“First clean the inside of the cup, so that the outside of it may also become clean.” —Matthew 23:26
The Pharisees were a Jewish sect noted for their strict interpretation and observance of religious law. They had all sorts of rules about what was and wasn’t acceptable. But the Pharisees were only concerned that their actions and words appeared proper to onlookers. The problem was they cleaned up the outside to look good, but the inside was still full of sin.
Jesus, however, taught that things must first be right on the inside. According to Jesus, external symbols of holiness—doing and saying the right things—are of no worth if the thoughts and attitudes of our hearts are not right.
How does Jesus’ advice relate to our speech?
When the thoughts and attitudes of our hearts are clean and pure, our words will also be clean and pure. If the inside sparkles, then the outside sparkles too! Jesus wants you to be clean—inside and out. And as the thoughts and attitudes rooted in your heart become clean and more beautiful, your words will also increase in beauty.
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Conversation Peace: Improving Your Relationships One Word at a Time (Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 2004)
Scripture taken from The CSB
Make it Personal
Ask God to make your heart clean and beautiful—and have that beauty become evident in your words.