# 75 Religion Vs. Relationship - Matthew 15:1-20

Introduction: A few weeks ago, after church, I was shutting off lights and getting ready to leave when three young junior high school girls came into the building. I walked over to them and asked them how I could help them, and they proceeded to tell me that they were down at Spirit Lake and that they saw what they called, “A Shadow Figure”, and it scared them, and they ran as fast as they could to this church because they knew it was a safe place.

I listened to them, and I could see they were scared so I started to share the gospel with them. I talked with them about finding true freedom from fear in the person of Jesus Christ. I told them that John tells us that having Jesus Christ in us, is greater than the evil one in the world (1 John 4:4).

I finally arrived at the point where I asked them if they would want to receive Jesus Christ into their lives to be their Savior and Lord. The young girl who seemed to be the spokesperson for the other two said, “Oh, I don’t talk about religion.”

I looked at her and told her that I wasn’t talking about religion, but about having a relationship with the God who created her. She still didn’t want to talk anymore about it, so I turned to the other two girls and asked them if they would want to invite Jesus Christ into their lives. They told me that they weren’t ready. I ended our conversation by asking them if they owned a Bible, and two of the three said they did, and one girl said she didn’t, so I gave her a Bible, and I encouraged her to read through the Gospel of John. I asked them if I could pray for them, and they said, yes. I prayed and they went on their way. One thing I know is that I did plant some seeds that day. Hopefully, they will someday remember the conversation they had with me.

On a side note:That was the same day that I spoke about Divine appointments.

When talking with people about Jesus Christ they seem to think in terms of religion. But what we need to understand is that Christianity is not a religion. Even though people see it as a religion it is about a RELATIONSHIP with the God who created you.

Paul wrote in Romans 5:1,

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

As we come to our text, I want us to see how true Biblical Christianity is presented by Jesus Christ. What I want to do in this chapter is to contrast the differences between Religion Vs. Relationship.

I. Religion Focuses on Traditions (Rituals) – 15:1-2

1Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying, 2“Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.”

A delegation came from Jerusalem, the center of Jewish authority, and was made up of scribes, teachers of the law (professional interpreters of the law who especially emphasized the traditions), and Pharisees (who advocated detailed obedience to the Jewish law and traditions).

I have read that this delegation traveled some 90 miles on foot to speak with Jesus. They were going to question Him as to why His disciples transgress the tradition of the elders.

What are the traditions of the elders?Well, over the centuries since the Jews’ return from the Babylonian captivity, hundreds of religious traditions had been added to God’s laws. The scribes and Pharisees considered them all equally important. They believed that these oral traditions (commentaries and exhortations that were memorized and passed on from generation to generation) went back to Moses. As these religious leaders scrutinized Jesus and his disciples, they noticed that some of his disciples were eating without first washing their hands. This referred not to washing for cleanliness (hygiene), but to a particular kind of washing that made a person “ceremonially clean” before eating. This ceremonial washing cleansed a person from any defilement he or she may have contracted without knowing it.[1]

“The tradition of the elders” refers to the oral interpretation of God’s laws, interpretations that affected every aspect of Jewish daily life. The elders of earlier generations (members chosen from the older people to be part of the Sanhedrin, the most powerful religious and political body of the Jewish nation) passed along this oral tradition until, in the third century B.C., it was collected and written down, eventually forming the foundation of the Jewish Talmud.[2]

Warren Wiersbe writes, “This oral law was finally written down and became the Mishnah. Unfortunately, the Mishnah became more important and more authoritative than the original Law of Moses.”

II. Relationship Prioritizes God’s Commandments – 15:3

3 He answered and said to them, “Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition? 4 For God commanded, saying, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’

Jesus deals with their tradition versus what God commanded. It is what man says versus what God says to man. Which is more important, the tradition of man, or the Commandments of God?

Care for your Parents

God commanded that children are to honor their father and mother (Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 5:16). Children are commanded to honor and respect their parents. Children are to take care of their parents when they are unable to take care of themselves.

Do not Curse your Parents

God also said that children are not to curse their parents. The word “curse” in our text means to “criticize, to ridicule, to abuse verbally.” The law taught that children who cursed their parents were to be put to death (see Leviticus 20:9).

Christians in a relationship with God take God’s Word at face value. They seek to live out Scripture.

