Devotion (The Trumpeter):
Don't be a whited sepulchre

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. Matthew 23:27KJV

The Lord Jesus in His days in Israel was very calm and kind even though very bold. He was kind and loving to all but there was a group of people He wouldn’t and couldn’t put up with. These were the religious folks, mostly the scribes and Pharisee.

Jesus says that anyone whose fruits of righteousness will not exceed that of the pharisee, will not enter into the Kingdom of God. He will not be part of the Kingdom that the Lord will set up on earth.
“For I say unto you that unless your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the Kingdom of Heaven…..Matthew 5:20KJV”

You have to understand that the righteousness in question here is the fruits of righteousness. There are Christians who have been misled into thinking that since they have received the gift and nature of righteousness, what Jesus said doesn’t apply to them. No! it applies to the Christian. The master here is referring to the works of righteousness. Therefore, it becomes imperative to understand the character and attitude of these scribes and pharisees.
Jesus always referred to these groups of people as hypocrites, they always presented a pretentious religious life. They will say but never do what they say.

They will preach righteousness whilst living in sin. They condemned themselves because they knew what was right but would not do it. These folks were not ignorant, they knew what was right but will not do. Actually they enjoyed doing evil.

“Then spoke Jesus to the multitude and to His disciples, saying, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do ye not according to their works; for they say, and do not………Matthew 23:1-3KJV”
James warned Christians about the same thing “But be ye doers of the Word and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves……James 1:22KJV”
He says that the Christian who is just a preacher or hearer of the Word but not a doer, deceives himself .
It didn’t only apply to the old testament folks but the Christian too. You are a Christian, go to church but sleep with someone’s husband and you think it will not matter when Jesus returns, you are deceiving yourself.

You are a pastor but sleeping with women in the church and you think it won’t matter when Jesus returns, you are deceiving yourself. You hide under grace to do evil and you think it wont matter, you are deceiving yourself. Repent!
You hide behind ministry to steal and make merchandise of the church and you think it wont matter because of grace, you deceive yourself. The grace is you being given room to repent, don’t let it run out.

Paul says,
“Or despisest thou the riches of His goodness and forbearance and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?……Romans 2:4KJV”why despise God’s grace, goodness and forbearance? Don’t you know that His patience towards you is that He is waiting on you to repent and not that you will go free if you wont?

Paul told the Galatian Christians,
“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap…..Galatians 6:7KJV”

Paul didn’t make this statement to the world but to Christians.
God is not to be mocked. Don’t mock God in pretense of being a Christian
Paul says,
“For what business is it of mine to judge outsiders (non-believers)? Do you not
judge those who are within the church [to protect the church as the situation
requires]?……1 Corinthians 5:12AMP”

You go pointing fingers on the prostitutes and fornicators of the world but ignores the fornicators and adulterers in the church because you think they are covered by grace.
Wicked Pastors, what right have you to judge the sinners of the world when you don’t rebuke the sinning christians?
Repent!
Don’t you know that he that is waiting on the promise of the soon return of Jesus should purify himself as He Jesus is pure
“And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure….1 John 3:3KJV”

Don’t be a whited selpulchre! Whited tombs look garnished and beautiful outwardly when within , they are full of dead men’s bones. They stink within.

God bless you!