How to get a clean heart (Matt 23)

[zoidar]

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full of robbery and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the dish, so that the outside of it may become clean also.
/Matt 23:25-26

I have been thinking a lot about how you get a cleaner heart. Jesus tells to first clean the inside of the cup. Does it have to do with actions or how do you understand this? It would be great if someone could share personal experiences.

Blessings and love, though Jesus Christ!

 

[com7fy8]

Pray for God to make us how He desires . . . so we are pleasing to Him. This includes >

"rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God." (1 Peter 3:4)

Know that being clean does not mean only removing wrong things like lust and anger and unforgiveness, but we need how God's gentle and quiet love cures our nature.

And feed on how Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount says to be >

poor in spirit
merciful
meek
pure in heart

And we have how wisdom is > how God's love cures our character to become > James 3:17. And this is a match with how God's love is described in 1 Corinthians 13.

So, we are talking about how to become in love and relating with God and people. This comes with seeking God for correction > James 4:7 > Hebrews 12:4-11, and helping one another to become "healed" (James 5:16) more and more together with God in His love.

Practical things include talking with one another about how we need to become, and praying for this (James 5:16). And forgiving can help us to become stronger in real love making our hearts more the way Jesus love has us becoming (Ephesians 4:31-32). And if anything in us is destructive to this, confess to God that this is wrong and trust Him to get rid of nasty and negative thoughts and emotional stuff, and trust Him to restore us so we are sensitively sharing with Him and obeying how He rules us in His own peace > Colossians 3:15.

And Jesus is gentle and humble (Matthew 11:29). And Paul says to love in Christ's humble and gentle way >

"with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love," (Ephesians 4:2)

And love does not have us trying to only use anyone. So, being pure includes having loving motives.

 

[Victory-N-Christ]

Good answer com7.

 

[Sam91]

Become a living sacrifice to God and he purifies you. Especially while reading, praying and serving. While walking His way submitted to Him. That's what he taught me.

 

[FutureAndAHope]

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full of robbery and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the dish, so that the outside of it may become clean also.
/Matt 23:25-26

I have been thinking a lot about how you get a cleaner heart. Jesus tells to first clean the inside of the cup. Does it have to do with actions or how do you understand this? It would be great if someone could share personal experiences.

Blessings and love, though Jesus Christ!

Jesus said "If you abide in me and I abide in you you will bear much fruit" ... he also says "Pray that you enter not into temptation, for the spirit is willing, and the flesh weak".

Being connected to Jesus produces a clean heart, as we see him (or more correctly we see His will), and desire to be like him. We need to spend regular consistent time in prayer and the Word.

Inner beauty come from being one with God.

 

[St_Worm2]

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full of robbery and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the dish, so that the outside of it may become clean also.
/Matt 23:25-26

I have been thinking a lot about how you get a cleaner heart. Jesus tells to first clean the inside of the cup. Does it have to do with actions or how do you understand this? It would be great if someone could share personal experiences.

Blessings and love, though Jesus Christ!

Hi Zoidar, the Lord calls the Pharisees "whitewashed tombs" .. Matthew 23:23, which seems to say it best (to me anyway). They were all show in their appearing to others as beautiful, pious and clean on the outside, but their insides were the same as the inside of a beautiful tomb, "full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness". IOW, they did what they did to 'appear' righteous before men, but God knew that inwardly, they were full of hypocrisy and lawlessness .. Matthew 23:28.

The Lord also told us that our own righteousness must surpass that of the Pharisees if we expect to have any hope of being saved .. e.g. Matthew 5:20. Just to be perfectly clear, this is a group of men who were careful to/went so far as tithing minutia like mint, dill and cumin in their keeping of the Law .. Matthew 23:23 (IOW, they were men who, like St. Paul .. Philippians 3:5-6, were blameless/kept the Law perfectly .. the "letter" anyway). So the question is, how can anyone be saved, because who can possibly surpass that

The answer is, of course, Jesus Christ, who came here to do for us who believe what we could never do for ourselves 1) by living a perfect, righteous life before God (in both letter AND spirit) and 2) by dying on the Cross to make satisfaction to God for our sins so that we wouldn't have to. IOW,

