Whitewashing

Jesus said, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You are like whitewashed tombs, which appear beautiful on the outside, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of filth. Even so, on the outside you appear righteous, but inside you are filled with hypocrisy and evildoing. “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the memorials of the righteous, and you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would not have joined them in shedding the prophets’ blood.’ Thus you bear witness against yourselves that you are the children of those who murdered the prophets; now fill up what your ancestors measured out!” (Matthew 23:27-32)

Jesus certainly goes after hypocrites and evildoers.  He spares no vivid description having us clearly understand his contempt for them.  What better depiction than their insides being filled with “dead men’s bones and every kind of filth.”  We look okay on the outside, but never judge a book by its cover.  I say “we” because we all are hypocrites to one degree or another.  Perhaps it’s our human nature.  Jesus takes note.

“Do as I say, not as I do” is a favorite line of hypocrites.  “Putting our money where our mouths are” is not likely for many of us realizing that the doing is a lot harder than the saying.  Such is the case with politics, regardless of the political party.  Nevertheless, those with the power must not be whitewashed tombs, whitewashing lies with deceit to claim filth as truth. 

Deacon David Pierce