What’s Killing the Church

Matthew 15:1–10 NRSV

Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands before they eat.” He answered them, “And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? For God said, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘Whoever speaks evil of father or mother must surely die.’ But you say that whoever tells father or mother, ‘Whatever support you might have had from me is given to God,’ then that person need not honor the father. So, for the sake of your tradition, you make void the word of God. You hypocrites! Isaiah prophesied rightly about you when he said: ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching human precepts as doctrines.’ ” Then he called the crowd to him and said to them, “Listen and understand:

Temporary Christians are no Christians: only the believer who continues to believe will enter heaven.

The Covenant Promise Of The Spirit, Volume 37, Sermon #2200 - Ezekiel 36:27

Charles Spurgeon

Point 1: Apathetic and Hypocritical “Christians” have done more to destroy the church than any heretic in the history of humanity.

The Hypocrisy of the Pharisees (Matthew 15:1-3)

- In this passage, the Pharisees come to Jesus and question him about why his disciples do not follow the tradition of washing their hands before eating.

- The Pharisees were known for their strict adherence to religious traditions and laws, but they were more concerned with outward appearances rather than the condition of their hearts.

- Jesus calls them out for their hypocrisy, as they were more concerned with following man-made rules rather than the commandments of God.

Point 2: We tell people and teach their minds with our words, but we reach and touch their hears, good, bad, or otherwise, with our actions.

The Consequences of Hypocrisy (Matthew 15:7-9)

- Jesus quotes from the prophet Isaiah, saying, "These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me."

- Hypocrisy may fool others, but it cannot deceive God. He sees the true condition of our hearts.

- The consequences of hypocrisy are severe, as it leads to a false sense of righteousness and ultimately separates us from God.

Point 3: There is NO earthly cure for Hypocrisy. One hand does NOT wash the other.

The Cure for Hypocrisy (Matthew 15:8-10)

- Jesus teaches that true righteousness comes from a pure heart, not just outward actions.

- We must examine our hearts and motives and not just focus on external appearances.

- The cure for hypocrisy is genuine repentance and a sincere desire to follow God's commandments from the heart.

Conclusion:

The Major take away is that a person’s soul is more valuable than any tradition or ritual.

Hypocrisy is a dangerous trap that can lead us away from God. Let us not be like the Pharisees, more concerned with outward appearances than the condition of our hearts. Instead, let us strive for true righteousness by examining our hearts and seeking to follow God's commandments with sincerity. May we always remember that God desires genuine worship from the heart, not just empty words and actions.

How do you show the patience to those with whom you disagree?

Is the church a hospital for sinners?

Is the church a museum for saints?

Is it NONE of those things, but other than a group of those who want to be closer to God today then they were yesterday.