That's Awkward

Traditions that Distract

Tradition of the Elders

Their teachings

Rules taught by men

Commands of God vs traditions of men

Introduction

Good morning, dear friends. Today’s message is about something many of us prefer not to discuss: the inherent flaws and imperfections we all carry within ourselves. These flaws, or “inherent vices,” are akin to the natural degradation of materials that art conservators struggle with. Just as art made from unstable materials—like chocolate busts or aging wedding dresses—faces the inevitable challenge of deterioration, so too do our hearts and lives face the challenge of inherent vice. What contaminates a life? Jesus feeds five thousand, walks on water, and continues to show his power over evil. The controversy with the Pharisees heats up. Rituals are supposed to express a good and true reality and not be observed if they make no sense.

The Problem of Inherent Vice

In the world of art conservation, the term "inherent vice" refers to qualities within materials that cause them to deteriorate over time. For instance, chocolate busts will eventually melt, and old wedding dresses will yellow and mottle. This concept helps us understand the nature of certain materials and their inevitable decay.

Jesus addresses a similar issue in our scripture today. He confronts the idea that external behaviors can be solely responsible for righteousness. The Pharisees prided themselves on their meticulous observance of laws and rituals, but Jesus reveals that righteousness is more profound than just following rules.

How many things there are in the world, which we have upon our tables and which we even eat, that if we were to put beneath our microscope we would be afraid to touch, for we should see all kinds of loathsome creatures creeping and crawling about in them—such things as we never conceived!

And so it is with human nature. When once the human heart is put under the microscope of Scripture, and we see it with a spiritual eye, we see it to be so vile and filthy that we are quite sure that until we have a new heart and a right spirit it would be just as impossible to expect to find good works in an unrighteous, unconverted man, as to hope to see fire burning in the midst of the ocean. The two things would be incongruous.1

1 Charles Spurgeon, 300 Sermon Illustrations from Charles Spurgeon, ed. Elliot Ritzema and Lynnea Smoyer (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2017).

The Pharisees and External Righteousness

The Pharisees were known for their rigorous adherence to the law, including the washing of hands and utensils. They saw these external acts as markers of piety. But Jesus challenged this notion. He said, “It’s what comes out of a person that defiles” (Mark 7:20). It’s not about the external cleanliness of hands or dishes; it’s about the state of the heart.

The Pharisees had a built-in tendency to focus on outward appearances while neglecting the inner life. Their righteousness was superficial, a veneer that masked deeper issues. Jesus’ words pierced through this facade, indicating that true righteousness is a matter of the heart.

In a vivid, autobiographical article in Moody Magazine, Charles Colson compares an incident in his past with Augustine’s famous story about stealing pears for the sheer joy of stealing. Colson wrote,

“Having been at the center of the biggest political upheaval of this century, I’ve had my sins—real and imagined—spread across front pages around the world, re-enacted in living color on movie and TV screens, and dissected in hundreds of books. As a result, I am often asked which of my Watergate deeds causes me the greatest remorse.

“My invariable reply is, ‘None. My deepest remorse is for the hidden sins of my heart, which are far worse.’ That response tends to puzzle or infuriate the media. But it is an honest answer.… The sins for which I feel the greatest contrition are illustrated by an episode from thirty years ago.

“I was a new Marine lieutenant, proud and tough. My spit-shined shoes reflected the sun like two mirrors, matched in brilliance only by my polished gold bars. In the midst of Caribbean maneuvers, our battalion had landed on Vieques Island, a tiny satellite of Puerto Rico. Most of the mountainous land was a Navy protectorate used for landing and target practice, but on one end a clan of poverty-stricken souls endured the earsplitting shellings to eke out a living selling cold drinks to invading Marines.

“We officers were instructed to buy nothing from these peddlers, who, though strictly forbidden to enter the military reservation, invariably did so. The order was given with a sly smile and wink—no one obeyed it.

