Matthew 23:25–28, where He says:
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence… You are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness.”
So here are modern-day parables, short, brutal examples of what it looks like to look holy on the outside but be driven by sin, ego, and unclean motives on the inside:
1. The Influencer Pastor — Fueled by Pride
Micah had the fastest-growing church in his city. Lights, cameras, merch drops. His sermons were powerful, his Instagram was flawless. People called him “anointed.” But behind the scenes, he couldn’t stop comparing his numbers to others. He checked analytics more than he prayed. He was addicted to applause. If someone didn’t praise his message, he’d spiral for days. His ministry looked clean — but it was powered by pride, not presence. He built a stage for Jesus but stood on it alone.
2. The TikTok Prophet — Fueled by Vanity
Jessa posted videos prophesying over strangers, crying on camera, and calling people to repentance. Her videos went viral. She had sponsorships and followers. But when no one was watching, she hated herself. She’d spend hours editing one video, making sure the lighting hit her face just right. She’d delete videos that didn’t perform. She wasn’t drawing people to God — she was feeding her craving to be seen. She didn’t want transformation — she wanted validation. The outside was pure. The inside? Rotten with vanity and envy.
3. The Marriage Counselor — Fueled by Lust
Tom led men’s groups on marriage and purity. He spoke against pornography, preached “die to self,” and hosted accountability circles. But he was having an affair with a woman from his gym. He told himself it was “just emotional” — then it wasn’t. He never confessed. He preached repentance but wouldn’t taste it himself. His reputation was clean. His heart was addicted. He had a spotless resume and a secret life of decay.
4. The Charity Leader — Fueled by Greed
Sandra ran a non-profit that fed the homeless. She won awards. Local news did features on her “servant’s heart.” But she took a cut off every donation. She exaggerated success stories to attract more funding. Her team felt spiritually drained, but she called it “the cost of ministry.” She hid selfishness behind a smile and called it generosity. The cup was polished. The drink inside? Poisoned with greed and self-righteousness.
5. The Modest Girl — Fueled by Envy
Lena never wore makeup. Always dressed modestly. Spoke softly. She judged every girl who didn’t. Called them "worldly" and “seeking attention.” But deep down, she envied them. She hated how much she cared what they looked like. She’d shame them publicly, but stalk their profiles in private, wishing she looked like that. Her humility wasn’t real — it was envy in disguise. She didn’t dress modestly because she loved God. She did it to feel superior.
6. The Bible Scholar — Fueled by Wrath
Daniel knew Scripture better than anyone. Greek, Hebrew, historical context. But he used the Bible like a sword to cut people down. He didn’t correct to heal — he corrected to dominate. If someone disagreed with him, he’d humiliate them. He called it “defending the truth.” But he never cried with the broken, never served the poor, never knelt in prayer unless someone was watching. He was a walking tomb of theology — full of dead bones and rage.
These are what Jesus meant by whitewashed tombs.
You can fool the world. You can fool the mirror.
But you can’t fool the One who sees through the cup.