Entry
Clean the inside of the cup first / Inside first
What did Jesus mean
What’s inside your mind is all that matters.
Where did Jesus say this
Matthew 23:25-26 — “First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.”
A history lesson
In Jesus’s time, men and women of a certain status and wealth wore elaborate clothing, jewelry, and hairstyles to send a signal. “I am wealthy; therefore, I am important and good.” (Sounds familiar, doesn’t it?) It even led to distinct class divisions within religious settings. Jesus called this out many times. The above verse is just one example. You could say Jesus was flipping the script. “You say you’re good because you wear expensive things and appear religious? Spoiler alert: you’re only graded on the inside.”
What Jesus did not mean
He wasn’t telling you how to clean the dishes. You can clean the inside or the outside of a cup however you choose.
He also wasn’t saying that external factors don’t matter at all.
But to understand that, you must first understand how external factors apply to today’s world.
Yes, it can span to include a nice bag, a new set of lips, or an expensive pair of tennis shoes. But it can also expand to include what you’ve accomplished at work, how well you did in school, or how many followers you have on social media. Those are nice and all. But none of it actually matters. It’s fluff. It’s fake “stuff” the world imposes on you.
Take all of that “stuff” away, and it’s just you and your mind. Now ask yourself: What does my mind look like with nothing to cover it up? No degrees, no job, no cars, no foundation. Just you and your mind. Does it still look expensive and accomplished?
Where to start
With intention. Understand why you wear what you wear, do what you do, and choose what you choose. If it’s not authentic, stop performing for others.
With release. Understand that what matters to the physical world doesn’t always matter to the spiritual world. A law degree doesn’t mean you have a healthy mind or a good heart.
Benefits
Alignment with your true self and with the kingdom of God.
Once you discover what pulls you closer to righteousness, embrace it. Only then can you truly be yourself.
Also said as: clean the inside of the cup and dish · cleanse first what is within the cup · whitewashed tombs