One of the good things that should come out of this COVID-19 pandemic is the habit of washing our hands. I was taught to wash my hands before eating or after using the restroom or many other occasions. I have never been a germaphobe, but I’ve always used good common sense to know when I should wash them. Suddenly, washing hands has become a global obsession… and rightly so.
The Pharisees, who were teachers of religious laws, made a public showing of washing their hands. Jesus criticized them for all their symbolic washing away of any type of contamination. They forced everyone else to follow this practice, which was intended only for the priests. They were clean on the outside, but inside, they were filthy and full of greed and wickedness.
Using Jesus’ example, imagine only cleaning the outside of a cup and neglecting the inside. Would you drink from it? Of course not! Just as we need to care for the outer man, we need to take care of the inner man. Personally and privately, take your filthiness to God and allow him to cleanse you daily through confession and repentance. Pursue holiness and purity and you will be clean on the inside. Then go wash your hands!
Luke 11:39 (NLT) - Then the Lord said to him, “You Pharisees are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy - full of greed and wickedness!”