Self Image - Week 5: Monday

Bible Passage

Matthew 23:25-28

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness."

Commentary

Fr. Tadros Malaty

Indeed, it is very dangerous for man to be concerned about the outer appearances in worshiping, without encountering the Lord Jesus Himself, the essence of our worship and mystery of our life. In this case worshiping will not be a cup for salvation, but it will rather carry death for the soul and hardship for the body. Man’s life will be transformed to a beautiful grave from the outside, described by people as spiritually beautiful and pure, for it is painted, where as in its inside it contains a dead and defiled soul, where Christ cannot find a dwelling for Himself in.