31: Inside Out (Mt 15:1-28)

My family likes to watch mysteries, where things on the outside might mask something that is very different on the inside. One of the shows I have personally enjoyed is called “To Catch a Smuggler” - where no matter what people and their luggage look on the outside, it’s what’s on the inside that matters.

And sometimes what’s discovered on the inside tells a different story than what’s outside. Where anyone from little old ladies & fragile old men who look harmless, to good looking young people - are found out to be smuggling drugs & other illegal stuff.

So too, many of us look like we have it all together on the outside while what’s on the inside tells a different story.

Today we are challenged by Jesus to take an honest look INSIDE OUT and see if we are His or if we are Hypocrites.‌

We left off with Jesus had been doing what Jesus often did - healing and teaching people and pointing them to the KINGdom of God. The disciples of Jesus had just experienced A Day To Remember.

Matthew 15:1–2 (NIV)

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!”

Why had these leaders come all the way from Jerusalem? That’s a trip that takes several days. Why would these men think this trip to confront this man was that important?

They first confront Jesus by asking why He let’s his disciples get away with breaking the tradition of the elders. That’s a legitimate question, isn’t it? They have a long tradition, yet the disciples of Jesus don’t act like it matters. For example, they don’t wash their hands before they eat.

To that, most Mommas might say, “Oh that’s so gross!” Cause you’ve seen where those fingers have gone!

But this wasn’t just about making sure hands got clean. This was about ceremony, symbolism, & tradition - When to wash, what to wash, what to wash with.

These religious leaders were concerned that Jesus and His disciples didn’t follow the tradition of the elders - those were interpretations of the written Scriptures.

They had done what many of us have done - taken a command given to a particular group of people, and applied it to ALL people. The Scriptures do not command people to wash their hands before they eat.

But Exodus 30:17-21 DID command the priests to wash their hands as they performed their priestly duties at the tabernacle and later temple. Notice that this was a lasting ordinance for Aaron and his sons - the priests, NOT the rest of the people.

So Jesus, instead of answering softly and tenderly, responds with his own snarky question.

Matthew 15:3 (NIV)

Jesus replied, “And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition?

Case in point - Jesus gives His evidence.

Matthew 15:4–6 (NIV)

For God said, ‘Honor your father and mother’ and ‘Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.’ [You think God is fairly serious about children honoring their parents?]

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.

Of course the Scriptures command God’s people to Honor your father and mother (Exodus 20:12; Deut. 5:16, Eph 6:2) and that anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death (Exodus 21:17; Lev. 20:9).

But these religious leaders were teaching the people to nullify the word of God as written in the Scriptures in place of their tradition of making a vow devoted to God.

The expression of a “gift devoted to God” comes from the Hebrew term qorban (“Corban” in Mark 7:11), a term referring to a pledge made to God with a gift supporting the temple’s ministries upon one’s death. And while these funds could be used for a personal emergency, they could not be used to help others like one’s own parents. [1]

So, you’ve made a vow to God to give a sum of money to the temple upon your death, and you parents get sick and can’t work. Can you use some of the funds you had pledged to God? NOPE. Not according to the religious leaders. And thus, as Douglas O’Donnell writes well, “Corban killed compassion”. [2]

And that’s how human tradition replaces God’s Word the authority over our lives. We start to honor and practice what ISN’T written in the Scriptures over what IS written in the Scriptures.

. [sarcastically] I’m glad that doesn’t happen anymore…aren’t you?

QUESTION: When God’s Word and the human tradition collide, which will you recognize as being more authoritative in your life? Asked another way, will you bend your beliefs to fit the Bible or will you bend the Bible to fit your beliefs?

A few years ago I had to push back from listening to a pastor who definitely has been one of the spiritual influencers in my life, because he began to bend on cultural issues that the word of God is clear on. And now Andy Stanley and his organization called a church, promoted and hosted a conference which seeks to “discover ways to support parents and LGBTQ+ children in their churches.” https://www.embracingthejourney.org/unconditional-conference.html

Sadly, there was ZERO discussion about the need to repent of sexual sin - which homosexuality is, which pretending to be the opposite sex is, and which any sexual sin outside of biblical marriage between one woman and one man - IS. And without repentance of sin, there is no forgiveness for sin.

