Jesus Stands Up For His Disciples

Jesus Stands Up For His Disciples Matthew 15:1 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.

To begin with first of all you’re talking about my team.Nobody on the K.C.C. team talks about nobody badly unless they are ready to go to another team. Furthermore the K.C.C. won the Superbowl!!! It isn’t like they fizzled and failed before the finish. They won! and so likewise Jesus’ disciples had not loss here to fore. They’ve been with Jesus. And anytime you’re with Jesus you’re not going to lose. God can do anything but fail.

2. Secondly your leader should be able to take up for you. I’ll stand up for you if you’re not a tricky trustee or a dirty deacon. Jesus had a right to not only entertain their question but also to give a definitive answer in reply to their accusations.

3. Was their accusations legitimate? Was their claim accurate? Was their claim above board? Could it be something Righteous about their position? And the answer from my flesh says yeah. Yeah because before the Mosiac Laws were written down they were orally passed down through the generation and This oral law was finally written down and became the Mishnah. And the problem here is that too many times the Mishnah became more respected and honored than the actual Law of Moses

But there is some legitimacy here 2x. Yeah because in 2024 I don’t want anybody including me handling the communion and I can see black oil all over your hands and you just finished changing the oil in your car your truck or your tractor. Or I see the barbeque sauce all over your fingers because you were just outside grilling.. Even if you’re grilling for the church my statement would be “please go wash your hands before we handle sacred stuff and things!!! Their argument has substance. Their argument has veracity (Truth). Their traditions have merit. Let’s read verse 1&2 again They said 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.

On the surface level their argument does cut the mustard. On the surface that dog does hunt. On the surface that’s a you can take that to the bank statement.

But look at Jesus’ answer.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. Stop right there

WOW THAT’S A MOUTH FULL!!! Jesus answer their question with a rhetorical question in the form of a statement of indictment!!!! In other word before you go to talking about my disciples, let me say a few things about y’all .

First of all the pot can’t call the kettle black.

Secondly when you live in a glass house the general rule is “Don’t throw no stones.” I told you Sunday that I hate when some people think that they are the only smart people in the room. A little child can teach me something.

3.We have to be careful not to be overly religious, super self righteous, potently pious, and prudently pitiful. (teach me pastor) And so let’s try to unpack what Jesus is saying to the scribes and the Pharisees who has followed Him from Jerusalem>>>> 1. You done followed me here. And for no good reason too. I can imagine Jesus saying “You Pharisees are Waiting for me and/or my team to make a mistake… So you can pounce on us!!! Yes indeed

2. Jesus says You’ll are talking about what procedures my disciple are not adhering to while they eat a meal and we’re not in a formal setting to do such a thing in the first place. Also you Pharisees are referring to “the ceremonial washings of the rigidly orthodox Jews” (see Mark 7:1–4). Back to the text Listen 3x “To the Pharisees!!!! “It was bad enough that Jesus and His disciples mingled with outcasts, but they did not even seek to be purified”! They ain’t even try- nah clean up. Rev out there under the tree of life drinking with them old boys and he ain’t even try nah hide it...

3. Jesus exposed their derelict of duty towards their parents.3 But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?

In other words you have a bunch of made up stuff. when I was in the seminary I was taught the had the extra laws that men added over time and they were well over 600. And the DANGER with that is, “we can come up with stuff that isn’t in the bible at all and try to make it holy just because it’s been a tradition that probably carried the church through some hard times.

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. Here’s what it means The Hebrew word Corban means “a gift.” If a Jew wanted to escape some financial responsibilities, he would declare his goods to be “Corban—a gift to God.” In Mark 7:11 This meant he was free from other obligations, such as caring for his parents. But in so doing, the person was losing the power of God’s Word in his life, and thus hurting his character and missing God’s blessing.

What a strange thing to hit them with. But Jesus knew how to strike a nerve… Listen to me God knows what scripture will strike a nerve in people who are doing wrong. Personally I wouldn’t have thought to tell the Pharisees about their derelict towards their parents because the conversation was so far off base. But Jesus knew precisely where to hit at and do the most damage.

And so I’m convinced that I’m not smart enough to strike the right nerve in anybody. I leave that up to the Holy Ghost. Because what you think is something may not be nothing to somebody else. And they say stuff like (What, you thought that that was gon bother me?) I ain’t go that on my mind. Oh but Jesus knows 3x Look at what Jesus says in verses 7-9

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.

Jesus said they are Hypocrites A Hypocrite in the Greek is a stage actor. Say one thing but does something entirely different.

