WHITEWASHED on the outside only but unchanged within.
Matthew 23:27-28
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and all uncleanness. So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.”
The Scribes and Pharisees look good, but it’s only external. In Jesus’ words, they are the whitewashed and incur His judgment. Jesus speaks of seven woes of the whitewashed.
(1) Woe – they shut the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces.
(2) Woe – they travel to make a single proselyte of hell just like themselves.
(3) Woe – the blind guides, swear on the altar and by the temple is the same as swearing by God.
(4) Woe – they tithe mint, dill, and cumin, but have neglected justice, mercy, and faithfulness, they strain out a gnat and swallow a camel.
(5) Woe – they clean the outside, but inside are greedy and self-indulgent.
(6) Woe – they appear beautiful but are dead and lawless inside.
(7) Woe – they are sons of those who murdered the prophets, how will they escape being sentenced to hell, because they will kill, crucify, flog, and persecute Jesus’ prophets, wise men, and scribes. Jesus lamented that Jerusalem killed the prophets sent to them. He longed to gather them together as children, but they were unwilling.
The teaching ministry of Jesus while positive also includes His warning to be aware of wolves, weeds and whitewashed religious leaders.
What will happen during the greatest revival to take place on planet Earth?
Jesus said, “The field is the world, and the good seed is the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, and the enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the end of the age.” Matthew 13:38-50
The teaching ministry of Jesus included the obvious question, what about the weeds? Everyone knew the damage weeds did in a garden or field so farmers and gardeners would pluck them out. Jesus did not teach us to do this with the weeds. He has a perfect, supernatural plan, reserved for special angels at His appointed time. Why? Because the Lord knows those who are His! 2 Timothy 2:19
“The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect all causes of sin and all evildoers, and they will throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.” Matthew13:41-43.
Many will say, "I know the Lord" but the real question is, "Does He know you?"
Part 3 Whitewashed tomorrow.
1 John 1:5 describes Jesus’ inner life where the character and nature of the true and living God would be revealed, in a human body, for all to see and hear.
“And this is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.”
In Jesus, there is absolutely no darkness, no lies, no manipulation, just pure incarnation. God in the flesh, modelling for us the way, the truth and the life we are called to live.
Truth matters. Jesus warns us to beware of…
WOLVES in sheep’s clothing.
Matthew 7:15-20
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorn bushes or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.”
Tomorrow's blog is on weeds.
Isaiah 64:8
Jeremiah 18:1-6
Romans 4:11, 9:19-24
1 Corinthians 4:7
Ephesians 2:10