What has happened to a pastor who used to do a great job of speaking the truth in love? He has begun to bend the Bible to fit the culture’s beliefs instead of doing the opposite.

Some of us here in this room have done the same thing. For example, some of us have bought into the idea that a person simply needs to pray a prayer and they will be forgiven - regardless of whether they follow Jesus for life or not. That is NOT what God’s Word teaches. That is a human tradition that some have allowed to replace the authority of God’s Word. So, we don’t pray for or talk with that family member or friend like they are one breath and one blink away from eternal judgment. Instead, we just have a thin-skinned hope they God will honor a one-time prayer over a lifetime of disobedience.

Christians must make sure that...

God’s Word outweighs & overrules Human Tradition.

We must bend our beliefs to fit the Bible. If we don’t, then we’re in danger of hearing what Jesus said next.

Matthew 15:7–9 (NIV)

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.” [Is 29:13]

Man how THAT would have STUNG! Here is a young Galilean carpenter scolding the religious leaders who had come all the way from Jerusalem to scold Him!

Oh Lord, please confront us if this is what WE are doing - honoring God with our LIPS but not with our LIVES, empty words and empty worship, more concerned with honoring human traditions than the Words of our Creator.

Would we be proven to be HYPOCRITES or HIS?

So now Jesus uses this as a teaching moment to show why we must examine ourselves not from the outward appearance, but from the INSIDE OUT.

Matthew 15:10–11 (NIV)

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.”

Wait a second! These religious leaders would have strongly objected as there were many foods that were considered unclean and commanded - by God - not to be eaten. These leaders would have immediately thought of multiple Scriptures that said so.

Funny how we are quick to note & quote Scriptures when we agree with them, but less likely to point to them when they confront our traditions.

This must have been a stick in the eye for Jesus’ religious foes, and the disciples of Jesus recognize that He is in deep weeds with them now.

Matthew 15:12–14 (NIV)

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.”

This would be funny if it wasn’t so serious. Jesus is comparing the religious leaders to blind guides who are leading others into a pit of hell!

Matthew 15:15–18 (NIV)

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.

Of interest, Mark’s gospel here makes the comment that by saying this that “In saying this, Jesus declared all foods clean.” (Mark 7:19) When God says it’s now clean, it’s now clean!

What makes a person sinful is what he/she does, says, and thinks - what comes out of a person.

Matthew 15:19-20 (NIV)

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.”

It’s then that we see how Jesus causes the unclean person to be made clean. This is a strange story that has been radically misinterpreted.

Matthew 15:21–22 (NIV)

Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.”

This woman is a Canaanite, not a Jew. To Jews she would be considered unclean - a pagan Gentile. In fact, Israel is the nation that had conquered her ancestors.

Yet she calls Jesus “Son of David” - Jewish phrase for the Messiah who would come through the line of King David.

She has no doubt heard about the miracles Jesus has done and she has a HUGE favor to ask Jesus. She calls out for Jesus to have mercy on her - to take time to respond to her request. And that request is super significant, her daughter is demon-possessed.

Now, I know every parent has had a moment when we wonder what has gotten into our children, but this lady was certain that it was an unclean sprit.

Jesus has cast out numerous demons at this point, so surely He will do it again for this upset lady…right?

Matthew 15:23 (NIV)

Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.”

Jesus keeps moving. She keeps following…and asking…and asking…and asking. The disciples are tired of it. They likely don’t care either way, “cast the demon out…or don’t’, but send her away so we don’t have to listen to her any more.”

WHAT’S WRONG WITH JESUS? Why is He treating her like this? Why the silent treatment?

Matthew 15:24–25 (NIV)

He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.” The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said.

I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel. Jesus was the Jewish Messiah, the King of Israel. He was born into a Jewish family and most of His ministry was to Jewish people (Rm 1:16), but Jesus would ultimately send His Jewish disciples to make disciples of all nations (Mt 28:19-20), which is why THIS BUNCH OF GENTILES are followers of Jesus today!

