Jesus on Cleanliness Inside – Out

In today Gospel reading Jesus warned the people who had invited him over for a meal that they should take a look inside themselves. They were spending a great deal of time, energy, and worry over being clean outside. While being clean outside was good, the bigger issue was on the inside – whether their hearts were clean.

Knowing them and their values, Jesus challenged them to do something that would reveal just who they really were, inside and out. He spoke to their very weaknesses. While they may have looked religious and righteous on the outside, he knew that their weakness was consuming them on the inside.

Even today right now Jesus’ challenge still stands – take a look on the inside. And the monster on the inside for a lot of us today is still the same – greed, anger, unforgiveness, pride and the list goes on.

Read Jesus’ statement to the Pharisees again in the Gospel, and now insert your own name instead of the word “Pharisees”. How does that feel? Remember that Jesus never scolds without the desire for change and growth.

You and I know our very weakness which is not only affecting us but the Lord, our Abba Father. So whenever we read the Word of God let it lead us to change a little more and grow a little more in His likeness.