Matthew 23:25-28: You Cannot Fool God

 

Matthew 23:25-28: You Cannot Fool God

In Matthew 23:25-28, Jesus paints a clear picture to the Pharisees that we cannot just appear to be living holy lives.  He calls them hypocrites because they preach to others about the man-made laws but are living unrighteous lives.

(Matthew 23:25-26) "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.

Appearances and fancy words that don't matter, and this applies to all of us that preach any kind of message to others.  Yes, it is important to try and teach others about the ways of Christ.  However, if we are not practicing what we preach, our words are meaningless before the Holy of Holies.

(Matthew 23:27-28) "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity."

wow! Jesus really says it perfectly! If our lives are full of sin, we are nothing but a tomb full of rotting flesh.  We cannot fool God - He sees and knows all that is in our hearts and minds as well as all our actions we don't let others see.

Please, Lord, help me to always practice what I preach!