Thoroughly Clean

Last week in Jerusalem we spent a day walking the old Temple Mount and visiting the Western Wall, also known as the Wailing Wall.  The rabbis that go there everyday are dedicated to praying at that special part of the Temple Mount.  When the Temple was destroyed in 70 AD, not a stone was left on top of another, just as the Lord had predicted.  However, due to the topography of the land with two deep valleys on two sides of the Temple, there was a retaining wall that remained.  The bottom twenty-five feet or so on the Western side was a retaining wall for the Temple of the Lord's day.  That makes it a special place.  The rabbis of today go through a special preparation process so they may pray effectively.  They go through a hand washing ceremony.  They put on their prayer shawl and their phylacteries (You can see a small wooden box on this rabbi's forehead and also the straps that hold the box on his arm.  His arm box is actually sitting on the inside of his arm right above the elbow.).  These little boxes hold some part of the law, in response to the Shema, that I addressed yesterday.

I don't know if this is exactly like it was in the Lord's day, but I don't think much has changed.  The Sanhedrin that came against Jesus was a part of men like these.  Notice what he says to them in Matthew 23:25-26- “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. ²⁶ You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean. Also notice v. 5- They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad.  Now, please don't get the wrong message from me.  I was humbled at the Wailing Wall as well as the special rabbinical tunnel that we entered in that same area.   These men's intensity to pray and dedication to prepare to pray and time spent in prayer humbled me.  Oh, that most Christians, would be so set on prayer!  Jesus had a burden for the men of his day that did this kind of public praying and so He speaks to it.  I have a burden about the lack of prayer today in the average Christian's life and the average Church's life.   Let's not pretend we are clean and keep walking in our sin.  Let's not try to look the part and not really live the part.  Today, let's genuinely be cleaned thoroughly by the forgiveness of God and shine brightly for His Honor and Glory!

I hope to see you in worship this morning!