Jesus concluded His reply with an application (Matt. 15:7–11), quoting Isaiah 29:13. Jesus made it clear that obedience to tradition made a person disobedient to the Word of God; and this proved the tradition to be false. Exodus 20:12 taught a man to “honor” father and mother. But the “Corban” rule would make a person dishonor his parents, and, at the same time, disobey God. AND SO Jesus takes up for His disciples even knowing that most of them will flee and run off when the real heat comes.And that’s what Jesus does for us. He knows our flaws our failures our shortcomings and yet He still rescues us mainly from ourselves. A lot stuff we blame the devil for and the devil ain’t had nothing to do with some of that stuff.

Let’s look at the text in verse 10 Jesus gives context to the text. In other words Jesus broadens and expands the lesson 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. Jesus is saying in essence it’s not about the rudiments of traditions but about the spiritual character we posses. Because even a fool is considered wise when he hushes his mouth. A closed mouth catches no flies. Listen for Jesus to say that what comes out of your mouth defiles you it means that, that’s what’s in your heart.Jesus is saying From my observation, nobody else is cutting up and carrying on but y’all scribes and Pharisees. The majority of the people just want to hear a word from the Lord. The bible says That God’s word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.Most people come to hear a word from the Lord. Because God knows what they have need of. And as strange and off course as this lesson was to me God knew what He was directing me to. I just left Moses and the Red Sea. I just left suffer the little children to come unto me for such is the Kingdom of God. A whole other vein of theological thought and so verse 12 says 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.

Peter them said Jesus you know you made them Pharisees mad don’t you. In essence Jesus said I don’t care because I’m more offended by what they tried to trick and trap me about y’all. Furthermore some of them are counterfeits they bogus, they fake, they ain’t no real preachers. they aren’t real teachers. They are Hypocrites and Jesus said and I’m exposing them. They are going to be rooted up and shipped out. God is not even going to consider them in the Judgement. Jesus had gone from just mad and upset to speaking eschatological in the future. Jesus said Every Plant that my Father didn’t plant will be thrown out!!!! This means to be sure of your calling. This is a spiritual vocational calling. And if we don’t put God first He’ll leave us alone. Matter of fact verse 14 says !Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch. They are spiritually blind and they don’t want to see. ( True story A man told me “that ain’t what we do here Rev Allen. I said that’s what the bible says to do. he said that’s fine but that ain’t what we doing here). Looked me straight in my eyes… If a church’s leadership doesn’t want to follow the bible Houston we have a problem. I didn’t say don’t want to follow me. Because I’m duty bound by this same bible. It ain’t no do as I say but no as I do kind of Gospel.

Jesus said they blind well let them stay blind because they don’t want to see no how. Yes Indeed. I certainly wouldn’t want God to say that about my heart!!!

From the NCV Matthew 15:15-19 says Peter said, “Explain the example to us.”16 Jesus said, “Do you still not understand? 17 Surely you know that all the food that enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then goes out of the body. 18 But what people say with their mouths comes from the way they think; these are the things that make people unclean. 19 Out of the mind come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual sins, stealing, lying, and speaking evil of others. 20 These things make people unclean; eating with unwashed hands does not make them unclean.” Finally Jesus is saying it’s not eating with unwashed hands that defile you, it’s what you allow to hoover around in your mind and then get in your heart.

Then the focus shifts from Stand up for His disciples to Being and All Sufficient Savior

Let read the case verse Matthew 15:21-24 Ready read 21 Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon. 22 And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. 23 But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us. 24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

Jesus says I’m here to save the sheep of the house of Israel. But the woman have some real issues going on here. 1. The woman is from Canaan The etymology of the word “Canaan Transliterates as that Land of Israel that God allowed to be invaded to keep his promise to Abraham and it became the promised Land.the Holy Land God made up His mind to choose Canaan.

2. the woman’s daughter is demon possessed.

3. Anybody other than a Jew was considered a heathen dog. They was a racist statement. They literally called you a dog. That’s why I’m glad the slang my dog is fading away because it signifies that that person is a heathen not a Christian but lowly like a domesticated dog.

4. The woman say Oh Lord thou Son of David have mercy upon me. I’ve got a problem. I’ve got family issues Lord it’s my child!!! She got a demon in her. Please help me. and jesus wouldn’t answer her, not a word. The disciples kept her away from Jesus. 5, Jesus said I came to save not to destroy. I came that you might have life in other words I came to save the Lost house of Israel. This important because now the woman is saying within herself “If jesus is truly bonafided He’s take this case. Look at verses 25-28 Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. 26 But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs. 27 And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table. 28 Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.

Jesus is saying you’re not the regular run of the mill Jew. We consider y’all heathen dogs. But the woman is very very persistent she says. Lord that’s true I ain’t gon even deny that But Lord even the dogs eat the crumbs from under the king’s table. In other words Lord I acknowledge that I’m low on the totem pole but low or not Shouldn’t I be allowed mercy and grace and healing like anybody else? Please Lord Help Me. Please sir to have mercy. In other words Lord you’re my only hope. Because if the Pharisees and the scribes could have healed my daughter she would have been healed a long time ago.

