The Inner Self

"The Inner Self" - Matthew 23:25-28 The sixth "woe" (27) has to do with externalism. The Pharisees, careful "to maintain an outward display" of religiosity and morality, had hearts full of rapine (theft, crime) and injustice. They had to first clean what was inside the cup and the dish, that is, to ensure that their hearts were cleansed by repentance and faith. Then, and only then, would their outward conduct be acceptable.

I. There is a difference between our person and our personality.

A. Personality: this is what we want others to believe we are.

1. God emphasizes the person, who we really are.

2. He desires truth in the innermost (Psalm 5:6).

3. That is difficult for Him on earth, Truth in the intimate!

4. The spirit of man in this verse is generally understood as referring to conscience (Proverbs 20:27).

5. It is Jehovah who gives it to us and serves as a lamp, shedding light on our thoughts; motives, (reason for how you move, speak) affections and actions, a) affection (inclination, fondness), actions (act or fact).

6. It approves and reproves the innermost thoughts and intentions of our lives (Romans 2:14-15).

7. (Proverbs 20:30) The "predominant" thinking (power over something, imposes, excels) seems to be that physical punishment is of value when it comes to moral evil.

8. A child will remember the pain of the last spanking when he is tempted to steal from his mother's purse.

9. (Psalm 51:6)" But You abhor sin and love faithfulness in the "inward" part of man, that is why I now come to You and ask You to "teach" me "wisdom" in the "depths of my heart."

10. God demands reality, sincerity, "true" holiness, fidelity of heart.

11. He has "no interest in pretended purity (feigned, false) "looks at the mind, the heart, the soul."

12. The Holy One of Israel has always esteemed the brethren in their "interior" nature (not what is intended), and not in what they profess externally; for Him the interior is as visible as the exterior (the interior is seen outside) and He rightly judges that "the essential character of an action is found in the motive of the one who performs it."

13. (Mark 7:15, 20, 23) It is not what enters a man's mouth that defiles him (like food) but what "comes out of a man."

14. It is what comes from the heart that defiles a person: perverse machinations, fornications, murders, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, shamelessness, envy, gossip, arrogance.

15. This was how the scribes and Pharisees had gained authority as teachers of the Word.

16. You know what? Anyone wants to pretend that he is a teacher of the Word with the help of verses at his convenience; beware of such deceivers who pretend to teach when they are not teachers of the Lord.

17. The Lord Jesus had to warn people that it is the Word that accredits (gives assurance that someone is what he represents or seems; he has the right to perform a certain task) to humans, not men who credit the Word.

18. The great touchstone must always be: What does the Word of God say?

19. (John 14:17) The Holy Spirit is called the "Spirit of truth" because "His teaching is true and glorifies Christ," which is the truth.

20. The world cannot receive the Holy Spirit because it cannot see Him.

21. Unbelievers want to see before they believe.

22. The unsaved "do not know or understand "the Holy Spirit."

23. He may convict them of sin and yet they do not know who He is.

24. The disciples knew the Holy Spirit.

25. They had known His work in their own lives and had seen Him work through the Lord Jesus.

26. "He dwells with us and will be in us."

27. Before Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came upon men and dwelt "with" them.

28. But since Pentecost, when someone believes in the Lord Jesus, the Spirit takes His dwelling in that man's life.

29. The Holy Spirit is never taken away from any believer, though it can be grieved, quenched, and hindered.

30. (Romans 2:29) A Jew is one who is not only a descendant of Abraham but also manifests a godly life.

31. True circumcision is a matter of the heart, not a mere literal cut of the body, but the spiritual reality of surgery "on the old nature" not regenerated.

32. A true Jew is one whose character is such that he will receive praise... of God.

33. (2 Corinthians 4:16-18) Wherefore he did not faint.

34. The body changes from time to time: however, we have the awareness of being the same people.

35. The apostle Paul, in all those afflictions he endured, can refer to them as a "light tribulation."

36. Although on the one hand the process of "physical deterioration" was constantly at work, on the other hand there was "a change", a "spiritual renewal", which leads us to "continue" "in spite of all" adverse circumstances.

37. "This outer man of ours is decaying."

38. We see it very clearly in our bodies!

39. (18) Light tribulation is momentary, while glory is eternal.

40. (1 Peter 3:4) The clothing that makes a believer truly attractive is "the person's inner being."

41. Everything external physical is temporary.

42. This is a challenge that Peter makes of us.

43. Choose Brothers: What Is Important? It must be your inner being, the outside does not fulfill.

44. Our inner beings should not be dressed in rags.

45. It is not what they think of you on earth.

46. God considers "of great value" the jewel of a gentle and peaceful spirit, (a) soft, disciplined, submissive, or quiet; (b) Peaceful- Docile, affable, peaceful person with friendly treatment, calm, good humor. a. disciplined, submissive); Subjected; bend the back. Amen