But give that which is within as charity, and behold! all things are clean for you.” Luke 11: 41.
Today your LORD (יהוה) God (אלהים) says:
Too many of you are being tormented, and the sad thing is you are being tormented by your thoughts. You just do not control your thoughts. And yet I have made it very clear you can.
And so today we begin a new series of Life Lessons. I am going to teach you how to control your thoughts. But you must understand it will take diligence on your part to do what I tell you, but if you are willing and obey you shall have a life of no anxiety or fear. You can have a mind filled with peace and joy. Are you ready? If you have been living in torment, bondage, darkness, and pain it is time to open up your ears and hear and obey what I tell you in these Life Lessons.
I did not give you such an amazing mind that can create plans that become buildings, businesses, cures, inventions, songs, and poetry, for you to harass it and send it into mental illness, defects, and emotional problems. I did not give you such a wonderful mind for you to harass it with fear, worry, anxiety, bitterness, depression, guilt, regret, shame, and a host of other tormenting thoughts. I gave you a sound mind. I gave you an anointed mind. I gave you the mind of a conqueror. I gave you the mind of Christ.
Jesus emptied Himself of His powers as God and became like you in all aspects but sin. But even in the midst of torture and trials He had joy in what lay before Him. He was at peace no matter who threatened Him, who mistreated Him, or what the devil tried to harass Him with.
My servant and apostle Paul was heavily persecuted, beaten with rods, imprisoned, shipwrecked, and pursued relentlessly by the Pharisees who previously to his conversion had been very good friends to him, and yet he often writes in his letters that he is overflowing with joy and content in every circumstance, whether in prison with lack or out free with abundance and anywhere in between. What was his secret? He renewed and controlled his mind. He took every thought captive in obedience to Christ. And he tells you how he did it, first he cast all his cares and problems on Me and trusted Me to take care of him and then while waiting for manifestation of his answer, and indeed at all times, told you to do as he did, “Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:8-9.
Jesus rejoiced in Me and the Holy Spirit. He was at peace in His spirit, soul (mind, will and emotions), and body. And as He is, so are you in this world. 1 John 4:17. I gave Him to you so you could live your life through Him, with Him, and in Him. And that is perfect peace. In His hand you are in My hand and that is where all peace, security and protection lie. My power is in My Hands. The hands that formed you as the potter with the clay. And I continue to work with you to remake you, and restore you, until the Last Day when I catch you up with Jesus in the air, in the twinkling of an eye and clothe you in immortality, beauty, glory, and splendor never to age, never to die, never to mourn, never to have pain or sickness again. But that will be for a future lesson about resting in My hands, there the evil one cannot touch you.
Today though I want to start with the basic foundation of this teaching. For it goes to the heart of the matter.
For the outside to be at peace you must first work on the inside, the innermost core of your being. And that is where we will start. Once the inside is cleansed and continually cleansed the outside of the vessel of your life will be in perfect, beautiful peace. And it will show. Let your light shine.
Let us go to the teaching of My Son on this to the Pharisees. They were not at peace. They were busy making wicked plans and schemes. They went after Jesus relentlessly filled with jealousy and hate. They did not want people healed or saved and even were planning to kill Lazarus who Jesus raised from the dead so people would stop following Jesus. And they despised those they considered less educated than themselves and called them “lost anyway.” And they did not care that they were. And yet they kept all religious rituals, washings, tithings, shabbat laws which Jesus called “human traditions” while ignoring My purpose for giving the Law. They had unclean hearts, even lustful ones. But they kept up the outer appearance of holiness.
Jesus warned them about keeping up the appearance of the outside without being concerned about the cleanliness of the inside. This will never control your thoughts. In fact it will make you more concerned how you look to other people than whether you are at peace within.
Once when a Pharisee invited Jesus to his house to dine and was scandalized at Jesus because He did not wash His hands in the way they had prescribed in their ritual cleansings, Jesus explained to him, “Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and of the platter; but inside of you, you are full of robbery and iniquity. You foolish ones, did not He who made the outside make the inside also? But give that which is within as charity, and behold! all things are clean for you.” Luke 11:39-41.
Jesus again gives this teaching also when a large group of Pharisees, scribes, and disciples had gathered. Matthew 22 and Matthew 23. He said, “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. Matthew 23:25-26.
Let us consider first the teaching at the Pharisee’s home where many of his peers were gathered. Jesus is looking at the heart to determine the stability and goodness of a life. For you to have a mind at peace and a satisfying fruitful blessed healthy life you must have a renewed, transformed, cleansed mind.
