Whitewashed Tombs

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Scripture: Matthew 23:27-28 (ESV)

27 “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 uncleanness. 28 So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

Devotion:

            Today’s scripture might be confusing to a modern reader. After all we do not whitewash tombs anymore. In Jesus day, however, the practice was quite common. According to Old Testament law coming in contact with a tomb made ceremonially unclean for seven days. So, in order to avoid such contamination, the Jewish people would whitewash their tombs to make them conspicuous to all who passed by. The tombs would look wonderful on the outside but inside they were full of decay and rot.

            Jesus likens the Pharisees to these tombs. Jesus was not simply calling the Pharisees names in these verses where he is critical of them. Rather he is hoping that they will repent of their lawlessness and follow after him. Jesus is also calling out to us who take the name of Christian to examine our hearts closely to make sure that we are not being hypocrites. If we do find some area where our deeds do not match up with what Jesus calls us to do or be, we need to repent right now so that we can have a clean heart before our God.

            We need to examine ourselves carefully as we approach the Lenten season. Is there any false way within us? Is there any area of our life in thought, word, or deed that is full of corruption and decay like those whitewashed tombs of Jesus’ day? If there is, we will need to repent and use our Lenten practices of abstinence to rid our lives of this pollution. If we find something, then we can rest assured that our God will forgive us and rid us of the corruption we find within us.

            We must not, however, use this time to point out anyone else’s problems or shortcomings. Lent is a time of personal devotion to God. Our job during these forty days is to take care to clean up our own life not to try to clean up our neighbor’s life. Let God deal with every person according to his will.

Prayer:

            Holy Lord, help us as we approach this Lenten season to be aware of any way within us that does not conform to your holy ways. Grant us a full and complete repentance from any sin that your Holy Spirit brings to our attention during this time of self-reflection. We know that we sin against you everyday and yet you are merciful and do not treat us as our sins deserve. We do not deserve the steadfast love with which you love us. Help us to be grateful people. Lead us in your way. Amen. 

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