13 What Is In Your Mouth?

The Kingdom Is Near  •  Sermon  •  Submitted
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Big Idea: Your life is judged by what is in your heart, not by what goes in your mouth.

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Introduction

After the Kingdom Parables in , Jesus fed 5,000 and walked on water. He and the disciples went to the shore at Gennesaret.
As Jesus continues teaching and healing the crowds, the Pharisees and scribes from Jerusalem approached Him
Only fault they can find is that some disciples do not follow the ritual washings, asked Jesus why they don’t live according to the tradition of the elders

What Is In Your Mouth?

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Pharisees send delegation to find fault with Jesus
Pharisees send delegation to find fault with Jesus
Only fault they can find is that some disciples do not follow the ritual washings, asked Jesus why they don’t live according to the tradition of the elders

Break Tradition Or Break Commands

I like how Jesus, as He always does, turned it around on them. No answer, no defense.
I like how Jesus, as He always does, turned it around on them. No answer, no defense.
Matthew 15:3 CSB
He answered them, “Why do you break God’s commandment because of your tradition?
Why do you violate the direct commands of God through the traditions of the elders? You cancel the word of God for the sake of your own tradition.
Why do you violate the direct commands of God through the traditions of the elders? You cancel the word of God for the sake of your own tradition.
Matthew 15:4 CSB
For God said: Honor your father and your mother; and, Whoever speaks evil of father or mother must be put to death.
Matthew 15:4–5 CSB
4 For God said: Honor your father and your mother; and, Whoever speaks evil of father or mother must be put to death. 5 But you say, ‘Whoever tells his father or mother, “Whatever benefit you might have received from me is a gift committed to the temple,”
Matthew 15:4–6 CSB
4 For God said: Honor your father and your mother; and, Whoever speaks evil of father or mother must be put to death. 5 But you say, ‘Whoever tells his father or mother, “Whatever benefit you might have received from me is a gift committed to the temple,” 6 he does not have to honor his father.’ In this way, you have nullified the word of God because of your tradition.
v.4 Command from Scripture
Command from Scripture
Command from Scripture
Command from Scripture
Matthew 15:5 CSB
But you say, ‘Whoever tells his father or mother, “Whatever benefit you might have received from me is a gift committed to the temple,”
v.5 Tradition of Elders = man
v.5 Tradition of Elders = man
Explanation of Corban. Saying that they are setting aside something to God that they should actually be using to glorify Him by another means – taking care of their parents, in this case. They can continue to use this “gift” and will likely not turn it over to God or only when they die. Sinning by both dishonoring their parents, and by robbing God.
The traditions of the elders, the rules to follow had become heavy and burdensome and nearly impossible to follow faithfully. is full of warnings about this.
Pharisees speak from tradition, Jesus speaks directly from Scripture.
Authority of Scripture = Authority of God.
Matthew 15:6 CSB
he does not have to honor his father.’ In this way, you have nullified the word of God because of your tradition.
v.6 tradition used to break God’s commands. Rather follow the rules of righteousness set up by man rather than God’s word.
b tradition used to break God’s commands. Rather follow the rules of righteousness set up by man rather than God’s word.
Whose rules are you following, and why?
Matthew 15:7–9 CSB
7 Hypocrites! Isaiah prophesied correctly about you when he said: 8 This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. 9 They worship me in vain, teaching as doctrines human commands.”
Matthew 15:vv.7-9 Jesus called the Pharisees and scribes hypocrites.
vv.7-9 Jesus called the Pharisees and scribes hypocrites.
Honor with lips, worship in vain
heart is far from God, Teach human rules as doctrines
Teach human rules as doctrines
Summary: You can know a lot about God’s Word, but not really know God.
You can follow the rules and still live a life deep in sin.

What Goes In Or What Comes Out

Matthew 15:10 CSB
Summoning the crowd, he told them, “Listen and understand:
v.10 Summoning the crowd = speaking generally and opposing the Pharisees and scribes
Summoning the crowd = speaking generally and opposing the Pharisees and scribes
Listen and understand
Matthew 15:11 CSB
It’s not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth—this defiles a person.”
Matthew 15:11
v.11 Parable of mouth? Not what goes in but what comes out defiles.
v.11 Parable of mouth? Not what goes in but what comes out defiles.
Defile = make impure, make unclean
Going in – food, following rules, ritually clean or not.
Refer vv. 8-9 what comes out honor and worship but from impure hearts
Honor with lips – insincere, like flattery and compliments that the person does not mean truthfully
Pretend to worship - but making human rules into doctrines
v.12 Disciples ask a silly question – Do you know…
Matthew 15:12 CSB
Then the disciples came up and told him, “Do you know that the Pharisees took offense when they heard what you said?”
v.12 Disciples ask a silly question – Do you know…
Disciples ask a silly question – Do you know…
Disciples recognize the Pharisees were offended – because Jesus spoke against them and used Scripture.
vv. 13-14 Parable of plant and parable of blind guide.
Matthew 15:13 CSB
He replied, “Every plant that my heavenly Father didn’t plant will be uprooted.
– plant not planted by Father will be rooted up (people, or teaching?) he’s talking about the Pharisees, but more specifically about their false teaching, man-made rules and doctrines.
– plant not planted by Father will be rooted up (people, or teaching?) he’s talking about the Pharisees, but more specifically about their false teaching, man-made rules and doctrines.
Matthew 15:14 CSB
Leave them alone! They are blind guides. And if the blind guide the blind, both will fall into a pit.”
v.14 – blind guides, both fall into pit. Blind because they don’t understand and are trying to help others who don’t understand.
v.14 – blind guides, both fall into pit. Blind because they don’t understand and are trying to help others who don’t understand. Not trying to understand.
Adhering to these man-made rules does not make you any closer to God. Jesus compares this kind of leadership as blind leading blind.
Summary: It’s not the garbage you put into your mouth that makes you defiled/unclean/impure, it’s the garbage that comes out of your mouth.

