HEARTS AWRY: THE WHITEWASHED TOMBS
(Message by Tanny Keng)
1. Hearts Awry
a) We group together three parables directed at hypocrisy and corruption among the Pharisees.
b) Pharisee was a member of one of the opinionated and self-glorifying sects among the religious leaders and lawyers in Jerusalem. Pharisees accepted miracles, resurrection, angels, spirits, etc whereas their rivals the Sadducees did not.
c) The Pharisees looked down upon "sinners" and promoted themselves as righteous, yet their religion was all about outward show. The three parables that we now study point to these hearts awry.
d) Here is one of the three parables that teach us about God looks on the heart. He respects a heart full of love for him. He respects qualities such as mercy, humility, and goodness — qualities that were lacking in the hearts of most of the religious leaders of Jerusalem. Of course the lack of such qualities reflects a lack of understanding of the grace and mercy of God.
2. The Whitewashed Tombs
Matthew 23:27-28
“27 Jesus said, "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 is filthy. 28 Likewise you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness."
a) This parable, or parable-like statement, likens the heart of a hypocrite to that of a whited sepulcher. The tomb on the outside is all freshly painted pure white. Lovely. But what's inside? Ugly bones and death's decay. The body of a dead person was unclean to the Pharisees, making the metaphor even more poignant for them.
b) The Bible says, "God sees not as man sees, for man looks at appearances, but the Lord looks on the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7). Man sees the whitewash, God sees the ugly and unclean interior.
c) Incidentally the manner of speech that Jesus used in these "Woe to you..." statements in Matthew 23 would not be tolerated today. Jesus would be branded as unloving calling people hypocrites and whited graves full of robbery and self indulgence. However Jesus was only telling the truth in plain words. It is never unloving to do that. Just as the blacksmith straightens a bar of iron with fire, a strong arm, and a heavy hammer, so the heart awry may need strong and fiery words to make it straight.
The End ...
1. Hearts Awry a) We group together three parables directed at hypocrisy and corruption among the Pharisees.
b) Pharisee was a member of one of the opinionated and self-glorifying sects among the religious leaders and lawyers in Jerusalem. Pharisees accepted miracles, resurrection, angels, spirits, etc whereas their rivals the Sadducees did not.
c) The Pharisees looked down upon "sinners" and promoted themselves as righteous, yet their religion was all about outward show. The three parables that we now study point to these hearts awry.
d) Here is one of the three parables that teach us about God looks on the heart. He respects a heart full of love for him. He respects qualities such as mercy, humility, and goodness — qualities that were lacking in the hearts of most of the religious leaders of Jerusalem. Of course the lack of such qualities reflects a lack of understanding of the grace and mercy of God.
2. The Whitewashed Tombs
Matthew 23:27-28
“27 Jesus said, "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 is filthy. 28 Likewise you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness."
a) This parable, or parable-like statement, likens the heart of a hypocrite to that of a whited sepulcher. The tomb on the outside is all freshly painted pure white. Lovely. But what's inside? Ugly bones and death's decay. The body of a dead person was unclean to the Pharisees, making the metaphor even more poignant for them.
b) The Bible says, "God sees not as man sees, for man looks at appearances, but the Lord looks on the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7). Man sees the whitewash, God sees the ugly and unclean interior.
c) Incidentally the manner of speech that Jesus used in these "Woe to you..." statements in Matthew 23 would not be tolerated today. Jesus would be branded as unloving calling people hypocrites and whited graves full of robbery and self indulgence. However Jesus was only telling the truth in plain words. It is never unloving to do that. Just as the blacksmith straightens a bar of iron with fire, a strong arm, and a heavy hammer, so the heart awry may need strong and fiery words to make it straight.
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