2 Corinthians 5:21
21 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.​

Christians have new hearts because God gave us new hearts and new spirits .. Ezekiel 36:26, when He regenerated us/caused us to be "born again" .. John 3:3, and by doing so, made us into wholly new creatures in His Son .. 2 Corinthians 5:17. So your heart IS clean because of Christ

Unfortunately, we will never be completely free from sin in this life (because of our old nature/self), but the good news is, the very same One who saved us in the first place has also promised to continue to grow us/mature us in our faith/in Christlikeness, through this life to Glory .. e.g. Philippians 1:6, 2:13; cf Hebrews 7:25. So while your heart will not actually become "cleaner" than it already is (because you are already "in Christ"), it may seem like that to you since growing up in Him will increase your ability to recognize and avoid sinful behavior, and/or more quickly repent of it/ask forgiveness for it, when you do not .. 1 John 1:9

Those are my thoughts anyway. Hopefully they were at lest somewhat along the lines of what your were after BTW, sorry for the essay length reply, it was not intended.

In Christ,
David
p.s. - speaking practically, you need to persevere in the basic Christian disciplines, in prayer .. e.g. Philippians 4:6-8, in the knowledge and understanding of God's word .. e.g. Joshua 1:8; 2 Timothy 2:15; 2 Timothy 3:16-17, in fellowship with other believers .. e.g. Proverbs 27:17; Hebrews 10:24-25, in witnessing .. e.g. Isaiah 43:10, and in service to others, all to a greater degree that you are doing now.

Memorizing verses/passages of the Bible can be VERY helpful as well because the HS can so much more easily guide/direct you when you know His word that well, and are able to access it that quickly

"How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it
according to Thy word. Thy word I have treasured
in my heart, that I may not sin against Thee"
Psalm 119:9,11​

 

[longwait]

Well, first everything starts with the thoughts, doesn't it? Then it leads to words and actions. If you feel you are having unclean thoughts rebuke it in Jesus name. Take a strong position and stand against it. Don't entertain any evil in your thoughts and heart or it will take root and grow and soon you will find yourself becoming what you think.

 

[zoidar]

Hi Zoidar, the Lord calls the Pharisees "whitewashed tombs" .. Matthew 23:23, which seems to say it best (to me anyway). They were all show in their appearing to others as beautiful, pious and clean on the outside, but their insides were the same as the inside of a beautiful tomb, "full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness". IOW, they did what they did to 'appear' righteous before men, but God knew that inwardly, they were full of hypocrisy and lawlessness .. Matthew 23:28.

The Lord also told us that our own righteousness must surpass that of the Pharisees if we expect to have any hope of being saved .. e.g. Matthew 5:20. Just to be perfectly clear, this is a group of men who were careful to/went so far as tithing minutia like mint, dill and cumin in their keeping of the Law .. Matthew 23:23 (IOW, they were men who, like St. Paul .. Philippians 3:5-6, were blameless/kept the Law perfectly .. the "letter" anyway). So the question is, how can anyone be saved, because who can possibly surpass that

The answer is, of course, Jesus Christ, who came here to do for us who believe what we could never do for ourselves 1) by living a perfect, righteous life before God (in both letter AND spirit) and 2) by dying on the Cross to make satisfaction to God for our sins so that we wouldn't have to. IOW,

2 Corinthians 5:21
21 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.​

Christians have new hearts because God gave us new hearts and new spirits .. Ezekiel 36:26, when He regenerated us/caused us to be "born again" .. John 3:3, and by doing so, made us into wholly new creatures in His Son .. 2 Corinthians 5:17. So your heart IS clean because of Christ

Unfortunately, we will never be completely free from sin in this life (because of our old nature/self), but the good news is, the very same One who saved us in the first place has also promised to continue to grow us/mature us in our faith/in Christlikeness, through this life to Glory .. e.g. Philippians 1:6, 2:13; cf Hebrews 7:25. So while your heart will not actually become "cleaner" than it already is (because you are already "in Christ"), it may seem like that to you since growing up in Him will increase your ability to recognize and avoid sinful behavior, and/or more quickly repent of it/ask forgiveness for it, when you do not .. 1 John 1:9

Those are my thoughts anyway. Hopefully they were at lest somewhat along the lines of what your were after BTW, sorry for the essay length reply, it was not intended.

