What Jesus Did! 'What Sorrow Awaits! (5)' — Matthew 23:25-26

Monday, November 1, 2021

ToGather: Our Father's Grace Becomes Our Mission

Few truths are more important to us than Jesus' promise to intercede for us.

 Watch Video
[Jesus continued his condemnation:] "What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy — full of greed and self-indulgence! You blind Pharisee! First wash the inside of the cup and the dish, and then the outside will become clean, too."
— Matthew 23:25-26 NLT

Key Thought

The problem with external, Jesus reminds us, is not the attention on the outside cleanness. He does not criticize the outside cleanness. Instead, he is furious with the Pharisees' preoccupation with the outside cleanness while ignoring the interior world of the heart, motives, intentions, and desires. As he did in the Sermon on the Mount in specific detail (Matthew 5:21-22, 27-28, 6:1-8, 16-18, 7:12), Jesus once again reminds us that no amount of preoccupation with external cleanness will make the interior world clean. Greed (an excessive desire for things, including things gotten by cheating others) and self-indulgence (pleasing only oneself) are the seeds of all sorts of unclean thoughts, motives, and actions. The outside cannot be made truly clean unless we address those internal issues.

Today's Prayer

Almighty, holy, and awesome Father, please purify my heart, my desires, my motives by the cleansing power of your Holy Spirit. I want to reflect your character in both my interior and exterior worlds. May the words of my mouth, the thoughts of my mind, the motives of my heart, and the actions of my hands be pleasing to you. In the name of the Jesus Christ, my Savior and Lord. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

  • Matthew 7:16-20
  • Matthew 12:33-37
  • Matthew 15:7-9

Comments

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Monday, November 1, 2021

Quotemeal
A daily dose of Christian quotes to inspire and encourage.
Quote by Author Unknown:
"We must let go of the life we planned in order to accept the life that is waiting for us."
Daily Wisdom
A daily devotional featuring wise counsel found in Scripture.
Psalm 40:4
"Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods."
God's Holy Fire
A daily devotional about the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
'Fearless Confidence' (Ac. 4:31)
"[About the disciples in Jerusalem after Peter and John were threatened and then released from prison, Luke wrote:] While they were praying, the place where they..."
Unstoppable!
A one-year devotional guide through the book of Acts.
'You Must Preach in Rome!' (Acts 23:11)
"That night [after Paul's difficult defense, hardships, and arrest,] the Lord appeared to Paul and said, "Be encouraged, Paul. Just as you have been a..."

Illustration

Illustration of Matthew 23:25-26 NLT — "What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees.

About This Devotional

What Jesus Did! is a series of one-year devotional guides through each gospel, using one short scripture passage each day and following the Gospel in sequential order. Each devotional consists of a scripture passage and a reflection and a prayer which open up the day's scripture and show how it challenges you to live for Jesus.

What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware and is available in book form.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

More What Jesus Did!