III. Religion Seeks Loopholes – 15:5-6

5 But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to God”—6 then he need not honor his father or mother.’ Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition.

Religious people look for manmade loopholes, especially when it comes to money. Have you noticed that most people have real issues when the topic of money comes up? People want to protect their money. For example, instead of children using finances to take care of their parents, the religious Jew came up with a manmade tradition they called, the practice of Corbin.

What is the tradition of Corban? The word means “offering”. Corban meant that a person could dedicate their money or property for God’s exclusive use. When this happened, the money would be reserved for sacred use and withdrawn from use by anyone else. But the benefits could be used by the donor, much like an irrevocable trust works today. This vow was grossly misused. A man could use an article vowed to God indefinitely but could not transfer it to anyone else. Unscrupulous people would even use this vow to keep from paying debts. Others, as Jesus noted, used it to circumvent their responsibility to care for their parents. Their devotion to God had stripped them of their compassion for people.[3]

What we see here is that by nature mankind is extremely selfish. People often think of only themselves. Protect my money at all costs, even if it means that others carry the responsibility for caring for your parents.

Religion is so twisted!

IV. Relationship is Grounded in Scripture – 15:7

7 Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying: 8 ‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. 9 And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ ”

As we walk with Jesus Christ, we must always keep the Scripture front and center of our lives. Biblical Truth never changes! You and I must always allow Scripture to speak. And boy Oh boy does the Scripture have a word for the religious. The Scripture has the first and last word on all matters of faith and practice.

Jesus pointed out that Isaiah called the religious people of his day, hypocrites. The word “hypocrites” means play actors. In other words, they were not sincere. They were phonies. Notice the words, “Well did Isaiah prophesy about you,” Those words “well did” mean that Isaiah wrote beautifully or excellently when he described religious people. Jesus told the religious Pharisees that this Isaiah passage spoke directly about them. He then quoted Isaiah,

‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. 9And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ ”

Religious people are all show and nothing substantial. They were 100% religious – all about the rituals and traditions of man. We see three things in this verse:

1. Religious people honor God with their lips rather than their hearts.

2. Religious people worship God in vain (to accomplish nothing, to have no result).

3. Religious people grant their teaching the same status as God’s Law.

True believers take Scripture at face value. We don’t seek to do spiritual gymnastics with the Bible so that we can interpret a passage and make it man-centric. We don’t teach as doctrine the commandments of men. Traditions developed for man’s selfishness.

Here is what the Bible says about itself in 2 Timothy 3:16–17,

16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

V. Religion Obsesses Over Outward Acts – 15:10-11

10When He had called the multitude to Himself, He said to them, “Hear and understand: 11 Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.”

The Pharisees were preoccupied with food laws and cleanliness, missing the bigger picture. Jesus flips the script: it’s not what goes in, but what comes out that matters. Jesus turns the conversation to focus on the heart.

In the book Exalting Jesus In Matthew, the author writes, “Our greatest need is not cleaner hands. The greatest need is changed hearts.”

Religion often gets bogged down on externals:

· Not picking gain on the Sabbath.

· Wash your hands before you eat.

· Eating only certain foods.

· Worshipping on a specific day.

However, a relationship with God is all about what is happening in the heart. This is why in Proverbs 4:23, we read,

23Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.

· Religion is externally based.

· Relationship is internally based.

VI. Relationship Examines the Heart - 15:10-11

10When He had called the multitude to Himself, He said to them, “Hear and understand: 11 Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.”

Write down these words: The Heart of the Matter is the Heart! Relationship is concerned with the words that come out of a person’s mouth. It doesn’t matter what kind of food you eat; the body is designed to eliminate it. What really matters are the words that flow out of the mouth. Because words come from the heart. A relationship with God is about transformation from the inside out, not just about following manmade rules. Our words reveal the state of our hearts, and that’s what God cares about.

In a relationship with God, we examine our words and actions, knowing they reflect the state of our hearts. True faith is about inner transformation, not outward appearances.

J. C. Ryle’s comments are helpful here: What is the first thing we need in order to be Christians? A new heart. What is the sacrifice God asks us to bring to him? A broken and a contrite heart (Psalm 51:17). What is the true circumcision? The circumcision of the heart (Romans 2:29). What is genuine obedience? To obey from the heart. What is saving faith? To believe with the heart. Where ought Christ to dwell? To dwell in our hearts through faith (Ephesians 3:17). (Ryle, Matthew, 126)[4]

VII. Religion Takes Offense Easily – 15:12

12Then His disciples came and said to Him, “Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?”

