Life of Christ # 34 Unwashed Hands

Matthew 15:1–20 KJV 1900

1 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. 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, Honour 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 honour 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 Esaias prophesy of you, saying, 8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth 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. 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. 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. 14 Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch. 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.

I. There were three audiences.

II. A traditional religion defiles.

A. The audience: religious people from Jerusalem.

B. The charge against Jesus: He broke tradition.

C. The charge by Jesus: Religious people broke God’s law to keep their tradition.

Mark 7:8 KJV 1900

8 For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.

Mark 7:13 KJV 1900

13 Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.

2 Timothy 3:16 KJV 1900

16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

1. The law broken: Honor your father and mother.

2. The transgression: Taking gifts due one’s parents for religious purposes.

D. the real transgression or defilement.

1.Setting aside God’s Word for tradition.

2. Being hypocritical: Lip service vs. heart service.

Isaiah 29:13 KJV 1900

13 Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, And with their lips do honour me, But have removed their heart far from me, And their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:

3. Worshipping, but with an empty heart.

John 4:24 KJV 1900

24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

John 14:6 KJV 1900

6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

1 John 3:2 KJV 1900

2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

4. Teaching tradition as God’s commandment.

Matthew 5:6 KJV 1900

6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

Psalm 36:8 KJV 1900

8 They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; And thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures.

III. A foul mouth defiles.

Matthew 9:4 KJV 1900

4 And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?

Romans 1:21 KJV 1900

21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

Genesis 6:5 KJV 1900

5 And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

Proverbs 15:26 KJV 1900

26 The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord: But the words of the pure are pleasant words.

Proverbs 24:9 KJV 1900

9 The thought of foolishness is sin: And the scorner is an abomination to men.

A. The audience: the multitude.

B. The defilement.

Psalm 55:21 KJV 1900

21 The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: His words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords.

Romans 3:13–14 KJV 1900

13 Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: 14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:

1 Peter 1:21 KJV 1900

21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.

Psalm 10:7 KJV 1900

7 His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: Under his tongue is mischief and vanity.

1. Not what goes in.

2. What comes out.

IV. A blind spirit defiles.

2 Corinthians 11:13–15 KJV 1900

13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

A. The audience: the disciples.

B. The disciples concern: offending the religious.

C. Jesus’ answer: even religion can be wrong.

1. Are not planted by God.

2. To be rooted up.

D. The defilement: Are spiritually blind.

1.Leave them alone.

2. Mislead the blind.

3. Shall fall.

Matthew 6:23 KJV 1900

23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!

Romans 13:12 KJV 1900

12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.

Psalm 82:5 KJV 1900

5 They know not, neither will they understand; They walk on in darkness: All the foundations of the earth are out of course.

V. A corrupt heart defiles.

A. The audience: Peter and the disciples.

B. The rebuke: slow to learn.

C. The defilement.

1. Not what enters the body.

2. What comes out of the heart.

D. The deeds of a corrupt heart.

1 Peter 1:23 KJV 1900

23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

Ephesians 4:23–24 KJV 1900

23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

Colossians 3:9–10 KJV 1900

9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; 10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: