Matthew 23: 25-26; 28 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full of robbery and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the dish, so that the outside of it may become clean also. 28 So you, too, outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

I loaded up my dishwasher today while cleaning the kitchen. A little while later I went back through the kitchen and noticed one more knife in the sink, so I popped it in the dishwasher. But wait! I realized I had already ran the dishwasher, and had just put a dirty knife in with all of the clean ones. Not very helpful.

The Pharisees were very careful to perform the ceremonial washing of their dishes, but as Jesus pointed out, they were not as careful to maintain the same standards on the inside. When we let unrepentant sin remain in our hearts, it’s like putting dirty dishes in with the clean. It won’t get the dirty dishes clean, but it will get the clean dishes dirty.

Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. Psalm 51:10 NASB

-Kevi

 

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