Verse of the Day 6/22

Verse of the Day 6/22

Matthew 23:25-26

New King James Version

25 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence. 26 Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also.

Have you ever picked up a coffee mug, thinking it was clean only to find that on the inside there was mold growing from coffee that had been sitting in it for a few days?  It's gross, and you wouldn't think of pouring fresh coffee or another drink without first cleaning out the inside of the cup.  In this passage Jesus uses a similar example against the scribes and Pharisees who knew the law, backwards and forwards but it had no effect on their hearts.  From the outside, they followed the regulations and were "clean" as far as anyone could see, but the venom in their hearts was revealed when they railed against Jesus, the one whom the scriptures pointed to.

Once again, before we become like the Pharisees themselves and rail against them, what about our own lives, our own hearts?  We may do our best to appear clean and wholesome on the outside, doing the things that a good Christian does, but what ill feelings are we harboring in our hearts?

Jesus' words and the work of the Holy Spirit can cleanse us inside and out so that our hearts match what shows on the outside.

King David recognized the relationship and what truly pleases God.  May that describe who we are today.

Psalm 24:3-4

New King James Version

3 Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord?
Or who may stand in His holy place?
4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol,
Nor sworn deceitfully.

Blessings, 

Mike 

Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com  Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins,

in accordance with the riches of God's grace.  NIV

Matthew 23:23-26
New King James Version
23 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. 24 Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!
25 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence. 26 Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also.