John 18:28-32 Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas to the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall… How much more particular men are to seem clean outside than to be clean inside. Very few men, or women, will go to church in their working dress, or with untidy garments of any sort; but a great many men and women will go to church without any mental or spiritual preparation for the services there. Ten times more attention is commonly paid on a Sunday morning to blacking boots, and to arranging hair, and to putting on one's best clothing in the showiest way, than to family prayers and to private devotions, in "getting ready for church." It is a very rare thing for a person to go to church without washing the face and hands in advance of the start from home. It is not as rare for one to go to church without an attempt to clean up — inside. Very often a mother will tell a teacher that her little boy or little girl doesn't come to Sunday school because of a lack of decent clothing. More rarely does a mother admit that her boy or girl is so viciously disposed as to endanger the morals of the other scholars in her child's class. Is there such a great difference, after all, in the spirit of our neighbours — not to include ourselves — nowadays, and the spirit of those Jews who would plan to crucify Jesus, but would shrink from going to their religious services with soiled hands and defiled garments? (H. C. Trumbull.) Parallel Verses KJV: Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the passover. |
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