Let us first consider the heart.  Jesus warned his disciples to: “Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy” (Luke 12:1).  He identified the Pharisees’ leaven as hypocrisy.  They were blind to the value of the inner man but they knew the value of having the right actions in the sight of men.  Thus they thus had to pretend to love God from the heart.  They, in fact, had a very different motive.  They intended to do all they did to be seen by men (Matt. 23:5).  They pretended that what they did was only for God.  The long prayers were not really to God but for those who were listening.  If we are to be transformed into the image of Christ, our righteousness must exceed that of the Pharisees (Matt. 5:20).  They formed the outward man, but we must form the inward man first.

Now let us look more closely at Jesus’ inner man.  Jesus invites us to follow him in his meekness and lowliness of heart (Matt. 11:28-30).   The complete disciple not only does as his Master but “shall be as his Master” (Luke 6:40).  Forming the outer actions without forming the inner heart is hypocrisy.  Forming the inner and outer man is righteousness. We are commanded to “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus . . .” (Phil. 2:5-9).  He was humble enough to leave off God’s divine form to take on man’s lowly earthly form which was very humbling (Phil. 2:6).  He tells plainly that Jesus mind was humble (Phil. 2:7, 8). This was not just a common humility.  His humility was great enough to submit to death in order to obey his Father (Phil. 2:8).  Though he plead with the Father to let the cup pass from him, he was willing to submit even unto the death of the cross, which is the greatest humility possible (Phil. 2:8).  We are directed to have this marvelously humble mind as Jesus did.

If these WWJD men  were to form their inner man, they would surely be transformed by the renewing of their mind (Rom. 12:2).  Jesus grew in wisdom and in favor with God and man. (Luke 2:52)  These are some very beautiful steps.  If these men were to grow in more wisdom, that wisdom would remain.  Jesus was meek and lowly in heart (Matt. 11:28,29).  Jesus was very compassionate toward those who were in need (Luke 7:13).  If their hearts were transformed till they became more meek, lowly and compassionate like Jesus in heart, they would had to have asked a different question.  Rather than ask “What Jesus would do,” they would have to ask “What is the heart of Christ?” This can begin the process that will transform them into that image of Christ (Col. 3:10). They would have obeyed the Lord’s command to cleanse the inside first (Matt. 23:26) and thus be true disciples.