Whitewashed Walls

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Paul is not known to dance lightly around anything!  He was a man who called a spade and spade, and never apologized for his blunt words.  As Paul was speaking before the Sanhedrin - the religious Jewish court - he made no apologies for his ministry, which upset the men.  One of the religious guys ordered that Paul be struck on the mouth.  Before Paul realized it was the high priest who made the order, this is what he says:

"God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! You sit there to judge me according to the law, yet 

you yourself violate the law by commanding that I be struck!"

Acts 23:3

My NIV Study Bible says this: whitewashed wall: Having an unattractive exterior but filled with unclean contents, such as tombs holding dead bodies or walls that look substantial but fall before the winds.  It is a metaphor for a hypocrite.

Paul is calling out the high priest as a hypocrite.  And he's not mincing words or sugarcoating his statement.  He does apologize for insulting the high priest once he learns who he was talking to, but stands by the meaning of what he has said.

Having an attractive exterior, a whitewashed wall can encase anything.  It could be filled with dead bodies or families that are struggling.  The walls may seem sturdy, but can fall down before a slight breeze because they have no firm foundation, or are so delicate and unsteady.  They are only a facade - a prop - they are fake.

The reality is that we all have whitewashed walls we hide behind because if someone actually saw us for who we really are, they would run...at least that's the lie we tell ourselves...or let the enemy tell us.

We cower behind the beautiful exterior that is barely holding up.  We put on our smile and make sure everyone knows we're "fine."

But sometimes we're not fine.  And too often we do not know what is happening behind someone's wall.  It's so clean and shiny on the outside, but what are they hiding on the inside?  Hurt?  Shame?  Fear?  Anger?  Are their walls about to crumble if the wind comes?

We can all be hypocrites, looking out for ourselves.  But often times, in the right place, with the right people, there is freedom in letting your wall crack a little and allowing someone inside.  Inside the walls it is dark - and lies love the dark.  But even just a little crack will let the light in.  And there is freedom in the light.

Maybe it's time to take a bold step in faith.  Maybe it's time to come out from behind your wall.

Who can you trust?  Who can you confide in? 

Who can trust you?  Who can confide in you?