A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW 

SEVEN WOES – NUMBER FIVE     

Matthew 23:25-26 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.” 

Could you imagine washing only the outside of a dirty cup or drinking glass? Frankly, if for some reason you would need to choose which to cleanse, that is, the outside or the inside, would it not be far more important to clean the inside? 

Remember in an earlier “woe” when Jesus said that the Pharisees put on an outward show of their “holiness” through the clothing they wore, claiming seats of honor, etc.? Jesus said, “A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” It is what is in a person’s heart that determines what they will think, say, and do. 

Today’s “woe” is a call by Jesus for you to examine your heart. This is done, as a previous devotion on these woes said, through the magnifying glass of God’s Word. His word, that is in this case, His Law is a mirror He has given you to examine what you think, say, and do to see if your life is in alignment with His will or not. 

First comes confession of sins. Next comes repentance. Finally, comes absolution. Your absolution, that is forgiveness, is dependent upon the blood of Jesus. “The blood of Jesus cleanses you of your sins.” (1 John 1:7) When your sins are forgiven then you are cleansed both inside and out. 

Prayer: Create a clean heart in me, O Lord, and give me a right spirit for Jesus’ sake. Amen. 

Create in me a clean heart, O God,   
And renew a right spirit within me.  
Cast me not away from Thy presence;   
And take not Thy Holy Spirit from me.  
Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation;   
And uphold me with Thy free spirit. Amen.  

Create in Me // LSB 956