But give that which is within as charity, and behold! all things are clean for you.” Luke 11: 41. Give what is within as charity. What does that mean? First, I want you to see what is written there in the language of Greek, in which it was first written, though it was first spoken by Jesus in the Hebrew language.
Give that which is within. The word translated “within” there is the Greek “eneimi (ἔνειμι),” which means what is within you as your very being, what is within your inner man of the heart, as expressed in your soul (mind, will and emotions). It is from en and eimi, “en” means “in” and “with,” and word “eimí” is the basic Greek verb which expresses being, i.e. “to be” and this tense is “I am” or “I exist.” This is the word used by Jesus in His great “I AM” statements, such as “I am the Light of the world.” I am the great I AM as I told Moses
Here you must look back at the context as well, the two sentences before this were “Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and of the platter; but inside of you, you are full of robbery and iniquity. You foolish ones, did not He who made the outside make the inside also?” Luke 11:39-40. Here the Greek word translated as “inside” in both sentences is the Greek word “esóthen (ἔσωθεν),” which means “within, inside; the inner part, the inner element, the mind, soul.”
So clearly Jesus was talking about the real you of the heart where your thoughts are forming and dwelling. And He is telling the Pharisees that their inner man of the heart, which determines their inner peace, stability, purity, and joy does not match the outward appearance they are projected to the world. He tells that that what is within is destroying them for it is full of robbery and iniquity. And in the other teaching He gave to the crowd He added hypocrisy and lawlessness as well. They said long pretentious prayers while they went through widow’s savings.
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. So you, too, outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. Matthew 23:27-28. And again, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others. You blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel! Matthew 23:23-24.
And what did I tell them would be the solution to this lack of inner goodness, stability and peace even though they tried to hide it from themselves and others? Jesus gave you two things to do to control your minds, for that is what it is all about. To give that which is within (the very essence of your being) as charity, Luke 11:41, and to first clean the inside, so that the outside may become clean also. Matthew 23:26.
I would like to add that the Greek word translated as “inside” or “within” in the teaching to the crowd that is recounted by Matthew begins with the word “esóthen” which was we just discussed and means within, inside; the inner part, the inner element, the mind, soul. But there is a different Greek word used in the solution: “You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the dish, so that the outside of it may become clean also. Matthew 23:26. The word translated “inside” there is the Greek word “entos (ἐντός),” which means within, but it is only from the Greek word “en” but does not include eimi as the other solution does. I am telling you this because it is the same word I use when Jesus told you that “the kingdom of God is within (entos) you.” Luke 17:21. And it is where I tell you that when your heart, your innermost you, the real you, is cleansed, then the Kingdom is in you. Through your cleansed heart you have access to My very throne of grace and to all My Kingdom benefits, including the protection of your guardian angel and all the heavenly host. Are not they all ministering spirits to the heirs of salvation? And so you are cleansed in the blood of Jesus and the washing with water by the Word.
First, I am telling you the way to make all things clean in you for the peace and joy of your soul and your openness to receive My blessings and help is to give the essence of your being, your deepest thoughts and your surface thoughts as charity. The word translated “charity” there is also translated as “alms.” It is the Greek word “eleémosuné (ἐλεημοσύνη),” which means mercy, pity, and compassion as exhibited in giving alms, works of charity. Practicing the virtue of mercy or beneficence, to show one’s compassion in giving out mercy, forgiveness, and love in your thoughts within about others, yourself, and Me. A generous giver. It is from the word “eleos (ἔλεος),” which means mercy, pity, compassion in the sense of “covenant-loyalty, covenant-love,” that is, “mercy” as it is defined by loyalty to My covenant based on My covenant loyalty and love for you. My everlasting covenant of love. Here it is not only the giving of material generosity, but of the generosity of your thoughts in not dwelling on wrongs suffered. Which is one of the characteristics of love.
In fact, I am here sharing My innermost thoughts with you. I so loved you that from within Me My Word generated the gift of My Son to you in whom I was reconciling the world to Myself by showing you mercy in offering Him as the scapegoat for your sins, taking them all into His flesh, though He never sinned, and accounting My righteousness to you through Him so your sins and offenses I could justly remember NO MORE. Love does not remember a wrong suffered.
