The Jesus Bible Reading Plan / COVERING UP THE REAL PROBLEM

The Jesus Bible Reading Plan

Day 259 of 365 COVERING UP THE REAL PROBLEM God's rage burned against Jerusalem's false prophets, and his message was clear: Their city was going to be destroyed because of the sins of its inhabitants. Still these deceitful prophets gave God's people a false sense of hope. They reassured the people that their society's problems were not that bad, and they minimized the consequences of their sins. God spoke through Ezekiel to tell these prophets that they had "whitewashed" the sin problem in their city, covering over what was a deadly serious problem with whitewash paint. Because they covered up the problem of the people's sin but never really dealt with it, God would crush these false prophets under that same whitewashed stone wall when the city was destroyed. Jesus warned the religious leaders during his day in a similar way, saying they were like "whitewashed tombs" (Mt 23:27 - 28). From the outside, their religious exterior looked good and presentable, but their empty religious practices were like rotting decay and dry bones on the inside. Sinful people will never be made whole until their problems are addressed all the way down to the core. Covering up the problem of sin never makes that sin go away. Only Jesus can heal the brokenness and restore relationships between people, and between believers and God (Ro 6:1 - 14). Jesus, please don't ever let me be like whitewashed tombs. Help me to always be honest with you and with others. Amen. Ezekiel 13:10-16 NASB 10 It is definitely because they have misled My people by saying, 'Peace!' when there is no peace. And when anyone builds a wall, behold, they plaster it over with whitewash; 11 so tell those who plaster it over with whitewash, that it will fall. A flooding rain will come, and you, O hailstones, will fall; and a violent wind will break out. 12 Behold, when the wall has fallen, will you not be asked, 'Where is the plaster with which you plastered it? '" 13 Therefore, thus says the Lord G od , "I will make a violent wind break out in My wrath. There will also be in My anger a flooding rain and hailstones to consume it in wrath. 14 So I will tear down the wall which you plastered over with whitewash and bring it down to the ground, so that its foundation is laid bare; and when it falls, you will be consumed in its midst. And you will know that I am the L ord . 15Thus I will spend My wrath on the wall and on those who have plastered it over with whitewash; and I will say to you, 'The wall is gone and its plasterers are gone, 16 along with the prophets of Israel who prophesy to Jerusalem, and who see visions of peace for her when there is no peace,' declares the Lord G od . Matthew 23:27-28 NASB 27 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness.  28 So you, too, outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.