Then some Pharisees and teachers of the law came to Jesus from Jerusalem and asked, “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They don’t wash their hands before they eat!” Jesus replied, “And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition? For God said, ‘Honor your father and mother ’ and ‘Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.’ But you say that if anyone declares that what might have been used to help their father or mother is ‘devoted to God,’ they are not to ‘honor their father or mother’ with it. Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition. You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you: “ ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules. ’ ” Matthew 15:1-9 NIV
This week, Pastor Jeremy Smith, from Crosspoint Church in Niceville, FL, wrapped up the excellent sermon series Redefining Christian. Here are my notes on this sermon. If you have not been following the posts on this sermon series, here are the links to the previous posts:
When Jesus came onto the scene, He was constantly being questioned by the “Pharisees and teachers of the law.” And why wouldn’t He? He was turning everything that was thought to be right upside down, as well as challenging their leadership.
Here is the question they challenged Him with: “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They don’t wash their hands before they eat!”
I like the exclamation point at the end of the statement.
He asked them a question: “And why do you break the command of God (Love) for the sake of tradition (Loopholes)?”
He immediately went to the heart of the matter.
Jesus said, “For God said, ‘Honor your father and mother’ and ‘Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.’ (Love)
He went on to say: “But you say that if anyone declares that what might have been used to help their father or mother is ‘devoted to God,’ they are not to ‘honor their father or mother’ with it. Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of YOUR tradition.” (Loophole)
The question that we should be asking ourselves, as a disciple of Jesus, is:
What “loopholes” am I using to avoid doing what I know I should be doing?
Let’s look at a couple of areas in which we may be using “loopholes.”
Tithing – Many people struggle with this idea. Tithing is the act of giving 10% of your income to help support the church’s activities. The loophole or tradition that people use to avoid this activity is that “this is an “Old Testament” activity. We’re under the “New Covenant.”
Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. Malachi 3:10 NIV
Tithing is the one activity that God will allow us to “test” Him.
From a perspective of giving, in Acts, we find the believers selling everything they have and giving it to the disciples to give to those in need.
They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. Acts 2:42-47 NIV
Forgiveness – I have observed this as an area that many “Christians” struggle with. I wish I had a dollar for every time I heard this statement: “I’ll forgive, but I won’t forget.”
I’m glad that God didn’t take that stance with us.
God’s forgiveness which He asks us to do the same for those around us, goes like this:
For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. Psalm 103:11-12 NIV
You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea. Micah 7:19 NIV
“Eye for an eye” – Many of us struggle with this. We want others to get what they have coming to them. They have to “pay the price.”
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. Matthew 5:38-39 NIV
The reason for this idea in the Old Testament was for restraint. Human nature is to overreact. We want the person who did us wrong to suffer a significant penalty.
Jesus turned this idea on its head:
And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. Matthew 5:40-42 NIV
All of these ideas require a sacrifice on our end. It requires that our minds change. And as a disciple of Jesus, the only thing that should be changing our minds is God’s Word.
“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. [38] Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Luke 6:37-38 NIV
This series started with these verses:
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35 NIV
The idea behind discipleship is “one who assists in spreading the doctrine of another.” As Christians, we have been commanded to “go and make disciples.”
Continuing in Matthew 15, Jesus went on the explain that it wasn’t what goes into our bodies that defiles us, but it is what comes out of our heart that defiles us.
Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen and understand. What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.” Then the disciples came to him and asked, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this?” He replied, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots. Leave them; they are blind guides. If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.” Peter said, “Explain the parable to us.” “Are you still so dull?” Jesus asked them. “Don’t you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them. For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. These are what defile a person; but eating with unwashed hands does not defile them.” Matthew 15:10-20 NIV
The most effective tool that we have in this effort is our lives changed at the hands of Jesus.
So what do we do?
- Spend as much time in God’s Word as possible. Read the Bible daily. This is the only source of truth that has the power to change our thinking about the world around us. The longest chapter in the Bible is focused on the importance of studying and meditating on God’s Word.
- Spend time with other believers. In Hebrews, it tells us not to “neglect” meeting with each other. I like that it says “we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.” It appears that even back in the early formation of the church, people were already looking for ways of getting out of going to church.
Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil. Proverbs 4:23-27 NIV
By reading the Word of God daily, we are washing our minds. We are renewing our thinking. If we neglect this spiritual discipline, we ignore the one thing that will help us grow closer to Jesus.
Heavenly Father, thank You for Your Word. I pray that You make it my heart’s desire to grow closer to Jesus every day and in every way.
I am grateful for the Pastors who faithfully preach from Your Word.
I pray that You help me stay on Your path and that if I wander, You bring me back in.
I thank You for Your grace, mercy, and forgiveness.
In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray, Amen!! 🙏❤️
