Through the serious study of human nature, it’s impossible not to notice the materialistic drive plaguing most of secular America today. Although this condition may not be viewed as a plague, it is one and a terrible one, nonetheless.

Watching the world through Jesus-tinted glasses, the eerie truth cannot be ignored. The lost are ridiculously busy tending to their lawns, washing their cars and the like, while they look down on everyone around them that is not so rich or successful.

And here is where Jesus would have asked the question: “What’s IN your cup? The outside of your cup you wash and dress up, but what’s going on inside your home, your relationships, and within yourself? Why do you ignore what’s really important and just run around trying to make everything in your life appear to be right. You have tended so carefully to the outside of your cup and ignored the filth lining the inside of your cup.

The first thing that comes to mind when hearing the phrase “What’s in your cup?” may not be the Words of our Lord Jesus, but He did express that there are those who are overly concerned about appearances in His rebuke of the Pharisees. He used the cup figuratively; the outside to illustrate the way one may attempt to make things appear, and the inside to resemble what is inside of a person, self-centered, wicked thoughts and inner demons lurking behind the closed doors of those luxurious homes that leave others, not so prosperous, to envy. (Truth be told, there is nothing to envy!):

^“Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked—” (Revelation 3:17)

This is not to imply that all wealthy people are wicked, just that the love of money and self-indulgence does drive many and this phenomenon is worth taking a look at in order that we may remain free of these trials….

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish,” (Matthew 23:25-26)  AND……

^“Then the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees make the outside of the cup and dish clean, but your inward part is full of greed and wickedness.” (Luke 11:39)

Other Uses Of The Cup Metaphor:

“Upon the wicked He will rain coals;
Fire and brimstone and a burning wind
Shal be the portion of their cup.” (Psalm 11:6)

Through this context, we see a cup in the form of measurement or degree; the container that holds the degree of punishment owed the wicked.

Then, to the contrary, in Psalm 23 we see the cup resembling something slightly different; holding joy, but the concept remains….

“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.” (Psalm 23:5)

And in Jeremiah and Ezekiel, we see the cup as a container for judgment on the nations that forget God:

^“For thus says the Lord God of Israel to me: “Take this wine cup of fury from My hand, and cause all the nations, to whom I send you, to drink it.”

(Jeremiah 25:15)

“You will be filled with drunkenness and sorrow,
The cup of horror and desolation,
The cup of your sister Samaria.” (Ezekiel 23:33)

Then in Matthew 20, Jesus’ Words proclaim a provocation toward personal consecration:

^“20 Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Him with her sons, kneeling down and asking something from Him.

²¹ And He said to her, “What do you wish?”

She said to Him, “Grant that these two sons of mine may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on the left, in Your kingdom.”

²² But Jesus answered and said, “You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?”

They said to Him, “We are able.”

²³ So He said to them, “You will indeed drink My cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with; but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared by My Father.”

²⁴ And when the ten heard it, they were greatly displeased with the two brothers. ²⁵ But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. ²⁶ Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. ²⁷ And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave— ²⁸ just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:20-24)

 Jesus’ asking of the question “Are you able” in verse 22 is in essence, a challenge of commitment unto Him and willingness to go through suffering for His Name sake…

In all of these Scriptural cases, Jesus’ use of the cup as a metaphor refers to a container, but the sort of container is the important distinction between these varying uses. As with verse 22, the cup in which He refers is one of courage and trust in our Lord, like the Lord was asking “Do you have what it takes to follow Me; willing to lay down your wants and desires and suffer if necessary in order to maintain that holy following. (Matthew 16:24-26 is a parallel verse/passage.)

NKJV

Linzy is a certified Bible Counsellor, with countless republications on her viewers blogs, Bible Studies, Ezines and the like. Her portfolio includes, non-fiction articles, short stories for all ages, and Christian poetry.