What Jesus Did! 'How Terrible! (6)' — Matthew 23:27-28

Thursday, November 2, 2017

"It will be bad for you teachers of the law and Pharisees. You are hypocrites. You are like tombs that are painted white. The outside of those tombs looks fine. But inside, the tombs are full of the bones of dead people. And all kinds of unclean things are inside there. It is the same with you. People look at you and think that you are good. But on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and evil."
— Matthew 23:27-28 NLT
Illustration of Matthew 23:27-28 NLT — "It will be bad for you teachers of the law and Pharisees."

Key Thought

Jesus is relentless in his condemnation of the Pharisees. This "woe" or "How terrible!" does less diagnosis of the problem and speaks directly to the problem. "You look good on the outside, but you're decayed and putrid on the inside!" For Jesus, pretentious externalism is hypocrisy pure and simple. Painting up the outside only makes the death of character on the inside worse, because it disguises it.

Today's Prayer

Father, forgive me for the times that I have faked my piety without repenting of my sin. Please forgive and cleanse me so that I may be pure through and through. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

  • Psalm 19:14
  • Matt. 6:1, 16-18
  • 1 Pet. 2:1-3

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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.

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.

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