Give as alms the things that are within.

Luke 11:38-41, The Pharisee was astonished to see that he did not first wash before dinner. And the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. You fools! Did not he who made the outside make the inside also? But give as alms those things that are within, and behold, everything is clean for you.

As usual, Jesus cuts to the hard issues in denouncing the hypocrisy of the religious leaders. They made a show of cleansing the outside, but did nothing about cleansing their hearts. Something clean is always contaminated by contact with something unclean, we know that from everyday common sense. In order to be clean, the unclean has to be truly cleansed; and as our heart is cleansed, we can give a true tithe from the things that are within. Have I asked Jesus to cleanse my own heart today?

Cleanse the thoughts of my heart that I may give freely from what is within!

ESV Lectionary