Whitewashed Walls

I. Introduction: The Bible condemns the person who acts religious but is not dedicated to God. God wants our hearts and minds as well as godly actions.

II. Text:

III. Jewish leaders

A. Description

B. Matthew 25:25-28

C. Though the outside appeared clean, the inside was filthy. They were like tombs full of decay and corruption. On the outside they appeared holy, but God could see their neglect of the law and insincere love for God.

D. Examples

E. Hypocritical

F. Matthew 23:1-7 – Jesus criticized them for saying but not doing They wore masks. They acted righteous. They liked to be treated as holy yet they were unholy.

G. Disregarded the Law

H. Matthew 23:1-7 (just read)

I. They tell men to do more than what God even commanded. They put men’s traditions on the believers as well as God’s law.

J. Matthew 15:1-9 – Their own tradition supplanted the Law

K. They were more concerned by what appeared to be the right thing to do instead of what in truth was the right thing to do. We must be careful that we do not put our traditions and opinions on an equal plane with the law of God.

L. Feigned righteousness

M. John 18:28

N. The Jewish leaders had led Jesus through a series of corrupt trials to get Him convicted of a capital crime so Pilate would execute him. They bribed one of his followers to betray him, brought forth false witnesses, and drummed up false insurrection charges. However, they considered going into the house of a Gentile something that would defile them so they could not eat the Passover, therefore they would not go in. Albert Barnes: “Probably there is not anywhere to be found another such instance of petty regard to the mere ceremonies of the law, and attempting to keep from pollution, at the same time that their hearts were filled with malice, and they were meditating the most enormous of all crimes. But it shows us how much more concerned men will be at the violation of the mere forms and ceremonies of religion that they will be at real crime.”

O. We must be careful not to be concerned about some things but negligent about equally important things.

P. If you are vulgar in your speech or do things you know that a Christian ought not to do but will make sure that you are at church on Sunday to take the Lord’s supper, you are suffering from the same affliction that the Jews had—hypocrisy.1 Samuel 15:22-23 – The Lord desires obedience Psalm 51:15-17 – The Lord desires a contrite heart

IV. Genuine service

A. Godly thoughts

B. Transformation, Romans 12:1-2

C. Purify within,

D. Ask God to cleanse you, Psalm 51:7-10

E. Matthew 15:10-20 – Do not pollute yourself

F. Bad cholesterol – change your diet Bad thoughts – change your diet2 Corinthians 10:3-5 – Control your thoughts

G. Godly actions

H. If we love God, we will keep His commandments, 1 John 5:2-4 Exercise yourself towards righteousness, Hebrews 5:14

I. Be patient with yourself

J. Growth takes time and you must overcome many obstacles as you learn. Don’t be too critical of yourself when you fail, get up and try again.