Matthew 23:26 Clean The Inside First

Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean. Matthew 23:26

Cleaning dishes is something that is needed to be done on a daily basis. In order for a cup to be clean, one must wash both the inside and the outside of the cup. No one would want to drink out of a cup that is clean on the outside, but dirty on the inside.

The focus of cleaning must start with the inside and then move to the outside.

Jesus was pointing out the wrongs in the Pharisees. On the outside they appeared good and clean, but were full of greed and self-indulgence inside. Jesus said the inside of the cup has to be cleaned first, then the outside will be cleaned.

There are many people who go to church looking good. As they go to church they look nice. They carry a bible, dress up nice, quote some scriptures and can sing all the songs in the service. On the outside they appear to be good Christians.

Inside, their hearts shows a different picture. They are full of greed, they are all about themselves and show and are very rude to others.

The problem with this appearance is that man cannot tell just by looking at them how corrupt they are on the inside. The outside is clean, but the inside if filthy dirty.

Believers who truly want to be like Jesus, will first work on cleaning up their inside. Once the inside is cleaned up, the outside will automatically follow. Everything starts with the heart and flows out from there.

Jesus later says that many will call Him, Lord, but will be rejected. This is because their hearts were not changed, but only the outward appearance. God sees the heart.

As you examine your life, you must ask yourself if what a person sees on the outside, while you are in church, matches what is really in your heart.

Allow God to change you from the inside out. Your heart has to be cleaned up first. This is done by both the Holy Spirit and your choices. Choose to be like Jesus in your heart first, so that the outside will match the inside.

Be a believer and follower of Jesus, both in your heart and in your actions starting with your heart.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Savior; that you will allow the Holy Spirit to clean up your heart; that you will love God with all of your heart; that your actions of following Jesus will come from your heart; and that you will be clean for God on both the inside and the outside.