A new political scandal seems to pop up every week. Politicians have made themselves appear righteous and proper, otherwise they generally do not get elected. However, when they are subject to the bright lights of public scrutiny, many have their terrible secrets revealed and they are publicly dishonored. Athletes, movie stars, and any high profile celebrity is subject to similar risks. It is because we make of show of being good in order to be liked, but we take little care of our hearts and minds to make sure that they are right.
Jesus is speaking to the religious leaders of His day when He is quoted as saying, “Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.” (Luke 11:39) The religious leaders, that is the Pharisees, made hundreds of rules regarding cleansing. Some rules were spiritual in nature like the required offerings. Many rules were related to day to day activities such as hand washing. The rules were extremely cumbersome for the people. Nobody could possibly keep them all consistently. The leaders laid these burdens on the people to keep them subject to the religious elite.
Jesus pointed out that God is more concerned with our inward purity than with clean dishes. He wants us to have pure minds and hearts, loving people and God. We spend far too much time on our outward appearance, while neglecting the development of virtue, purity, and righteousness in the inner man through the power of God’s Spirit. Let’s repent from our outward focus and ask God to purify our hearts and cleanse our hands.
Reluctant Retiree 