M A T T H E W   15. V 10-20

 The highest Scribes and Pharisees came down to ask Jesus why His disciples did not wash their hands, according to the tradition by esteemed Rabbis?   This  would mean hands and feet being washed before performing any duties.  The Pharisees made it  a ceremony of purity and to avoid any uncleanness, and it involved all believers.

 Jesus made a distinction between the Old Testament which was a command of God, and the Pharisaic tradition of human pronouncements. The term given to God, is a technical term for a formal vow in order to help needy parents who would have committed a serious transgression according to the teachers

 The Pharisees were deemed to be hypocrites for two reasons.  Their actions were merely external  and do not come from the heart; and their teachings are not from God, and are just human tradition.

Jesus called the people and said, you honor me with your lips, but your hearts are far from me.  In vain you worship me, teaching as if doctrines are the

commandments of men.  Jesus said, it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles the person, but what comes out of the mouth that defiles the person.

 

The disciples went to Jesus, and asked Him if He knew the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying, but Jesus answered every plant that my Father planted will be rooted up.  Let them alone they  are blind guides, and if the blind leads the blind, they will all end up in the pit.

 

The disciples were surprised at the strong language of Jesus. The Pharisees had probably been accepted at the hands of many people, to be regarded as the best of men  They were upset at being called hypocrites, and charged with transgressing a commandment .

 

The plain meaning of the Lord’s words, was false doctrine of the Pharisees was a plant to which no mercy should be shown, for it was a plant His Father had not planted,  if it contradicts the Word of God destroy it. His disciples had to learn that it was to resist all false teaching, be forsaken and was to be left alone and be forsaken by all teachers.  Soon all false doctrine will be completely overthrown and put to shame.  (how relevant to Charges now)   There are lessons of wisdom in the saying of Jesus, which serve to show light on the duty of every professing Christian. In al ages,

 

Peter asked Jesus to explain this parable to them. Jesus replied, are you still without understanding? Do you not see whatever goes into the mouth, passes into the stomach and is expelled.  But what comes out of the mouth comes from the heart, and fulfils a person. Out of the mouth also comes evil thoughts, murder, slander, theft immorality and adultery.  These are what defiles a person, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone.

 

This teaches, hypocrites generally attracts attention to outward matters in religion.  The action of the Pharisees is a case in point.  They criticise the Lord and His disciples, not for any unfaithful way, it was just they had acted against the tradition of the elders.

 

We see the action of the Pharisees played out in our day. There are many professing Christians who give their attention according to what they think necessary.  Trivialities are made to look important.  I often wonder if some people come just to make trouble. I was assisting at one Church when a man and wife each Sunday would find something to complain about.  I asked the Minister of the Church to tell them not to attend, but quite a number of clergy were then real gentle-men, whose life had been peaceful and reluctant to engage with such people, and troublemakers always pick easy targets to pick on.

 

We learn the great danger of trying to add or take away, anything from the Word of God. The closing words of the Bible read I solemnly declare to everyone who hears the words of prophecy written in this book. If anyone adds to what is  here, God will add to that person the plagues described in this book

If anyone removes any of the words from this book of prophecy Godwill remove that person’s share in the life of and in the holy city as described in this book. He who is witness to all these things says, Yes I am coming soon. Amen come Lord Jesus.

 

The Lord Jesus answers the Pharisees by asking why they also transgress the command of God by traditions,  he exposes their hypocrisy by their traditions.  He speaks the great truth never to be forgotten, there is always a tendency in traditions to make the Word of God have no effect.  We still see it in Churches when false doctrine replaces the Word of God just to seek favor with  society. Men think God;s law is too strict and narrow, and make something to suit themselves. 

 The Church of Rome attaches monastic  vows; vows of celibacy, feasts and fasts.  It is  to credit that Pope Leo has prepared a new  set of procedures to make the Catholic Church make more contact with people, and shows a sincere approach, which will glorify both God and Church. There will be some resistance inevitably, but true Christians should remember to pray .

 learn lastly, that worship which God desires is worship of the heart. Jesus quotes Isaiah, This people draweth near me with their  lips,but their hearts are far from me.

 

The heart The heart should be principle between husband and wife and between parent and child,  The heart should be the principle which we attend in all relations to God and our souls. This is essential to a Christian, that God wants us to pray before Him.

 

God’s truth is in peril.  True followers of Jesus should be speakers of truth.  It is our duty to reject all false doctrine and ban its teaching, and ignore those who contraict the Words of God.  We do not use weapons, but just respect peace, preaching, and prayer.  Respecting the heart of man, we should have  a clean heart.

 What an awful picture we have of human nature, drawn to by one who was man,  Seeds of evil our Lord has exposed by lying within and ready to start an active life,

Let it be a settled resolution that in all the state of our believers hearts. We have a deep heart fight in the sight of God

Finally .let it be a settled resolution to keep our hearts in diligence all the days of our lives.

 

We Praise God for His Holy Gospel. May His Holy Name be Glorified

---