Looking Within

Then the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.” Luke 11:39 (NRSV)

The Pharisees had their behaviour mixed up. They were horrified that Jesus did not wash his hands before a meal. However, Jesus was adamant. What was the point in outward displays of cleanliness if inwardly their hearts were full of deceit? Jesus’ warning to the Pharisees was strong, and His words are still a clarion call for us today. Defilement comes from the inside alone.

Outward sacrifices to God may appear pleasing and right, and certainly make us feel good, but inwardly do we still harbor hate, greed and all kinds of wrong? God does not require our outward show of righteousness. What He asks for is a broken and contrite heart (Psalm 51:17). Moreover, as Jesus told the Pharisees, goodness that God approves of is to do what is just, to love kindness and to walk humbly with our God (Micah 6:8). All the outward displays of service will not make an iota of difference if our heart attitude is wrong.

Are we following the example of our teacher Jesus, who taught us the way to have a clean heart and stand in good stead with our Heavenly Father? Only when our heart is free from sin, will our acts of service that come from a humble and pure heart, be acceptable to God. Let’s align our intentions with David who asked that God would create in him a clean heart, and put a new and right spirit within him. —Jennifer Woodley