November 21, 2010
Morning Service

Matt. 15:1-20

 

Review:

1.                  Last Sunday morning we honored our vets, and our country.  Sunday evening we discussed communion.

2.                  In chapter 14 we learned that Herod had killed John the Baptist.  When Jesus heard it, He departed to a deserted place by Himself.  It’s scripture like this that when you are studying the Word with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, He helps you understand what Jesus must have been thinking, and experiencing.

3.                  But He has no place to stop, for He is on a schedule for Calvary.  He feeds the multitude.

4.                  He sends His disciples out to sea, and He walks on the water to come to them.

5.                  Then we learn a lesson from Peter’s experience, “Lord if it is you command me to come to You on the water.”  He started out, then took His eyes off Jesus and began to sink.  KEEP YOUR EYES ON JESUS.

 

Today we want to look at chapter 15, let’s begin;

 

Mat 15:1-39 KJVR  Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying,  (2)  Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. 

·                     There are several lessons in these two verses.

·                     First of all we are looking at a health issue here.  We are taught this same practice by our elders.  More so today than ever before.  I believe Jesus just gets a little upset by these religious  hypocrites getting onto His disciples.  And another thing.

(1)   Us disciples are always getting our Lord in trouble, giving Him a bad name.  It was only back in chapter 12 that the disciples went through the cornfield picking corn to eat, on the Sabbath.  The religious leaders criticized this action also.

(2)  Another lesson to learn;  There are always those ready to cast blame, or find fault.  Don’t you be one of them.  However, there are times when we need rebuked.  We need to remember what Jesus said, “Why do you call Me Lord, and do not the things I tell you to do?”  Remember this is what the 5 fold ministry is to do, help us to grow up into the full stature of Christ.  Eph.4.

That’s why the Apostle Paul admonishes us;  Phi 1:27 KJVR  Only let your conversation ( or daily walk ) be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;

 And again to Timothy;  1Ti 4:12 KJVR  Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of     the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

 

Let’s see how Jesus answers them;

 

(3)  But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?  (4)  For God commanded, saying, Honor thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death.  (5)  But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me;  (6)  And honor not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.  (7)  Ye hypocrites, well did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying,  (8)  This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoreth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.  (9)  But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. 

·                     Jesus says, You wanna talk tradition, I’ll give you one.

The teaching Jesus is talking about is the first commandment with promise;  Exo 20:12  Honor thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.   And again;   Exo 21:17  And he that curseth his father, or his mother, shall surely be put to death.

·                     Jesus is telling them that they had a responsibility to take care of their parents when they got old, and needed help.  What they would do is say that the money they had set aside to help their parents had been given to God’s work, and they couldn’t help their parents.

·                     Jesus calls them hypocrites, quoting scripture, “This people draws nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoreth me with their lips;  but their heart is far from me.  But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.”  THE SAYING IS, IF YOU WANT TO TALK THE TALK, THEN WALK THE WALK.   WHY CALL ME LORD, AND DO NOT THE THINGS I TELL YOU TO DO?

 

 

 

That was for tradition, now for eating with unwashed hands;

(10)  And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand:  (11)  Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man. 

·                     Jesus is giving a spiritual lesson here.  I’m sure He lived by the laws that were given to the Jews concerning clean, and unclean animals found in Leviticus 11.  And I’m sure that when possible He washed His hands before He ate.  The main lesson here is what is coming out of our hearts through our mouths.  These are the things that will defile us, and those around us.  Time and again we are warned in the scriptures concerning what comes out of our mouths.

·                     Jesus said in Luke;  Luk 6:45 KJVR  A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.

THE TRUTH IS WHAT YOU PUT INTO YOUR HEART, AND MIND, IS WHAT WILL COME OUT WHEN YOU TALK…..That’s why the Apostle Paul taught us to; Phi 4:8 KJVR  Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

THE MORE YOU STUDY GOD’S WORD, THE MORE YOU WILL BE LIKE JESUS.

 

(12)  Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying?  (13)  But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. 

·                     Here we find a truth that is sometimes hard to take.  You must remember that those who are hungry for the Word of God, and are ready to receive it into their hearts, are like plants that have been planted by God.  He will nourish them, and help them to grow up into the full stature of Christ. 

·                     Others that reject the Lord’s teachings are those that find fault, strong willed, will not accept the Lord’s teachings.  They are plants that will wither away, for they will not accept the nourishment that comes from the Lord’s teachings.

 

AND JESUS SAYS;

(14)  Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch. 

·                     The Apostle Paul teaches us;  Rom 11:25 KJVR  For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in.

(15)  Then answered Peter and said unto him, Declare unto us this parable.  (16)  And Jesus said, Are ye also yet without understanding?  (17)  Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught?  (18)  But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.  (19)  For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:  (20)  These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.

·                     It is very clear that we need to increase our Bible study time.  We need the Word of God continually being placed in our minds, and receiving it into our hearts.

·                     Eating with unwashed hands is a health issue, living with a perverted heart is a spiritual issue, and that is what will defile a man.

 

Almighty God, give us the desire to fill our minds, and hearts with Your Word, that we might be pleasing to You, and our fellow man.  Amen