Imitate Me as My dear children and walk in love. It makes your inner being a fragrant garden of delight to Me and you where I can dwell for prayer fellowship. It makes your life sweet instead of harsh, hard, filled with cursing and foul language about and to others that generates in your thought life. This is torment and is fueled by the fire of hell. It goes down into your bones.
And so does depression if you harbor it. A depressed spirit dries up the bones. Stop tormenting yourself with it, cast it out and fill the space with joyful songs of praise and dreams and plans of the good things coming. Think about the hundredfold if you are depressed and anxious about your finances and debts. I can pull you out of any pit if you will get your thoughts lined up with My Word. This will cleanse you.
Do you understand? When you refuse and cast out the thoughts the devil shoots at your mind arising from the flesh arena of jealousy, bitterness, anger, and unforgiveness towards others you must cast them out by answering them and refusing to entertain or employ them in your mind, by casting them out, plucking them out if they have planted, and going them to go in no uncertain terms. If you think of your thoughts as employees in your inner business of running your life you must fire them from your employ as worthless, unfruitful, idle employees who are ruining the prosperity of your enterprise within. Do not let them torment you by refusing to dwell on them. You can control what thoughts and imaginations you let remain in your mind as permanent employees. Stop them before they become entrenched as your habitual mode of thinking.
Never say you to yourself inside that you hate someone, call them stupid, or have any rancor against them in your heart, even if you do not show it outwardly for fear it will hurt your position at work or in your family. Weed that out of your inner garden immediately lest it become planted deeply as a bitter root. That is not giving what is within as charity. And if you think of thinking thoughts of love, forgiveness, mercy and pity as giving alms to the person you are letting go and to Me so that you receive back a harvest of mercy, peace and joy you well on your way to freedom.
Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act rudely and unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. And love never fails. 1 Corinthians 13:1-8. Give these thoughts as charity, as alms to others and Me, it will make life with you sweet for your spouse, children, family, friends, co-workers, teachers, bosses, and fellow students. Even for others on the road or in public transport with you. People can get very rude and that will not give them peace. Give alms from withing and the outside will follow.
Yes, giving what is within as charity is being free from worry, fear, anxiety and emotional pain. If you do not imagine all the things you will say at court against the person when they sue you and have fear at their threatening behavior, I can take over and make it all work out well and very smoothly. Why do you worry about and go through situations that will never happen and torment yourself? That is not controlling your thoughts and will wake you up in the night. If they do get out your Bible and read pages like Isaiah 54:17 until you are shouting for joy. Confident that I will do as I have promised for you and stop the worry and fear.
When your ways are pleasing to Me, I even make your enemies be at peace with you.
If you start worrying in fear over the behaviors of others towards you, what you fear will come upon you, as it did upon Job. Fear is a magnet to evil just as faith is a magnet to good.
Next, I tell you to cleanse the inside, so that the outside may become clean also. Matthew 23:25-26. Anxiety free is a healthy life. A cheerful heart does good like a medicine.
The Greek word translated as “cleanse” there is “katharizó (καθαρίζω),” a verb, which means to cleanse and make pure (“clean”), removing all admixture (intermingling of filth), in other word a purge of all the evil in your soul so that all that remains is good. Clean, uncluttered. The adjective form is katharos (), which Jesus used when He told His disciples they were clean already because of the Words He had spoken to them, John 15:3, and the same word is translated, “Blessed are the PURE in heart for they shall see God.” Matthew 5:8. It is the same Greek word used in “But give that which is within as charity, and behold! all things are clean (katharos) for you.” Luke 11: 41.
And in the book of Ephesians you find the key, along with Jesus saying that it was My Words that cleansed the disciples. Not beatings, not sickness, not abusing your body, BUT MY WORD. And here is the key of how to be cleansed within so that you have peace of mind. “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed (katharizo) her by the washing of water with the WORD, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be HOLY AND BLAMELESS.” Ephesians 5:25-27.
Fill up on My Word night and day and you will PURGE out all that is unclean, unholy, depressed, filthy, sick, painful, sinful, and so MUCH MORE.
I will stop here but do not neglect to read the next Life Lesson which shows the secret of being TRANSFORMED by the renewing your mind. And the word in Greek translated “transformed” is metamorphoó (μεταμορφόω), which is the root of the English terms “metamorphosis” and “metamorphize.” So tomorrow I will give you a lesson on caterpillars and butterflies. Do not miss it for you are in for a surprise.
I love you. Give what is within as charity and all will be clean for you. Bitter roots must go if you want to live a life of beauty, peace, and joy.