From Pastor Perry

Matthew 23:25–26 (ESV)

Seven Woes for the Scribes and Pharisees (Woe #5)

²⁵ “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.²⁶ You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean.

Jesus calls the scribes and Pharisees hypocrites because they are concerned about external rules of cleansing, but not inward cleansing.  When Jesus says “First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean”, he is NOT talking about a cup… but yourself.  Stop sinning!  He is addressing a heart problem… a heart that is pleasing to the Lord.  Let your heart match your actions.

I pray: O Lord, I give thanks for my baptism where you washed away all my sins.  Help my heart and actions serve you as I live in my baptism.  You are the one who makes me clean.  Amen.