Traditions or Commandments:

Context:

• Jesus fed the five thousand.
• Jesus walked on the water and told the disciples to “Take heart, Do not be afraid”.
• In the land at Gennesaret, as many as touched the fringe of his garment were made well.
• Then the Pharisees and scribes question him about hand washing.
• The ceremonial hand washing was a rabbinic, not Mosaic, tradition.

How does religion get out of sync with the purposes of God?

• Matthew 23:24 “...You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel!...”
• Focus on traditions sidesteps the very commandments of God.
• Focus on traditions blinds people to the presence of God in the now.

Matthew 15:3-6 “...He answered them, “And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? For God commanded, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’ But you say, ‘If anyone tells his father or his mother, “What you would have gained from me is given to God,” he need not honor his father.’ So for the sake of your tradition you have made void the word of God...”

Mark 7:9-13 “...And he said to them, “You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish your tradition! For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’ But you say, ‘If a man tells his father or his mother, “Whatever you would have gained from me is Corban”’ (that is, given to God)— then you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or mother, thus making void the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And many such things you do...”

How does Jesus turn the tables on the Pharisees?

• Rather than entertain a complaint about His disciples, He exposes the Pharisees.
• They’re accusing Him of breaking traditions that they feel are obligatory.
• Meanwhile, He accuses them of breaking the commandments of God, which are obligatory.

Which is most important, the commands of God or the traditions of men?

When is it difficult to distinguish between the two?

• When God’s Word is less known than man’s interpretations and proclamations.
• When God’s presence is less known than man’s preferences.

How were the Pharisees and scribes breaking God’s commands?

• The fifth command, in Exodus 20:12, says “...Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you...”
• To honor is to obey, to respect, and to treat correctly.
• The Jewish teachers had developed a method to provide for the religious system (giving to God) by neglecting parents.

Matthew 15:7-9 “...You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said: “‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’...”

Mark 7:6-8 “...And he 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; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men...”

How can something that is prized as spiritual become a major problem?

• When traditions conflict with the ultimate intentions of God, even those passed on by sincere and respected teachers can lead to improper living.
• When lip service replaces close abiding.

Real Defilement:

Context:

• The Pharisees had just accused the disciples of failure to cerermonially wash.
• The were essentially accusing them of being defiled.
• Now Jesus clarifies where real defilement comes from.

Matthew 15:10-12 “...And he called the people to him and said to them, “Hear and understand: it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.” Then the disciples came and said to him, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?...”

Mark 7:14-15 “...And he called the people to him again and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand: There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him...”

Why would this statement by Jesus be difficult for the hearers to receive?

• A major distinction of the Jewish people was the ceremonial clean/unclean laws.
• Jesus continues His consistent theme of moving attention from externals to internals.
• A person can meticulously follow purity ceremonies, but still be morally defiled.
• Matthew 12:34 “...You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks...”

What was the disciples concern in Matt.15:12?

• Do you think Jesus knew that He offended the Pharisees?

Matthew 15:13-20 “...He answered, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up. Let them alone; they are blind guides. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.” But Peter said to him, “Explain the parable to us.” And he said, “Are you also still without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is expelled? But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone...”

Mark 7:18-23 “...And he said to them, “Then are you also without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him, since it enters not his heart but his stomach, and is expelled?” (Thus he declared all foods clean.) And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person...”

What did Jesus think of the Pharisees as leaders?

• They are blind guides.
• They and their followers were destined to fall into a pit.

Did the disciples understand defilement any better than the Pharisees?

• They were still without understanding, and asked Jesus for further explanation.
  

What defilements come from the heart?

• Evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander, coveting, wickedness, pride, foolishness.