Thoughts for the Day

Jesus said: ‘Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which on the outside look beautiful, but inside they are full of the bones of the dead and of all kinds of filth. So you also on the outside look righteous to others, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.'

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

At the start of Jesus' ministry we see him pronounce seven blessing on the righteous, which we looked at recently (Thoughts, 9 June 25), and which we know as the Beatitudes. But less well known is the seven woes uttered near the end of his ministry. These are pronounced against the unrighteous (or often the self-righteous) Pharisees and scribes, and others who:

1. Kept people out of God's kingdom (v. 13).
2. Took advantage of widows (v. 14).
3. Misled men to eternal destruction (v. 15).
4. Were covetous of worldly things (vv. 16-22).
5. Refused to show compassion (vv. 23-24).
6. Were inwardly corrupt (vv. 25-28).
7. Afflicted the righteous (vv. 29-31).

In today's reading Jesus calls the Pharisees and scribes "whitewashed tombs" (or "whited sepulchres"). At festival times those journeying to Jerusalem had to be especially careful to observe the purity laws, or they would have been unable to worship in the Temple. Tombs were often situated along the roadside, so to ensure no-one accidentally touched them and became unclean they were painted white. The symbolism when applied to these officials was crushing. Outside they looked like religious leaders who obeyed the Law of Moses, but inside they are full of sin, and corruption!

We might not be whited sepulchres but we too can be hypocrites, appearing to be one thing and actually to be another.

Lord Jesus Christ,
You pronounced the scribes and Pharisees as hypocrites,
seeming to be pious and obeying the Law of Moses,
but in reality seeking worldly glory.
Underneath their outward appearance
they were full of sin and corruption,
imposing impossible rules on the people
but were themselves like whited tombstones.
We too are not perfect though,
and we ask Your forgiveness for our sin.
May our outward appearance change to
reflect our faith in You and our desire
to truly follow Your path.
Amen.