June 11, 2023
Evening Service

Review Chap. 6

·        Rejected at Nazareth

·        Jesus sent out the twelve 2x2

·        John the Baptist beheaded

·        Feeding of the 5 thousand Plus

·        Jesus walks on the sea

·        Healing continues in the villages they visit (all)

Mar 7:1-5 Then the Pharisees and some of the scribes came together to Him, having come from Jerusalem.  (2)  Now when they saw some of His disciples eat bread with defiled, that is, with unwashed hands, they found fault.  (3)  For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands in a special way, holding the tradition of the elders.  (4)  When they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other things which they have received and hold, like the washing of cups, pitchers, copper vessels, and couches.  (5)  Then the Pharisees and scribes asked Him, "Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed hands?"

·        We learn some important things about the Pharisees in this story

o   They watched you (noticed they did not wash their hands)

o   The washing was not part of the Law, but a tradition of the elders

o   Feel they have the authority to call you out for any violations

o   As spiritual leaders, there was nothing spiritual about this confrontation.

o   Not concerned about their health or heart only breaking the rule that was not even a law (legalistic)

 

Mar 7:6-8 He answered and said to them, "Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: 'THIS PEOPLE HONORS ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR FROM ME.  (7)  AND IN VAIN THEY WORSHIP ME, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE COMMANDMENTS OF MEN.'  (8)  For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men—the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do."

·        Notice the tone Jesus uses with these men who are supposed to be spiritual leaders in the nation of Israel, yet are not.

·        Hypocrites- “play actors;” saying one thing but doing another

·        Here He quotes Isaiah 29:13 prophesying of this very moment in time.

·        They appear to honor with their words and even actions, but their heart does not belong to God.

o   This is a state we have to avoid ourselves; “playing church,” going through the motions, not really committing to fully yield our heart to the Lord.

 

·        The prophecy also specifically states that they were not zealous about the Law, but the traditions of men.

o   Here to we must be careful to stay on task.  Speak where scripture speaks with authority, but as your opinion/conviction state that as well where that applies.

 

Mar 7:9-13He said to them, "All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition.  (10)  For Moses said, 'HONOR YOUR FATHER AND YOUR MOTHER'; and, 'HE WHO CURSES FATHER OR MOTHER, LET HIM BE PUT TO DEATH.'  (11)  But you say, 'If a man says to his father or mother, "Whatever profit you might have received from me is Corban"—' (that is, a gift to God), (12) then you no longer let him do anything for his father or his mother, (13) making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do."

·        The scribal tradition Jesus is speaking of here is when a person could declare some or all of their property “Corban” or a “gift devoted to God.”  This released him from any obligation to his parents’ welfare.  He could then use that in whatever way he chose.  This tradition worked around a commandment to “Honor your Father and Mother.”

·        “This was an amazing twisting of God’s Word by people who esteemed it as holy is especially revealing.  Those who try to justify themselves by the Law end up modifying it in order to escape its authority.”

o   This ties in nicely with what we talked about this morning with sin being “lawlessness.”  Sin is doing what we KNOW is wrong and somehow justifying it to ourselves that it does not apply to us somehow.

·        This approach would let us pick and choose what we would like to obey.  True obedience is total obedience.

·        As we continue notice, Jesus calls in the crowd to make a very important point clear to them.

 

Mar 7:14-23 When He had called all the multitude to Himself, He said to them, "Hear Me, everyone, and understand: (15) There is nothing that enters a man from outside which can defile him; but the things which come out of him, those are the things that defile a man.  (16)  If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!"  (17)  When He had entered a house away from the crowd, His disciples asked Him concerning the parable.  (18)  So He said to them, "Are you thus without understanding also? Do you not perceive that whatever enters a man from outside cannot defile him, (19) because it does not enter his heart but his stomach, and is eliminated, thus purifying all foods?"  (20)  And He said, "What comes out of a man, that defiles a man.  (21)  For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, (22) thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness.  (23)  All these evil things come from within and defile a man."

 

·        It is not what a man eats or puts into the body that defiles a man, but what comes out of him can defile him because that comes from the heart. 

·        Remember this morning’s scripture?

1Jn 3:7-8 Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous.  (8)  He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose, the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.

·        What we do and say does not justify us, but they reveal who owns our heart.

·        If our words and actions are righteous, we are following Jesus and He owns our heart

·        If our words and actions are evil, then the devil is in control

 

Mar 7:24-30 NKJV from there He arose and went to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And He entered a house and wanted no one to know it, but He could not be hidden.  (25)  For a woman whose young daughter had an unclean spirit heard about Him, and she came and fell at His feet.  (26)  The woman was a Greek, a Syro-Phoenician by birth, and she kept asking Him to cast the demon out of her daughter.  (27)  But Jesus said to her, "Let the children be filled first, for it is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the little dogs."  (28)  And she answered and said to Him, "Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs under the table eat from the children's crumbs."  (29)  Then He said to her, "For this saying go your way; the demon has gone out of your daughter."  (30)  And when she had come to her house, she found the demon gone out, and her daughter lying on the bed.

·        This is a very unique situation here where Jesus goes away from Israel into a Gentile country where His fame is growing.  At this time Jesus’ focus is only on the Israelites and will later spread to us Gentiles but an exception is made here.

·        Notice how she addresses Jesus; “Yes Lord.”  In Greek translated “Yahweh!”

·        The woman shows great faith and understanding as she very wittingly and humbly requests the healing for her daughter.

·        The request is granted without Jesus ever seeing the child.

 

Mar 7:31-37 Again, departing from the region of Tyre and Sidon, He came through the midst of the region of Decapolis to the Sea of Galilee.  (32)  Then they brought to Him one who was deaf and had an impediment in his speech, and they begged Him to put His hand on him.  (33)  And He took him aside from the multitude, and put His fingers in his ears, and He spat and touched his tongue.  (34)  Then, looking up to heaven, He sighed, and said to him, "Ephphatha," that is, "Be opened."  (35)  Immediately his ears were opened, and the impediment of his tongue was loosed, and he spoke plainly.  (36)  Then He commanded them that they should tell no one; but the more He commanded them, the more widely they proclaimed it.  (37)  And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, "He has done all things well. He makes both the deaf to hear and the mute to speak."

·        This story was shown on the 3^rd Season of the Chosen.

·        Healings like this were expected of the Messiah.

Isa 35:4-6   Say to those who are fearful-hearted, "Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, With the recompense of God; He will come and save you."  (5)  Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, And the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.  (6)  Then the lame shall leap like a deer, And the tongue of the dumb sing. For waters shall burst forth in the wilderness, And streams in the desert.

·        Though expected, it was not anticipated that it would be to Gentiles.

·        He commanded them to tell no one, but boy that did not work out.

·        Jesus fame continues to grow as the crowd was “astonished above measure” by His healings.