This Gentile woman humbly knelt before Jesus and pleaded, “Lord, help me!”

And then it gets even more strange when Jesus says...

Matthew 15:26 (NIV84)

He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to their dogs.”

WHAT!!!??? A couple of years ago, Brandon Robertson - a gay man who claims to be a Christian & a pastor - claimed that Jesus was being racist and that ultimately, “Jesus repents of his racism”.

Jesus didn’t have to repent of anything - because He never sinned. If He did, then Jesus couldn’t pay form yours and mine!

Red Pen Logic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXrXIIBRRX0&t=330s

Mike Winger: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VpGGSodsD7s&t=816s

Jesus is not being racist or unkind to this desperate Gentile woman. Instead, this is a beautiful story that demonstrates how Jesus responds to those who seek Him.

Among 1st century Jews, dogs were often viewed as unclean animals that scavenged garbage dumps and even attacked people. But here Jesus refers to domesticated dogs - pets like many of us have.

And even though we care about our house pets, we wouldn’t give our children’s food to our dogs instead. Our children are our first priority.

So too, the Jewish people (children) are the first priority of Jesus’ ministry, while the pagan Gentile nations - dogs - were not. Their time to hear the good news of Jesus would come, but the good news of Jesus was to go to the Jews first (Rm 1:16, Ac 3:26; 13:46).

I can’t help but think that Jesus knew this wouldn’t be the end of the conversation. And I can only imagine how Jesus smirks at this lady’s quick comeback.

Matthew 15:26–27 (NIV84)

He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to their dogs.” “Yes, Lord,” she said, “but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.”

This lady’s focus is not on her family tree or her righteous deeds. She doesn’t say, “Jesus, I deserve this! I’m a good person!”

Instead, her focus is on Jesus as the Jewish Messiah, “the Son of David”, the compassionate Master whom she asks to kick some crumbs off the table and help her daughter.

And boy, does He!

Matthew 15:28 (NIV)

Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment.

Here is a Gentile woman - an unclean women with a daughter who has an unclean spirit. Jesus sees that her actions communicate what’s inside her soul. She is a woman of great faith. She asks and trusts Jesus to make her little daughter clean; and He does!

Here’s the BIG comparison & BIG QUESTION from the teaching from today.

The Jewish religious leaders who are super clean…on the OUTSIDE, but they stand against Jesus and refuse to recognize Him as the Jewish Messiah. They prove to be HYPOCRITES who say one thing and do another.

But this Canaanite woman - an unclean Gentile whom most Jews wouldn’t talk to, proves to be HIS - a person who had a genuine faith in Jesus - the Jewish Messiah.

Which one are YOU? If your life was turned INSIDE OUT and who you really are on the inside was seen on the outside, would we be proven to be HYPOCRITE or HIS?

______________

Craig Blomberg, Matthew, vol. 22, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1992), 238.

Douglas Sean O’Donnell, Matthew: All Authority in Heaven and on Earth, ed. R. Kent Hughes, Preaching the Word (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2013), 421.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXrXIIBRRX0&t=330s

Discussion Questions

Read Matthew 15:1-9. Discuss the significance of the complaints the religious leaders and Jesus have of each other. How is it possible for us to be “religious” and yet be far from God?

Why is it so important that God’s Word outweighs & overrules Human Tradition? Share about a time when human tradition collided with the Word of God in your life. Explain if it was difficult or not to change your tradition or challenge another’s tradition.

Read Matthew 15:10-20. How do our thoughts, words, actions, & attitudes show what is in our hearts?

Read Matthew 15:21-27. What stood out to you in the interaction between Jesus and the Canaanite woman?

How does our persistence in prayer show God’s character? How persistent are you in your prayers to God?

What differences do you see between the religious leaders confronting Jesus and the Canaanite woman?

What challenged or encouraged you most from today’s teaching?

What does God want YOU to do with what we studied today?

Share prayer needs and pray for one another.