October 26th~Whitewashed Tombs

Mark 12:28-34

Matthew 22:34-40

Mark 12:35-37

Matthew 22:41-46

Luke 20:41-44

Mark 12:38-40

Matthew 23:1-12

Luke 20:45-47

Matthew 23:13-39

Mark 12:41-44

Luke 21:1-4

The religious leaders continued their efforts to trap Jesus with difficult questions. For example, “Of all the commandments,” they asked Him, “which one is most important?” In short, Jesus answered with love God and love others. “All of the other commandments and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments” (Matthew 22:34-40). Jesus returned the favor and asked them a question. “If the Messiah is the Son of David, then why did David call Him Lord?” No one could answer Him, and after that no one dared to ask Him any more questions (v.41-46).

Following His interaction with these Pharisees, Jesus offered His harshest criticisms yet. “The teachers of religious law are the official interpreters of the Scriptures. Practice what they teach, but do not follow their example; for they don’t practice what they teach... Everything they do is for show!” (23:1-5).

He continued, “You are so careful to clean the outside of the cup, but inside you are filthy, full of greed and self-indulgence... You are like whitewashed tombs, beautiful on the outside but filled on the inside with dead people’s bones and all sorts of impurity. You try to look like upright people outwardly, but inside your hearts are filled with hypocrisy...” (v.25-28). He even called them blind fools, hypocrites, snakes, and sons of vipers!

Then, Jesus contrasted their despicable display of “faith and uprightness” with the measly offer- ing of a poor woman. Many rich people put large amounts of money in the Temple collection box, but a certain widow dropped in two pennies. “I assure you,” Jesus said, “this woman has given more than all the others...; as poor as she is, she’s given everything” (Mark 12:41-44). Here was genuine faith and humility.

Daily Reflection

It is easy for us to shake our heads at the Pharisees in Jesus’ day and think to ourselves, “What terrible people they were,” but, truthfully, we oftentimes do the same things. What would hypocritical Pharisaism look like today?

Have you ever been guilty of doing religious things for show, only to impress others or make yourself look good? Explain.

Describe the opposite of Pharisaism. What does genuine Christian living look like?

You may do all of the right things and say all of the right words, but are your motives pure? Is your heart right with God? Are you living only to impress others or are you seeking to please God, no matter what others think? How terrible it would be for someone to say of you, “Listen to what he says, but do not follow his example.” Don’t be a whitewashed tomb, one who only looks good on the outside but whose true intentions are rotten.

BiAY.org |Day 299 — 66 Days to Go