Former Jewish Temple in Indianapolis
Here is a portion of verse 27, from Matthew Chapter 23.
“You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and everything unclean.”
This was perhaps the hardest chapter for me to deal with so far. I identify most strongly with the loving side of Jesus, and this chapter is full of warnings for the Pharisees. Sometimes its hard to reconcile a loving God with statements like the one above. Nonetheless, my faith in His love can not waiver.
I ended up with these words because of the juxtaposition they present with words I recall from elsewhere, words more reminiscent of that loving side of Jesus.
Words like these, from 1 Corinthians 6:19:
“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?”
Which best describes me? Am I a temple, with the Holy Spirit dwelling within? Or am I a tomb, with “dead men’s bones” rattling around and the foul smells of “everything unclean” emanating from a carefully crafted exterior presentation?
Its not hard, when its described like this, to decide which I would prefer, but in truth, I am sometimes one, sometimes the other. When I fear or suspect that I’m leaning toward the tomb, it is heartening to know that Jesus has given complete and easy to understand instructions on how to undergo a conversion that will leave me a more suitable abode for the Spirit.
Those instructions are also found in Matthew 23, this time in verse 12.
“For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
For when I am humble, I am invariably the temple.
Which is why I pray on a regular basis,