  Placed high on the shelf for use the cup appears clean and ready.  Only when you look on the inside do you realize that it is still dirty.

Jesus is warning us not to just appear righteous on the outside.  Saying the right things and doing what appears right in the face of others.  Instead we need to focus internally.  We need to seek Christ and place Him in our hearts.  By scrubbing ourselves clean on the inside we will naturally be cleaned on the outside.  We will sparkle through and through.  A clear glass will show the dirt on the inside as well as the outside.  Only until you have cleaned it inside and out will it sparkle.  Spiritually we will sparkle if we bury deep in our hearts Christ Likeness.  By changing our hearts, thoughts, and beliefs we will cleanse what is inside us.  Then people will see our true selves.  We will not just appear holy as the Pharisees did in Jesus’ time.  We will be made righteous through and through.  Then we will truly shine bright for Christ.  We will brightly reflect His light into the world.