Whited Sepulchers - Matthew 23:27

Matthew the apostle wrote how Jesus said, “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. You blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also”, and in chapter twenty-three and verse twenty-seven of his book Matthew shared how Jesus called the “scribes and Pharisees”, “whited sepulchers” where we read:

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you are like unto whited sepulchers, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.

The verse reads, “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you are like unto whited sepulchers, ...”. Matthew began with the words, “woe unto you” which is “used an expression of grief or denunciation toward the religious leaders”, “scribes” or “men who were learned in the Mosaic law and in the sacred writings as interpreters and teachers” “and Pharisees” which means “the sect that seems to have started after the Jewish exile. In addition to Old Testament books the Pharisees recognized in oral tradition a standard of belief and life”, “hypocrites” or “actors, stage players, dissemblers and pretenders”! “for you are like unto whited sepulchers” which means “because, since and on account that the scribes and Pharisees are similar and in likeness to whitewashed or lime and plaster covered graves or burial sites”. Matthew shared how Jesus said the “scribes and Pharisees” were similar to “whitewashed graves”.

The verse continues, “... which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.” Matthew added the words, “which indeed appear beautiful outward” which means “that even so and also look, are seen as and seem blooming and flourishing on the outside”, “but” or “however, nonetheless and nevertheless” “are within” which means “are on the inside” “full of dead men's bones” or “filled and swollen with lifeless, deceased and departed people's bones”, “and of all” which means “and with every kind of” “uncleanness” or “impurity”. Matthew shared how Jesus said “graves or tombs” look very “pleasing to the eye” on the outside, however, they are actually filled with the “bones” of dead people and all sorts of “impurities”.

When we consider Matthew's words in this verse, we see how Jesus used another example to show how the “scribes and Pharisees” were among the people. Outwardly, they looked like “whitewashed” tombs which was a practice for those who desired to honor their dead, and yet, inside there was nothing but people's “bones” and “filthy uncleanness”. God desires a relationship with people that is honest about what is going on inside of them. Though outwardly there may be “whitewash” or “a beautiful presentation” for others to see, “filthiness and uncleanness” may exist inside. The way to receive forgiveness of sins through Jesus Christ is to confess them before Him, and as promised in the book of First John chapter one and verse nine, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” May all who read these words take heed to the warning given to the “scribes and Pharisees” and allow Jesus to clean up the “dead bones and impurities” within.

Next time we see Matthew write how Jesus tells the scribe and Pharisees how they, “appear righteous unto men, but within are full of hypocrisy and iniquity”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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