27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. 28 So you too, outwardly appear righteous to people, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
Matthew 23:27-28 (NASB) 中文
Wave of woe
In the previous posts starting back in chapter 22, Jesus responds to the attacks of the religious leaders. He now continues a wave of woes (judgements) against them, these hypocritical blind guides. The first judges them for blocking the way for others to enter Heaven. Woe two condemns them for converting people to their kind of false Judaism – leaving them further from salvation. The 3rd is judging their misplaced values. The 4th judgment, misguided giving and majoring on the minors. For the 5th woe, Jesus addressed their false focus on outward appearance rather than inward holiness. Now for the 6th.
Bondo job
This woe (judgment) is very much like the previous one, #5. It has to do with a focus on the outside, on appearance, rather than the inside, the heart. In that post, I talked about the “Bondo job” that owners of rust bucket cars would do to make them look better than they really are.
Whitewashed tombstones
In today’s woe, Jesus points out quite boldly that the religious leaders are doing the same – making the appearance look good to cover the ugly insides. A stately, pretty, white tomb looks nice in the cemetery, like in the Arlington cemetery. But inside the tomb is not so pretty. The spiritual application is stronger: they were dead. And this has eternal ramifications – eternity in hell. It seems Jesus can’t offer any stronger indictment! Wait
RЯeflection
- It seems with each successive judgment, Jesus is asking us to evaluate ourselves. Yes, it was sending a message to the religious leaders and the bystanders (especially His disciples). It is also intended for you and I. Let us not miss the opportunity for self-examination.
- Are you feeling that you are a pretty tombstone? You look good to others on the outside, but inside is turmoil, sin, wickedness, evil, rebellion against God? There is hope. Click here for help and/or contact us. Your eternity is in the balance.
