Title: Whitewashed Tomb
Contents
The whitewashed tomb (23:27-28)
There is a saying in our proverb, “You know the waters of a hot road, but you don’t know the people inside a single road” This means that the inner state of a person cannot be known. Today's text is one of the words Jesus said to the scribes and Pharisees at that time, saying, “Woe to you!” You can deceive yourself and others, but you cannot deceive our Lord. False religionists disguise their inner corruption.
Jesus again used an illustration to convey his point. He says that the religious leaders of that time, the Pharisees and the scribes, were like whitewashed and freshly laid graves. It means that on the outside they look clean and white, but inside they are full of the bones of the dead.
The pictorial expression of a newly decorated tomb comes from the countryside of Jesus' time. Graves scattered across roadsides and countryside were a common sight. As you well know, Jewish law says that anyone who touches a dead body will become unclean. Therefore, the tombs had to be clearly marked and preserved, not only out of respect for the dead and their families, but also to prevent travelers from becoming religiously unclean.
Touching the grave, especially during one special period of the year, was a serious danger. It is during the Passover period, when thousands of pilgrims flock to the countryside and roads leading to Jerusalem. One of the preparations for this feast was to whiten or clean the tombs, so that the tombs were clear. Perhaps what Jesus described were the tombs, newly whitewashed, gleaming white in the sunlight, as if gradually embroidering the countryside. That's why Jesus called them "whitewashed tombs." What are the great mistakes of false religionists? Outwardly they appear righteous, but on the inside they are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
The contrast between the outward appearance and the inner truth of the Lord makes us think a lot.
- Externally, we attend church regularly. But what about the inner truth during that week?
- Outwardly we can profess our faith. But what about our inner truth at the market floor?
-Externally, we can say a prayer of thanksgiving while eating with our family. What about the inner truth about the world's hunger?
-Outwardly, we can empathize with righteousness and compassion. But what about the inner truth in dealing with money?
-Outwardly, we can bow our heads and say a prayer of thanksgiving. But what about the inner truth towards other sinners?
- Externally, we can act humbly in front of our peers. But what about the inner truth about those who are forsaken, ostracized, and ostracized?
There is something often forgotten about us. The truth is that while Jesus preached about outward sins that society often considers serious sins, he rebuked inward sins much more strongly, such as pride and greed. Sinners and prostitutes enter Heaven much faster than religious people who have not given their lives to Christ. This is what Jesus said.
The world's thinking is that unless a person commits a great sin, God will accept it. And it doesn't matter what's on the stage or behind the closed door to the person with that thought. In order to become a member of the church, you need to have dignity, good looks, shrewd wealth, success, fame, a good job, wealth, and authority.
So think carefully about what Jesus said to the scribes and Pharisees, “In them are the bones of the dead.” It is reasonable to view this as referring to spiritual death.
False religionists live to be seen by men, but are spiritually dead to God. It is human morality and religion, not the true morality and religion that God revealed in Christ. “In the same way you also appear righteous on the outside, but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and iniquity” (Matthew 23:28).
False religion is the most beautiful, but death grave among men. It leads the soul of man to eternal spiritual death. It instills in people a pride to be religious, a sense of security in it, a taste of acceptance, a sense of pride, and a sense of righteousness, making them insensitive to the dangers of eternal death.
Now, there is something we need to know about God and Jesus today. It is this. Everyone, including us, cannot know the secrets of others. By determining and judging everything by his outward appearance, he respectfully sees him as an outward ignorant of his inner self. Though the heart is full of secrets and sins. Life can seem impeccable. But God knows all the secrets, and He knows what is covering the heart.
In conclusion, to summarize:
God will judge man's secret things. Then a heart full of sin will fall into hell. And the memories of a past that seemed respectful to people will not comfort him in the slightest.
The Lord knows. You know both inside and outside. “Is the only sin I have committed?”