“The second day in the field, I was leading my platoon of forty grimy, sweating riflemen up and over a craggy ridge when I spotted an old man leading a scrawny donkey that nearly collapsed under the load of two huge, ice-filled canvas sacks.

“We were panting, and our canteens were getting low, so I immediately routed my men toward the distant figure. When the men saw the elderly man and his loaded beast, they picked up speed, knowing I would blink at orders and permit them to buy cans of cold drinks.

“But when we were just a few yards from the grinning old man, I ordered my troops to halt. ‘Sergeant,’ I commanded, ‘take this man prisoner. He is trespassing on government property.’

“The platoon sergeant, a veteran of a dozen or more Vieques landings, stared in disbelief. ‘Go ahead,’ I barked. The sergeant shook his head, swung about, and, with rifle at the ready, marched toward the old man, whose smile suddenly turned to stone.

“I then commanded my men to ‘confiscate the contraband.’ Cheering lustily, they did so. While the sergeant tossed cans of chilled fruit juice from the two bulging sacks, the old man squinted at me with doleful eyes. His sacks emptied, we released our ‘prisoner.’ Shoulders hunched, he rode away on his donkey.

“Technically, I had observed military law. Yet I had not given a fleeting thought to the fact that those satchels of juice might have represented the old man’s life savings or that my order could mean an entire family might go hungry for months.

“Instead, I was smugly satisfied, believing that my men were grateful to me for getting them something cold to drink (which they would have happily purchased) and that I had proven I was tough (though my adversary was defenseless). As for the old man: Well, I thought, he got what he deserved for violating government property.

“Although I quickly forgot the incident, it vividly came to mind years later, after my conversion, as I sat in prison and read from Augustine’s Confessions about stealing pears as a youth from a neighbor’s tree.

“Augustine records that late one night he and a group of youngsters went out to ‘shake down and rob this tree. We took great loads of fruit from it, not for our own eating but rather to throw it to the pigs.’ He then berated himself for the depth of sin this revealed: ‘The fruit I gathered I threw away, devouring in it only iniquity. There was no other reason, but foul was the evil and I loved it.”

Inherent Vice of the Heart

Inherent vice isn’t just a problem for physical objects; it’s also a problem for our spiritual lives. Jesus lists the “evil things” that come from within: “fornication, theft, murder, adultery, avarice, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, folly” (Mark 7:21-23). These are not merely actions but reflections of a heart that is flawed and prone to corruption.

Just as a painting may decay over time due to its materials, our hearts, too, have a built-in tendency to develop moral and spiritual decay. This is the reality of our human condition—something we cannot escape on our own.

Good News: Redemption from Inherent Vice

Here’s the good news: While inherent vice is a built-in flaw in both art and our hearts, it does not mean we are beyond hope. Just as conservators work tirelessly to preserve and restore art, God is at work in our lives, offering redemption and restoration.

God’s love and mercy cover our inherent vices. Through Jesus, we are not just given a fresh start; we are continually renewed. Jesus’ sacrifice and grace provide a solution to our inner corruption. We are assured that despite our inherent flaws, God’s love encompasses all our failings.

Conclusion

Inherent vice is a powerful metaphor for understanding the nature of sin and righteousness. It teaches us that external appearances are not enough; the state of our hearts matters profoundly. Jesus calls us to look beyond superficial acts and address the root of our spiritual decay.

While inherent vice is inevitable, it is not our final destination. With God’s help, we can overcome our imperfections and live in the fullness of His grace. As we navigate our lives, let us remember that our flaws are covered by divine mercy, and let us strive to align our hearts with God’s righteousness, knowing that He makes all things new.

Let us pray.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your boundless grace and mercy. We confess that our hearts are often flawed and prone to decay. Help us to look beyond the surface and address the true condition of our hearts. Strengthen us with Your Spirit and renew us each day. We trust in Your promise of redemption through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.