Inside Out
Caiaphas was the Jewish high priest during the time of Jesus—a position of immense religious power. He led the Sanhedrin, the ruling council, and was responsible for overseeing temple worship, preserving purity laws, and maintaining order. Outwardly, Caiaphas embodied everything a faithful leader should be: trained in the law, robed in priestly garments, and devoted to tradition. But when Jesus began challenging the religious system—not with rebellion, but with compassion, truth, and authority—Caiaphas saw a threat, not a Savior. Instead of seeking God’s heart, he clung to control. He orchestrated Jesus’ arrest and trial, even breaking Jewish legal procedures to secure a death sentence. Though he upheld the law in appearance, his heart was far from God. Caiaphas reminds us it’s possible to look holy, follow every rule, and still reject God.
Mark 7:1–23
One day, some religious leaders gathered around Jesus and noticed that His disciples weren’t washing their hands in the traditional way before eating. This wasn’t about hygiene—it was about ritual rules. To the Pharisees, breaking these customs meant spiritual failure. But Jesus didn’t agree. He told them, “You honor God with your lips, but your hearts are far from him.” Then He turned to the crowd and said something radical: “It’s not what goes into a person that defiles them—it’s what comes out.”
Later, in private, Jesus explained more. It’s not unwashed hands or food that makes someone unclean in God’s eyes—it’s the things that flow from the heart: pride, greed, envy, deceit. Holiness isn’t about controlling the outside. It’s about letting God change the inside—our thoughts, desires, and motives—so that our words and actions reflect His love and truth.
Things to Ponder
Why do you think Jesus cared more about the heart than about following rituals or customs?
Have you ever seen someone act one way in public but be very different in private? What does that reveal?
Are there “rules” we sometimes follow just to look good, even if our hearts aren’t in it?
What are some ways we can ask God to help clean our hearts, not just our behavior?
Application Challenge
This week, try paying attention not just to what you do, but why you do it. When you say something kind, is it coming from love—or habit? When you make a choice, is it because it honors God—or because it looks good to others?
What would it look like to invite God into those quiet, hidden places—the thoughts no one sees, the reactions you feel deep down? Could He be using your ordinary days to shape you into someone more deeply kind, humble, and honest? Small choices of integrity and love, even when unnoticed, are signs of real holiness.
Prayer Prompt
Dear God, we don’t want to just look like we follow You. We want to be close to You. Please help us see the places in our hearts that need Your love to change them. Make us more like Jesus—not just in what we do, but in who we are. Shape our words, our thoughts, and our actions from the inside out.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.