Are You a Whitewashed Tomb?

Daily Devotional – Friday, February 2, 2024
For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness.
Matthew 23:27 (NKJV)

Jesus reserved arguably His harshest criticism for the religious leaders of His day. He did not mince words when condemning the hypocrisy of the spiritual elites. Of the thirty-nine verses of Matthew chapter 23, only the last three do not address self-righteousness and pretense.

Woe to You Hypocrites

Here is an excerpt: “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. Even so, you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness” (Matthew 23:27–28).

This scathing attack reminds me of one of the most beautiful places in my capital city. It is a war-time cemetery that has the best-arranged and polished tombstones. People go there to escape the hustle and bustle of the city, relax, and take photos. Below the surface, however, are dead bones.

Are you a Whitewashed tomb?

Jesus hates hypocrisy in Christians the same way He detested it among the scribes and Pharisees. When we put up public shows to please our religious leaders, family members, and the public in general while living a lie, we become mere whitewashed tombs. If we fear public opinion more than we respect God, our profession is an abomination to Him.

Only by surrendering fully to Jesus and making Him the priority in our lives can we overcome hypocrisy. It makes no sense to please mere mortals while living in sin at the expense of our relationship with God. Instead of remaining a whitewashed tomb, why not allow the man who rose from the tomb to make you a new creature, an all-weather Christian?

Prayer
Lord Jesus, come, dwell in me, and get rid of all hypocrisy.