Matthew 23:27–28 (ESV)
6th of the 7 Woes
27 “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. 28 So
you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
Jewish purity system held that contact with human remains
rendered one ceremonially unclean. Jesus has repeatedly charged His opponents with hypocrisy. This charge of lawlessness is even more serious. I know when working on car engines, you can steam clean the engine to help see the problems better and
the engine will not run as hot. But steam cleaning the outside of the engine does not fix with what is wrong on the inside.
I pray: O Lord,
help me be more concerned about my heart than outward appearance. Amen.