Daily Devotional For Sunday, February 8, 2026
Good day Southside. We are making our way through the Gospel of Matthew and today we come to Matthew 23. Because Jesus has much to say in this chapter that is the whole chapter, we are going to break it down into parts. Today, we are entering into the section that is called the “8 woes” because Jesus begins each one with the word “woe.”Some do not include the “woe” in Matthew 23:14 because it is not in the oldest manuscripts of Matthew. It was added later because this verse is found in Mark 12:40 and Luke 20:47. At some time it was incorporated into Matthew 23. We are going to take each of these “woes” individually. Today, we come to the 5th/6th “woe” in Matthew 23:25-26:
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full of robbery and self-indulgence. (26) You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the dish, so that the outside of it may become clean also” (NASB).
This “woe” by Jesus against the Scribes and Pharisees is a condemnation of their refusal to distinguish between external correctness and internal cleanliness. These religious leaders were so obsessed with staying “clean” that they took their daily utensils and not only cleaned them, but they made them ceremonially clean. Staying clean ceremonially was an obsession for the religious leaders. Jesus’ criticism of them is about how they were intentional to take care of the external cleanliness that they failed to clean themselves internally or spiritually. Their utensils were clean, but internally they were defiled.
How were they defiled? Jesus told us– through greed, robbery and self-indulgence. In other words, the religious leaders were only concerned for their own personal needs, not the spiritual needs of the people under their care and responsibility. Outwardly they appeared clean and holy, but internally, their hearts were soiled, defiled and corrupt. Had they been spiritually clean internally, they would not have to focus so much on external cleanliness.
Jesus was not attacking the rituals of cleanliness, but what was cleaned and what was not. The word translated as “robbery” is the Greek New Testament word [ἁρπαγή; harpagē]. It is often translated as “greed” or “rapaciousness.” If we read this in the context Jesus intended, He said they had obtained their external cleanliness through violence and selfishness.” The Good News Translation translates it this way (see Matthew 23:25). How many people in the church today are just like this? Probably most. Every week people come to church looking well, smelling good, and dressed well, but internally, their hearts are far from the Lord. During the week, how much did we spend on ourselves to appear good rather than spiritually to be humble, obedient, self-denying? As a result, such people have two options:
- They can continue the charade and live as if nothing was wrong sinfully and behave as if all is well between them and the Lord. For example, their marriage may be failing or they are an absentee parent or their significant other relationship are in shambles or,
- They can get to the sins in their lives and deal with them.
The terms “hypocrite” and “hypocrites” are used a total of 14 times in the New Testament. Twelve of these are in Matthew’s Gospel, six of these in Matthew 23:13-33, and two in our passage for today. The Greek New Testament word “hypocrite” [ὑποκριτής; hupokritēs] means ‘one who wears a mask to play a role.” In Greek plays, actors often played multiple roles and to distinguish which role they were playing they wore a different mask. In the same vein, a spiritual hypocrite is one who appears to be in the role of a Christian when in reality they are being fake and just acting. It’s all for show.
In Matthew’s Gospel, he primarily uses this word to refer to spiritual hypocrites who play a role, or put on a show to get the applause of others rather than the approval of God. Every week people come to church in their Sunday appearance while at the same time believing that living together, or have premarital sex or extra-marital sex or looking at porn or partying until they are drunk or using language like a sailor or they abuse or neglect their marriage and children . . . . I could go on and on. I think you get the point.
Like the religious leaders some come to church and put on a show and get rewarded for it. They get congratulated on their clothing or perfume/cologne or hair – the externals. They seek the applause of others but not the approval of God. They leave a worship service just like they came into it – a hypocrite.
Reflection Assignment: When it comes to your own life, when you come to church or are around other Christians (such as in a community group), what do they see? Are you putting on a show, acting or do you confess your sins to them as the Book of James commands us (see James 5:16). Are you real or fake? Are you transparent? What do you think would happen if you did what James 5:16 says with other believers?
Scripture To Meditate On: Proverbs 28:13, “He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, But he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion” (NASB).
Prayer To Pray: “Dear Lord, I know I cannot hide anything from You. I do not want to live a fake life. I do not want to play a role and put on a show. I want to be real, transparent and confessional. If I do not have your approval, but only the applause of others, in the end, it will not matter nor count. Help me remember Your warning in Luke 8:17. I want Your approval Lord. In Jesus’ name, Amen!”
I love you Southside! – Pastor Kelly