First and Then

You’ll find these two little words coupled together throughout the book of Matthew. We read about reconciliation with a brother, then worship; seeking the kingdom, then comes the additives; taking the beam from your eye, then your brother’s; binding the strong man, then spoiling his goods.

We say, “First things first,” yes, but this doesn’t negate second things. The very word prioritize necessitates other things. There are certain things we are to put at the top of the list, but then the next. We are not to neglect what follows the first. “These ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.” It seems today many Christian’s never seem to get around to the “then” Jesus spoke of.

For example, to cite just one such case, “Cleanse first that [which is] within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.” Here we see Jesus works from the inside out. But notice, He is interested in the outward when taken in its proper order. To use the anemic argument that God is only concerned with the inward shows a total ignorance of the scriptures.

I do not know of one person who’d be willing to drink from a cup that had lipstick smudges, grease, and old food particles caked to it on the outside, although it is sparkling clean on the inside. Do you, my friend?