And then Jesus said woman thy great faith has gotten you your request. Sometimes we have to be persistent to get our needs met. What if she would have given up after the first try. let me teach you one of my mottos “ Big shots are only little shots who keep shooting!!!! Just don’t ever give up. You might be so close to your break through.Lord keep us seeking your face. Keep us petitioning your throne of Grace. The bible says that the woman’s daughter got healed right then and there.

Then the story shifts again to Jesus being Jehovah Rapha the God that heals look at verse 29 And Jesus departed from thence, and came nigh unto the sea of Galilee; and went up into a mountain, and sat down there. 30 And great multitudes came unto him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus' feet; and he healed them: 31 Insomuch that the multitude wondered, when they saw the dumb to speak, the maimed to be whole, the lame to walk, and the blind to see: and they glorified the God of Israel.

1. Jesus went up into a mountain a very steep hill side the actual foot hills to the mountain. And sat down. Why did he do that? Well the mountain side created the perfect amphitheater. And amphitheater is like an amplifier with out the power cord, electricity or speakers to produce a loud sound. Jesus had a perfect strategy because he sat high above the people. They could see their leader they could experience their leader they knew where their leader was at all times. So the people brought the dumb and Jehovah Rapha made them be able to speak, the maimed and Jesus made them to be whole, the lame came and Jehovah Rapha enabled them to walk, and the blind came blind and went back seeing: and the bible says they glorified the God of Israel.

In all of this Jesus Glorified God. Because He never came to Glorify Himself. He never came contrary to the will of God. He was always on the right team. it was always Team Trinity. Father Son and Holy Ghost.

And then the conversation shift again only this time it’s Jehovah Jireh Look at verses 32-34 Then Jesus called his disciples unto him, and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way. 33 And his disciples say unto him, Whence should we have so much bread in the wilderness, as to fill so great a multitude? 34 And Jesus saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven, and a few little fishes.

1. Jesus called His disciples. In other words Jesus makes up the real assignments and projects and ministries. It’s better when Jesus makes up the assignments.

2. Now we see the motive of the ministry assignment. Jesus had compassion of the multitude. There were a whole lot is disenfranchised people in that crowd. The dumb man ain’t had no job. the lame man ain’t had no job the deaf man ain’t had no job the blind man ain’t had no job etc. so that crowd needed somebody to have compassion on them. What that means too me is that every church s not going to have a bunch of rich folks bailing them out and paying all the bills. Most times it’s going to be regular individuals that come together believe God and refuse to fail. Folk thtat trust God and never doubt knowing that God will bring them out! I know God will bring us out.

Look at verses 35-39 And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground. 36 And he took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, and brake them, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. Don’t miss this Jesus is already on our case He already knows what we have need of. He said Peter James John and the rest of the disciple make the people sit down in an organized fashion and I’m going to bless them. Jesus takes seven loaves of bread and the few little fishes and gives thanks Don’t miss that He gives thanks. WE ought to come in the house saying thank you Lord. Thank you Father for putting food on our tables and clothes on our backs thank you for a roof over our head thank you.3x Then if you notice the text after Jesus’ short prayer Jesus was through with the matter. Because He gave the project over to the disciples. And it’s sad when you’ve got a pastor that want to micromanage every situation every circumstance and every condition of the church. That’s why you have leaders. it’s a partnership not a dictatorship and it’s not mutiny on the ship either. Boy if I could go back and tell my younger self some things I’d say don’t be vain don’t be silly, don’t be arrogant and don’t be overly sensitive when people won’t listen. Jesus had the disciples demonstrate the distribution and delivery of services that were apparently needed. The people couldn’t go in town. And even if they could have most of them didn’t have any money. So Jehovah Jireh the Lord our provider showed up show out and showed off in a mighty way…What a Mighty God we serve..

But How Mighty The bible says in verse 37 And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets full. 38 And they that did eat were four thousand men, beside women and children. 39 And he sent away the multitude, and took ship, and came into the coasts of Magdala.

1. They all did eat and were full, God is not respecter of persons if he bless me He’ll bless you too. 2.Jehovah jireh is so Mighty until they took up seven baskets of left overs

3. Jesus fed over 16 thousand people. If every Jewish family had two children with the mama and daddy 4x4 =16 And that say that our God is not Limited to any persons places or things Because He’s Almighty God. 4, and then finally Jesus sends the multitude away Now may the grace of God Sweet communion of the Holy Spirit rest rule and abide with us henceforth now and forevermore. That assignment was over. because then Jesus got in the ship and headed to Magdala.

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