Religious Performance Or Spiritual Life

Peter comes in v.15 and asks Jesus to explain the parable.
Matthew 15:16 CSB
“Do you still lack understanding?” he asked.
v.16 Do you still not understand? Jesus explains the parables – mostly the first, of the mouth.
Do you still not understand? Jesus explains the parables – mostly the first, of the mouth.
v.17 Food goes in mouth to stomach out to toilet. Does not defile your heart. Make you impure, unclean
Matthew 15:17 CSB
“Don’t you realize that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is eliminated?
v.17 Quite the picture here: Food goes in mouth to stomach out to toilet. Does not defile your heart. Make you impure, unclean
The Pharisees got so hung up on the rules they didn’t even understand God and His truth.
Matthew 15:18 CSB
But what comes out of the mouth comes from the heart, and this defiles a person.
Sin = evil desires and what you do with them.
Sin = evil desires in your heart and what you do with them.
v.18 It’s not the physical food going into the body that makes you unclean. You are already unclean in your heart and that comes out through your mouth and actions.
That is what defiles, or show you to be unclean.
v.19 a list of issues coming through the mouth or actions, rooted in a dark and evil heart.
Matthew 15:19 CSB
For from the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, sexual immoralities, thefts, false testimonies, slander.
list of issues coming through the mouth or actions, rooted in a dark and evil heart.
adds greed, evil actions, deceit, self-indulgence, envy, pride, and foolishness
Matthew 15:20 CSB
These are the things that defile a person; but eating with unwashed hands does not defile a person.”
Are we guilty as individuals? Are we guilty in the church? Do we keep traditions but neglect the Word of God? Do we reject God’s opportunities to grow and to reach others because they aren’t what or how we usually do?
Are we guilty as individuals? Are we guilty in the church? Do we keep traditions but neglect the Word of God? Do we reject God’s opportunities to grow and to reach others because they aren’t what or how we usually do?
Every matter lived out comes from the heart. Following rules – give 10% tithe because it is your duty to God; From the heart – give generously from the heart. Following rules – don’t drink alcohol; From the heart – don’t let alcohol control you by getting drunk, let the Holy Spirit in you control you. Following rules – go to church; From the heart – worship in spirit and truth.
Conclusion

How do we move from religious performance to true spiritual life?

Often we are like the Pharisees. We try to look good to cover the darkness in our hearts. We focus on outward behaviors but are still blind in our hearts. Our true heart condition comes out in times of stress, when we are alone, our attitudes to others especially if they are different from us, What you say in private, what you post on the internet
The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?
Contrast in works of the flesh and the fruit of the Spirit – those actions coming from a pure heart. Love joy peace patience kindness goodness faithfulness gentleness self-control
blessed are the pure in heart
believe with the heart, confess with the mouth
cleansed by the washing of the water through the word
blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin
In relationship with others. help a brother. Isolation kills.
Often we are like the Pharisees. We try to look good to cover the darkness in our hearts. We focus on outward behaviors but are still blind in our hearts. Our true heart condition comes out in times of stress, when we are alone, our attitudes to others especially if they are different from us, What you say in private, what you post on the internet
In relationship with others. help a brother. Isolation kills.
How do we move from religious performance to true spiritual life?
By contrast, look at works of the flesh and the fruit of the Spirit – those actions coming from a pure heart. Love joy peace patience kindness goodness faithfulness gentleness self-control
blessed are the pure in heart
See believe with the heart, confess with the mouth
See blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin
See cleansed by the washing of the water through the word
In relationship with others. help a brother. Isolation kills.
Are we concerned with maintaining a level of religious performance, or with finding true spiritual life?

Big Idea: Your life is judged by what is in your heart, not by what goes in your mouth.

Your life is judged by what is in your heart, not by what goes in your mouth.
Right living is a matter of the heart, not just good behavior or following rules

What About You?

What is God saying to you today?
Are you a rule follower?
Do you need to start honoring God in your
Are you more concerned with
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