In Christ,
David
p.s. - speaking practically, you need to persevere in the basic Christian disciplines, in prayer .. e.g. Philippians 4:6-8, in the knowledge and understanding of God's word .. e.g. Joshua 1:8; 2 Timothy 2:15; 2 Timothy 3:16-17, in fellowship with other believers .. e.g. Proverbs 27:17; Hebrews 10:24-25, in witnessing .. e.g. Isaiah 43:10, and in service to others, all to a greater degree that you are doing now.

Memorizing verses/passages of the Bible can be VERY helpful as well because the HS can so much more easily guide/direct you when you know His word that well, and are able to access it that quickly

"How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it
according to Thy word. Thy word I have treasured
in my heart, that I may not sin against Thee"
Psalm 119:9,11​

I agree somewhat to what you are saying that as a born again Christian you have a new heart. That is true. From a saving point of view I think God sees us Christians as fully clean. But there are sinful thoughts and feelings I think in every believer. And those feelings and thoughts I believe can be diminished to almost none by God's holy Spirit.

 

[St_Worm2]

I agree somewhat to what you are saying that as a born again Christian you have a new heart. That is true. From a saving point of view I think God sees us Christians as fully clean. But there are sinful thoughts and feelings I think in every believer. And those feelings and thoughts I believe can be diminished to almost none by God's holy Spirit.

Hi Zoidar, the thing that finally turned my horrible and painful thought-life around happened when I joined a Bible study that required us to systematically commit certain topical verses and passages to memory. I did a number of other things as well (some of them mentioned in the p.s. of my last reply to you), but Scripture memorization is far and away the thing that really did it.

It takes time and effort, but the rewards you reap far outweigh the time and effort you put in. It sets your mind up to automatically follow the command at the end of Philippians 4:8, because when you fill your mind with God's word in this manner, it keeps God's word in the forefront of your mind all day and all night, and that's what you end up "dwelling on" If fact, when I was doing memory daily, it was always the last thing on my mind when I went to sleep, and it was what I was what I woke thinking about too

Another very wonderful side effect happens as well, when you fill your mind with His word, it empties it of all the stale, old garbage that's been sitting up there festering, which I believe was the source of most of the lousy thoughts that kept popping into my mind before I began my memory work.

So I guess what I'm saying is, give Scripture Memory work a chance and see if it doesn't do for you what it did for me If you'd like to know how to get started, I'd be glad to help, just let me know.

Yours in Christ,
David
p.s. - the other thing is this, when you know God's word that well, you really have to make an effort to sin. Why? Because as soon as a temptation comes along enticing you, so does the HS, armed with two or three of the passages you've memorized telling you why you shouldn't do it

How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Thy word. Thy word I have 'treasured' in my heart, that I may not sin against Thee. --Psalm 119:9,11

 

[Soyeong]

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full of robbery and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the dish, so that the outside of it may become clean also.
/Matt 23:25-26

I have been thinking a lot about how you get a cleaner heart. Jesus tells to first clean the inside of the cup. Does it have to do with actions or how do you understand this? It would be great if someone could share personal experiences.

Blessings and love, though Jesus Christ!

Everything in the Bible boils down to the importance of having a relationship with God based on faith and love. If we love God, then we will obey His commands and if we have in Him to guide us in how to live, then we will obey His commands, and so the way to grow in a relationship with with God is through acting out of love and faith. However, God's commands can be outwardly obeyed for reasons other than love, such as to be seen as pious by other men, and God has always disdained in when His people honored Him with their lips while their hearts were far from Him. In Matthew 23:23, Jesus said that the weightier matters of the Law were justice, mercy, and faith, so if our obedience to the Law does not reflect the attributes of God to the world, then we are completely missing the point. In Philippians 3:8, Paul had been keeping the Law at a much higher level than any of us will ever likely meet, but had missed the point, so he counted as rubbish because his obedience wasn't focused on growing in a relationship with Messiah based on love and faith.

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

Does it have to do with actions or how do you understand this?

I think it boils down to heart surgery.

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

Become a living sacrifice to God and he purifies you. Especially while reading, praying and serving. While walking His way submitted to Him. That's what he taught me.

Amein. HalleluYAH !

