Show that Your Heart is Cleansed

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Scripture:

Luke 11:37   While he was speaking, a Pharisee invited him to dine with him; so he went in and took his place at the table. ³⁸ The Pharisee was amazed to see that he did not first wash before dinner. ³⁹ Then the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. ⁴⁰ You fools! Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also? ⁴¹ So give for alms those things that are within; and see, everything will be clean for you.

Observation:

Luke had just finished Jesus’ preaching regarding the person filled with light. Probably because he wanted to look important, a Pharisee invitee Jesus home to dine with him. This meal was the mid-morning meal eaten after morning prayers. Jesus knew that he was being used for entertainment by this man. It was customary for very religious Jews to follow practices of ritual cleansing prior to eating, and also, sometimes throughout the meal. Jesus did not engage in this practice and it seems to disturb the Pharisee. 

Notice that the Pharisee didn’t ask Jesus about this, but Jesus knew what the man is thinking. The man probably didn’t get the entertainment that he had been hoping for, because Jesus spoke directly to him, and hinted at the fact that he knew what is in the man’s heart. The light about which he had preached was not present, because the man was only concerned with how he appeared on the outside, and not what was on the inside. 

Jesus called the man out, calling him foolish! There can be no division between the inside and the outside, for God made them both and together, they make up the individual. Wesley puts it this way, “By acts directly contrary to rapine and wickedness, show that your hearts are cleansed, and these outward washings are needless” (Wesley notes). 

Application:

True discipleship is visible to the world, for heart change involves life change. The ways in which we live our lives every day speaks volumes about the love we have for Christ. It is heart purity that leads to heartfelt ministry. God’s people are a generous people, giving to those who are in need. 

The founder of the Church of the Nazarene, Phineas Bresee said the purpose of the church was to preach scriptural holiness and minister to the poor. You see, he saw the connection to heart holiness and ministry. Through the years we have seen so much life transformation that we have created distance between ourselves and the poor. When that happens we may look clean on the inside, but we may be lacking in our hearts. This is when we have to take time to re-examine ourselves and our mission, and maybe have a heart check-up. 

Jesus was critical of the religious leaders who were stingy when it came to the poor. Somehow holiness of heart and life was to be reflected in a generous spirit toward the poor and needy. The world will see if our hearts are cleansed by the way we respond to those in need. 

Prayer:

Lord, the ways in which you challenge the Pharisees, challenges me. Search my heart, oh God. Amen.