Inner Purity (Matt 15:1-20)

Inner Purity

1. (V2) Why do the disciples disobey our tradition?

a) There are several times where Jewish law requires handwashing, including:

After sleeping or napping after

After going to the bathroom

After leaving a cemetery

Before a meal, if bread is involved

After a meal, if the "salt of Sodom" was used

b) How they wash:

Fill a water cup and pour two to three times on the dominate hand first

Then they would recite a blessing or prayer

2. (V3) Why do you by your tradition violate the direct commandments of God

a) There is a law to honor your parents

As the parents get older, the adult children was supposed to provide from their excess

b) Jesus is rebuking them because they would say this a gift for God, sorry can’t help you

In reality, the adult children would keep the money for themselves

This convenient declaration apparently left the property actually still at the disposal of the one who made the vow, but deprived his parents of any right to it.” (France)

3. (V8) These people honor me with their lips but their heart is far from me

a) The religious leaders were more interested in being respected by man than pleasing God

Jesus calls them out on their hypocrisy, which is the reason why He was put to death

Luke 11:39 “Then the Lord said to him, “You Pharisees are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy—full of greed and wickedness!”

b) Their worship is farce

Farce is a comedy that seeks to entertain an audience through situations that are highly exaggerated, extravagant, ridiculous, absurd, and improbable.

Farce is also characterized by heavy use of physical humor