 

[zoidar]

Hi Zoidar, the thing that finally turned my horrible and painful thought-life around happened when I joined a Bible study that required us to systematically commit certain topical verses and passages to memory. I did a number of other things as well (some of them mentioned in the p.s. of my last reply to you), but Scripture memorization is far and away the thing that really did it.

It takes time and effort, but the rewards you reap far outweigh the time and effort you put in. It sets your mind up to automatically follow the command at the end of Philippians 4:8, because when you fill your mind with God's word in this manner, it keeps God's word in the forefront of your mind all day and all night, and that's what you end up "dwelling on" If fact, when I was doing memory daily, it was always the last thing on my mind when I went to sleep, and it was what I was what I woke thinking about too

Another very wonderful side effect happens as well, when you fill your mind with His word, it empties it of all the stale, old garbage that's been sitting up there festering, which I believe was the source of most of the lousy thoughts that kept popping into my mind before I began my memory work.

So I guess what I'm saying is, give Scripture Memory work a chance and see if it doesn't do for you what it did for me If you'd like to know how to get started, I'd be glad to help, just let me know.

Yours in Christ,
David
p.s. - the other thing is this, when you know God's word that well, you really have to make an effort to sin. Why? Because as soon as a temptation comes along enticing you, so does the HS, armed with two or three of the passages you've memorized telling you why you shouldn't do it

This reminds me of the practice of monks (benedictine?), that memorised a lot of the bible and were "dwelling on it and mumbling it" all the time. Thanks for the advice! Blessings!

 

[St_Worm2]

I think they might be doing things like Rosary recitations in that case, or they don't say anything at all if they've taken a vow of silence

Scripture memory worked for me. It's definitely not for everyone however, so I'll pray that the Lord leads you to that which will work for you.

 

[zoidar]

So I guess what I'm saying is, give Scripture Memory work a chance and see if it doesn't do for you what it did for me If you'd like to know how to get started, I'd be glad to help, just let me know.

Ok, I like to try it. How do I start?

 

[St_Worm2]

Do you know of a parachurch missions group called the Navigators? We used their Topical Memory System as part of their 2:7 Discipleship Series when I started, so that's the one I'd recommend looking at first. (The Navigators have been training their missionaries with it for about 80 years now).

Go here to see it, and I'll attach the first 6 verses of the TMS to this post as well If you use a different translation, just let me know which one you'd like to use, KJV, NKJV, NASB, ESV, NIV, or NLT, as it is recommended that you should pick and stick with one translation for memory work.

If it looks good and you'd like to try this system, let me know and I'll pass along some pretty thorough information on how to memorize the verses most effectively.

There are also apps you can use in your iPhone/iPad, but the Navigator's Topical Memory System doesn't have one unfortunately. It's old school with business card sized flash cards, but it works

--David

 

[St_Worm2]

This is pretty useful as well: Scripture Typer - Bible Memory System , though this isn't a memory "system" like the Navigator's is, it is a tool that will help you memorize verses, no matter what system you decide to use

There's both a free and a paid version BTW, and both work well.

 

[zoidar]

There is one problem. I would really like to memorize in swedish ... Maybe there are simular program in swedish... In english I use NASB, and in swedish i use "Folkbibeln"

 

[St_Worm2]

Ahh! It looks like Scripture Typer has groups formed and memory verses available in Folkbibeln 15.

Go here: Svenska Folkbibeln 15

And/or, you could also make a second copy of the verses in NASB and replace the English with Swedish manually. Memorization is at one verse per week for the first 6 verses (the ones that I already gave you), and then two verses per week after that, so you wouldn't have to do too much typing IOW

If you do this, be sure to copy everything you see in English into Swedish, as the Title, Topic and Verse References, both before and after the actual Bible verse itself, are all important to know in this memory system. You will, in fact, be memorizing the topic, verse reference, and text of each verse as the topic and reference helps you remember the verse, especially long-term.

I'll get the instructions I told you about to you later today.

God bless you in this new endeavor

--David

2 Timotheosbrevet 3
16 Hela Skriften är utandad av Gud och nyttig till undervisning, till bestraffning, till upprättelse och till fostran i rättfärdighet, 17 för att gudsmänniskan skall bli fullt färdig, väl rustad för varje god gärning.​

 

[zoidar]

Thanks for your time St Worm2! I tried the Scripture typer app on android, but I couldn't change language.