Matthew 23:23-28: a reflection

23“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint, dill, and cumin, and have left undone the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faith. But you ought to have done these, and not to have left the other undone. 24You blind guides, who strain out a gnat, and swallow a camel! 25“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and unrighteousness. 26You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the platter, that its outside may become clean also. 27“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitened tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but inwardly are full of dead men’s bones and of all uncleanness. 28Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

Jesus rebukes the scribes and Pharisees for cleaning the outside while neglecting the inside, for an outward show of righteousness that hides an unclean heart. You clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, he says, but within they are full of greed and self-indulgence. First clean the inside of the cup, that its outside may also be clean. And again: you appear righteous outwardly, but inside you are full of hypocrisy. Jesus is pressing the point that God cares about the inside, the heart, not just the outward appearance; that an outward show of righteousness over an unclean heart is hypocrisy. The cleaning must begin within. God cares about the inside, not just the outward appearance. Clean the inside of the cup first, Jesus says. Outward show over an unclean heart is hypocrisy. The cleaning must begin within, in the heart.

Notice where Jesus locates the real problem: not in the outside, but in the neglected inside. The scribes and Pharisees kept up an impressive outward appearance of righteousness, clean on the outside like a polished cup; but within, their hearts were full of greed and self-indulgence, unclean. Jesus calls this hypocrisy, and says the cleaning must begin within: first clean the inside of the cup, and then the outside will be clean too. This presses on us as well. We can be tempted to focus on the outward appearance of righteousness, on looking good to others, keeping the outside of the cup clean, while neglecting the inside, the heart, where greed, pride, and other sins may remain uncleansed. But God sees and cares about the inside, the heart, not just the appearance. Real cleansing, real righteousness, begins within, in the heart, and works outward; not the reverse. We do well to attend to the inside, to let God cleanse our hearts, rather than settling for a clean outward appearance over an unclean heart. God looks at the inside; clean the heart first. Outward appearance cannot substitute for a clean heart. Real cleansing begins within and works outward. Attend to the inside, the heart, not just the appearance.

That is worth taking to heart, for God cares about the inside, the heart, not just the outward appearance, and real cleansing begins within, as Jesus told the Pharisees to clean the inside of the cup first. We can focus on keeping up an outward show of righteousness, looking good to others, while neglecting the inside, the heart, where sin remains; but Jesus calls this hypocrisy and says to clean the inside first. God sees the heart. Do not settle for a clean outward appearance over an unclean heart; let God cleanse you within, and let the cleaning begin in your heart. Attend to the inside, the heart, letting God cleanse you within rather than settling for a clean outward appearance over an unclean heart, as Jesus rebuked the scribes and Pharisees for cleaning the outside of the cup while within they were full of greed and self-indulgence, calling them to clean the inside first, that the outside might be clean also; for we can be tempted to focus on the outward appearance of righteousness, on looking good to others and keeping the outside clean, while neglecting the inside where greed, pride, and other sins remain uncleansed, but God sees and cares about the heart, not just the appearance, and real cleansing and righteousness begin within and work outward, not the reverse, so that we do well to attend to the inside and let God cleanse our hearts rather than settling for a clean outward show over an unclean heart, which is hypocrisy.

Lord Jesus, you rebuke the scribes and Pharisees for cleaning the outside while neglecting the inside, for an outward show of righteousness that hides an unclean heart. You clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, you say, but within they are full of greed and self-indulgence. First clean the inside of the cup, that its outside may also be clean. And again: you appear righteous outwardly, but inside you are full of hypocrisy. You are pressing the point that God cares about the inside, the heart, not just the outward appearance; that an outward show of righteousness over an unclean heart is hypocrisy. The cleaning must begin within. Show me where you locate the real problem: not in the outside, but in the neglected inside. The scribes and Pharisees kept up an impressive outward appearance, clean on the outside like a polished cup; but within, their hearts were full of greed, unclean. You call this hypocrisy, and say the cleaning must begin within. This presses on me as well. I can be tempted to focus on the outward appearance of righteousness, on looking good to others, while neglecting the inside, the heart, where greed, pride, and other sins may remain uncleansed. But you see and care about the heart, not just the appearance. Real cleansing begins within and works outward. Take that to my heart, for you care about the inside, the heart, and real cleansing begins within. Keep me from settling for a clean outward appearance over an unclean heart; help me attend to the inside, Lord, letting you cleanse me within, so that the cleaning begins in my heart and works outward, rather than keeping up an outward show of righteousness over a heart you see is unclean.