A Clean Mind Is Full Of Clean Thoughts
The Massiah tells us we need to have a clean mind. A clean mind requires us to have pure thoughts. When our thoughts are pure, we are compelled to behave in ways that are pleasing to Yahweh.
Understanding the Weightier Matters (Matthew 23:23)
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you pay tithes of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. Matthew 23:23
I looked up the dictionary meanings for the words law, judgment, mercy and faith and I placed them into the text. With our standard definitions of the key words it reads.
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you pay tithes of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of acts, opinions, understanding, kindness, forgiveness, reliance, and trust: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. Matthew 23:23
The transitional passage is included for your consideration.
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you pay tithes of mint and anise and cummin and have omitted the weightier matters of the law (acts), judgment (opinions), mercy (understanding, kindness, forgiveness), and faith (reliance, trust): these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. Matthew 23:23
What the Massiah is saying here is that more important than paying these tithes of precious herbs is your acts, opinions, understanding, kindness, forgiveness, reliance and trust (in Yahweh) – these are things you ought to do rather than seek after the praises of people. The Messiah’s words highlight the importance of incorporating these elements into our lives, so we can align ourselves with the will of Yahweh and fulfill our true purpose.
Seeking Praise and Appreciation
Wanting praise and appreciation from others is a standard desire for most of us. The world is set up to fuel this desire in you, sometimes even giving out public awards and acknowledgments. Seeing everybody getting awards and accolades can lead us to do great deeds and take pride in them. Look at what I did – acknowledge – appreciate – thank – and praise me. This attention and praise is not ours, it belongs to Yahweh. It is Yahweh who causes you to be able to do or not do.
It’s not just that it causes you to seek the praise of men which is here today and gone tomorrow. It can also cause you to do wrong before Yahweh and ignore the weightier matters. His message is for all of us who can receive it with and honest heart.
Woe unto you, hypocrites! for you pay tithes of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of acts, opinions, understanding, kindness, forgiveness, reliance, and trust: these ought ye to have done. Matthew 23:23
Loved ones, we are called to be humble and of a clean mind. When you do well you will receive thanks and appreciation. But be happy however, when you don’t receive it from men. Yahweh sees it. He loves and appreciates, and he will acknowledge you as his own. Who can want more than that.
Cleansing the Inner Being
The message is a clean mind. It was stressed by the Massiah in Matthew and in Luke.
Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also. 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. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. Matthew 23:24-28
This is for those of us who know how to walk the walk and talk the talk. The Massiah acknowledges that we look like we’ve got it all together. On the outside we appear pious. Our heads are bowed, our hands clasped in prayer. Someone does us wrong we say I forgive. But are prayer and forgiveness abiding in our thoughts? Or are we saying one thing and thinking another?
Many people are put at ease by this because they are not hypocritical in this fashion. They are not concerned with appearing to do right. This still applies to you however, because the question is: Is your mind clean? And your mind cannot be clean if it is filled with personal problems, financial worries, celebrity gossip, fashion, tv shows, electronic games, and other junk.
Giving and Serving Others
And as he spake, a certain Pharisee besought him to dine with him: and he went in, and sat down to meat. And when the Pharisee saw it, he marvelled that he had not first washed before dinner. And the Lord said unto him, Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter; but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness. Ye fools, did not he that made that which is without make that which is within also? But rather give alms of such things as ye have; and, behold, all things are clean unto you. But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. Woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye love the uppermost seats in the synagogues, and greetings in the markets. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are as graves which appear not, and the men that walk over them are not aware of them. Luke 11:37-44
He does not congratulate them on having a clean body, seeking the best seats, or getting noticed in the markets. Even though they looked good on the outside they too were filled inside with the vain pursuit of material possessions, which usually leads to wrong thinking and wrong actions. Here he tells them, it’s not what you can get for yourself but what you can give to others.
And the Lord said unto him, Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter; but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness. Ye fools, did not he that made that which is without make that which is within also? But rather give alms of such things as ye have; and, behold, all things are clean unto you. Luke 11:39-41
Clearly the message is the same. Let the words of Yahweh enter into your thoughts. At all times think in accord with the commandments Love Yahweh and Love your fellow man as yourself. Using these two as cleansers your mind will become squeaky clean and peaceful it will then direct you to act in ways that please Yahweh.
Conclusion
A clean mind is essential for maintaining pure thoughts and actions. It requires us to prioritize acts, opinions, understanding, kindness, forgiveness, reliance, and trust. While seeking praise from others is natural, we should strive for Yahweh’s approval more than anyone. By consciously purifying our thoughts and focusing on the weightier matters, we align ourselves with true peace. Let us remember that clean thoughts lead to a clean mind, guiding us to do things that please Yahweh, which is the greatest reward of all.