Are You Making a “GRAVE” Mistake?

Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ said in Matthew 23:27-28, “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.” 

Jesus is basically saying to the scribes and Pharisees, “You look great on the outside, but inside you stink like rotting corpses!” Every year, one month before Passover, the Jews would whitewash the tombs. It’s now only a few days before Passover and Jesus is probably looking at some tombs when He makes this scathing indictment of the Jewish religious leaders. These religious leaders appeared so spiritual and righteous on the outside, yet in their hearts they are plotting to murder Jesus! 

In Israel if anyone accidentally stepped on or touched a tomb or dead body, they would be considered “unclean” for seven days. They would have to go through the ritual cleansing required by the Law of  Moses (Numbers 19:16 -20), before they could again be accepted into the fellowship of the people and come into the Temple . Every year they would paint all of the tombs around Jerusalem with bright white paint so that the tombs would “stick out” even at night so people wouldn’t accidentally come into contact with a tomb.  

Appearances can be deceiving. Outwardly a person may be doing the right things, but is it because they’ve had an inward change of the heart, or is it just because they’re putting on a show? We can dress ourselves up in all kinds of religious activities, use spiritual jargon, and appear righteous, yet we can be dead spiritually. Unless you’ve been born again, unless Jesus Christ is your Lord AND Savior, you are dead in your trespasses and sin. It doesn’t matter how good you look on the outside. Don’t make a “grave” mistake by rejecting Jesus Christ who can cleanse you from the inside out.