Good morning. Have you ever seen or known someone who was always dressed to perfection? Every article of clothing and their accessories were carefully considered. They were the talk of the room because what they wore spoke volumes. However, after a while you noticed how rude, insensitive, uncaring, and arrogant they were. No amount of accessories or designer labels could change their image. Join us today as we continue reading Matthew chapter 23. Enjoy your reading and day.

Bible Verse – Matthew 23:27-33 NLT

“²⁷ “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs—beautiful on the outside but filled on the inside with dead people’s bones and all sorts of impurity.  ²⁸ Outwardly you look like righteous people, but inwardly your hearts are filled with hypocrisy and lawlessness.

²⁹ “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you build tombs for the prophets your ancestors killed, and you decorate the monuments of the godly people your ancestors destroyed. ³⁰ Then you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would never have joined them in killing the prophets.’

³¹ “But in saying that, you testify against yourselves that you are indeed the descendants of those who murdered the prophets.  ³² Go ahead and finish what your ancestors started.  ³³ Snakes! Sons of vipers! How will you escape the judgment of hell?”

Reflection

Since Matthew 23:13, we have been reading on Jesus’ warnings to the religious leaders. Over the past weeks we read five “woe’s” to the leaders and today was the sixth.

Traditionally, tombs were kept white and clean, even though there was a body decaying inside. Jesus described the religious leaders as being dressed up like the clean tombs on the outside, but inside they were decaying.

The other comparison was to their ancestors who murdered/killed prophets who God had sent. While they said they would not have partaken in such an event, they were already plotting to kill Jesus. By rejecting and plotting against Jesus they were doing exactly what their ancestors did.

Sisters and brothers, let us be mindful in how our hearts are being filled.

Are we dressed well on the outside and on the inside filled with decay and rot?

Are we allowing God to change us from the inside out?

Prayer

Father God, we thank you for the love that you extend to us. Lord, we are broken, imperfect, prone to sin, and without your grace, mercy, and forgiveness we would be destined to hell. Lord, you know our hearts and how tainted they are or can become. Lord, help us. Clean our hearts and transform us to know what is right and do what is good even when it is difficult. Lord, align our ways to yours, and equip us to be a light in this dark world. Help us to continue to share the good news of the gospel with those who need to know you, and encourage those who do.

Lord, ignite your fire, passion, and righteousness within us. Help us to live for you. Remind us of all the tools you have given us and guide us how to use them. In Jesus name, amen.

—–

Board & Volunteer Meeting

Saturday, September 13 at 9:00 a.m. PST

PRAYER REQUEST
Do you have a prayer request? We would love to pray for you. Send your prayer request to: contactus@maryewhiteministries.com

Bible Reference: http://biblegateway.com

Copyright ©️ 2017-2030 Mary E. White Ministries, all rights reserved.