Jesus said, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness.” Matthew 23:27.
He meant they appeared to be clean on the outside, but inside they were nothing but a grave, full of the bones and carcases of dead men. Jesus was getting at the issue of holiness. Holiness is not outward compliance with rules and regulations . . . that is the definition of legalism.
Holiness is a heart transformed, desiring to go God’s way. For the truly holy man or woman, no outward rules are required. The desire to please God, to obey God, to maintain fellowship with God will keep him or her from evil. The Christian has very few outward restraints on his or her conduct. The restraint is borne out of relationship with God.
May your heart be transformed so that you require no outward rules to make or keep you holy, but only a desire to please the heart of the Father, a love for the Son and the power of the Holy Spirit.
