“But Peter said to him, ‘Explain the parable to us.’
And Jesus said, ‘Are you also still without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is expelled? But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone.’”
Matthew 15:15-20 ESV

Piety is often wrongly seen as some kind of display, a show done to impress others. This was the case here in Matthew 15, as Jesus speaks to these poor spiritual habits of the the Pharisees. Putting on a show, so that others c an see just how supposedly pious you are does absolutely nothing, in regards to your relationship with God, that would be called beneficial.

Jesus had to deal with several different schools of thought when dealing with the Jewish people. Those belonging to the seed of Abraham were supposed to be the ambassadors of God to the nations, but they had become self-obsessed due to hardship and the beautiful message of redemption had become a series of rituals and procedures that separated rather than included.

That’s struggle still exists for God’s children today. That Church is supposed to be God’s liaison of hope to the world, but all too often we become self-obsessed for any number of reasons, and our mission is waylaid by pretense or worry that someone else might deem us unworthy. We are too concerned with what people think of us rather than being concerned with the state of our heart and remembering the way God sees us.

Jesus reminds us here, in His great wisdom and love, that our life is not about being seen by men and thought to be extra holy. Rather it is to be made holy by God because we are concerned with the state of our relationship with Him. We then take that concern, in the love and way in which we have been instructed, and show people, again, not how holy we are, but how wonderful and gracious and loving our God is instead.

One of my top 5 favorite passages of scripture is John 3:30, which simply says, “He must become greater, I must become less.” It is my constant reminder that my self-image must be found in Christ, not in my efforts. It is also my reminder that I must be filled with Him above all else. My works, my personal piety, my efforts are all tainted by my sin and they don’t amount to much. I am dirty. And as long as I focus on the external, and how I am seen, and neglect to inspect what I allow into my heart (through all forms of media and attitudes) I will continue in my filth.

But in the love of Christ, I am made pure.
In the blood of Christ, my sins are washed away.
In the pursuit of Christ, my life gains real meaning.
And in service to Christ, any goodness or righteousness or perceived piety that I have is found to have originated in Him.
It is in this love that I follow His commission to GoLove others and show them the freedom I have been afforded, and it is my pleasure to do just that…