Religious people often get easily offended because their identity is tied to their traditions, rituals, and external actions. When those are challenged, they take it personally. The Pharisees were more concerned about being “right” than seeking truth. Religion is often fragile and defensive.

Religion can create pride, and when our pride is challenged, we are easily offended. A relationship with God, however, requires humility and a willingness to be corrected.

VIII. Relationship Trusts in God’s Sovereignty – 15:13

13 But He answered and said, “Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. 14 Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch.”

Real Christians don’t need to concern themselves with religious people. Religious people have a way of keeping you away from fully trusting God. They are so wrapped up with the non-essentials. They want to talk about religious topics and not necessarily practical eternal truth. Perhaps this is why I believe Jesus reminded His disciples,

“Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted.”

Jesus told His followers that God was going to deal with the religious. He tells them simply to leave them alone. Jesus goes on to say,

“They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch.”

Get this down: Religious people are blind. Which means that they are without Jesus Christ. They are lost. Blind people don’t make good guides. If you follow a blind person, you will both eventually be led off to ruin.

In a relationship with God, there is security in knowing that God will point out the truth from falsehood. Faithfulness to God is the priority, not winning arguments or pleasing religious leaders.

We simply surrender to the sovereignty of God.

Conclusion: Now in these last six verses Jesus summarizes the difference between Religion Vs. Relationship. It is Jesus’ conclusion, so I thought it would be a good conclusion for us to walk through these verses.

We read,

15Then Peter answered and said to Him, “Explain this parable to us.” 16So Jesus said, “Are you also still without understanding? 17 Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated? 18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. 19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. 20 These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man.”

Religion Vs. Relationship is contracted in these final verses.

· The religious man depends on themselves and their traditions, seeking to be “clean” through external actions.

· The person in relationship with God depends on God for understanding and transformation from within.

· The religious man is obsessed with anything that goes into his mouth (the external). It must be kosher! Clean foods.

· The person in relationship with God knows that food goes into the stomach and is later eliminated.

· The religious man doesn’t focus on what comes out of his mouth because he is more concerned about what he puts in his mouth.

· The person in relationship with God knows that the mouth is the gateway to the heart and that what comes out of the mouth flows directly from the heart.

· The religious man is externally focused.

· The person in relationship with God is internally focused.

Jesus said in verse 19,

19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.

Are you aware that most religious people don’t want to talk about what is going on in their hearts? They want to focus on the non-essentials. They get all worked up about feasts, food, sabbaths, days of worship, and the like.

However, those in relationship with God know and understand the importance of talking about what percolates within the heart:

· Evil thoughts –Wicked imaginations and thoughts.

· Murder—Killing a person, taking his or her God-given life.

· Adultery—Having sex with someone other than one’s spouse.

· Fornication—Engaging in various kinds of extramarital sexual activity.

· Theft—Taking something that belongs to someone else.

· False witness—Tricking or misleading by lying.

· Slander—Destroying another’s good reputation through half-truths and lies.[5]

I was reading the parallel passage in Mark’s Gospel and noticed that Jesus mentioned a few other issues that flow from the heart:

· Covetousness – Not content with what you have.

· Lewdness – Obscene manner.

· Evil eye – Looking at someone with evil intent.

· Pride – Thinking that you are better than others, haughtiness.

· Foolishness – Senselessness, folly, recklessness.

Jesus summarizes the differences between Religion Vs. Relationship in verse 20,

20These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man.”

Are we focused on religious externals, or are we seeking a true relationship with God? Do we care more about how we appear to others, or about the state of our heart before God? Let us remember that God desires relationship over ritual, heart over habit, and sincerity over show.

Let's pray together.

[1]Barton, B. B. (1996). Matthew(p. 299). Tyndale House Publishers. [2]Ibid (p. 300). [3]Barton, B. B. (1996). Matthew(p. 302). Tyndale House Publishers. [4]Platt, D. (2013). Exalting Jesus in Matthew (D. L. Akin, D. Platt, & T. Merida, Eds.; p. 206). Holman Reference. [5]Barton, B. B. (1996). Matthew(p. 307). Tyndale House Publishers.