Heart Transplants

Intro

Transition Statement:

Analysis of the Text

Summarize Verses 1-5

Verse 6 - And He said to them, “Rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites

Here in Verse 6, when calling the Pharisees as hypocrites, Jesus is not referring to them as having a lack of dedication. The Pharisees had an intense commitment to the oral traditions, so much so that they placed greater value in their tradition than the written law. Therefore, Mark shows that it was not their lack of commitment but instead “it was their commitment to the oral tradition – and Jesus’ equal commitment to recovering the intent of the written law – that made their differences so earnest.”

New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. (1995). (). La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

This word that Jesus uses here, “hypocrite” ὑποκριτής in Greek, is a word that Strong’s translates as “an actor under an assumed character (stage-player).” This word’s origin comes from the Greek theatre. It literally describes an actor who would put on several different faces throughout the course of a play depending on the character they were playing. Thus, Jesus was accusing the Pharisees as having put on one of their many faces in order to challenge his teachings.

Verse 6b and 7 - THIS PEOPLE HONORS ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR AWAY FROM ME. ‘BUT IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP Me, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE PRECEPTS OF MEN.’

BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR AWAY FROM ME.

Whereas the Pharisees’ critique of Jesus was a critique from oral tradition, Christ’s reply was a quotation from Scripture (). Later, in verse 10, , ). In his Scriptural response, he contrasts oral tradition, with the word of God.

7 ‘BUT IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME,

TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE PRECEPTS OF MEN.’

Robert H. Stein, writer of the Baker’s Exegetical Commentary on the book of Mark, says it like this, “The Isaiah quotation served Jesus’ purpose well in that it deals with the discrepancy between the words and teachings that come from the Pharisees’ mouths and lips and the practice that comes from their hearts.”

This quote display’s the contrast in between “the people’s” mouth/lips and their hearts, which sets up verse 7 by explaining what the root cause of their “vain…worship,” bad “teaching,” and the devaluing of true doctrine. All three of these things mentioned in verse 8 build upon one another. If a heart far away from God (7:6b) is the foundation, that diminishes one’s ability to worship with pure motives.

Verse 8 - “Neglecting the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men.”

Notice the sharp contrast that Mark presents here. The contrast occurs in the two phrases “commandment of God” and “tradition of men.” This contrast becomes very evident while looking at the greater passage and here in verse 8 He summarizes by specifying which one of the two that the Pharisees “hold to” (7:8). But which “commandment of God” is Jesus referring to? Looking into the broader context of Jesus’ life and ministry, I believe that He tells in Mark Chapter 12 when He was asked what the greatest commandment of God is, He says...

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 12

One of the scribes came and heard them arguing, and recognizing that He had answered them well, asked Him, “What commandment is the foremost of all?”

29 Jesus answered, “The foremost is, ‘HEAR, O ISRAEL! THE LORD OUR GOD IS ONE LORD;

30 AND YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH.’

31 “The second is this, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

“Neglecting the commandment of God” (ἀφέντες τὴν ἐντολὴν), charges Jesus’ opponents with negligence in reference to God’s Word.[1] There are a few verses in this passage where we begin to see how Jesus’ rebuke begins to tie together. In 7:3 and 5 the Pharisees are said to practice tradition taught by their elders, this is referred to as “sacred tradition derived from revered teachers of the past called elders.” The tradition taught by the elders referring to sacred tradition is what one could simply label as “human tradition” and equated with the charge of . While replying, Jesus quotes the Old Testament referring to “rules taught by men” (7:7), and describes their sacred tradition as “traditions of men” (7:8), in contrast to “the commands of God.” Lastly in 7:9 he finishes by calling their tradition “your tradition” (7:9), coming to the ends of disowning the traditions himself. “Therefore, the Pharisees’ ‘hypocrisy,’ the discrepancy in their behavior, was their failure to observe God’s commandment by following instead human commandment(s)/tradition.”

[2] NIBC. 110.

Verse 9 & 10 - He was also saying to them, “You are experts at setting aside the commandment of God in order to keep your tradition. “For Moses said, ‘HONOR YOUR FATHER AND YOUR MOTHER’; and, ‘HE WHO SPEAKS EVIL OF FATHER OR MOTHER, IS TO BE PUT TO DEATH’;

Verse 9 & 10 - He was also saying to them, “You are experts at setting aside the commandment of God in order to keep your tradition. “For Moses said, ‘HONOR YOUR FATHER AND YOUR MOTHER’; and, ‘HE WHO SPEAKS EVIL OF FATHER OR MOTHER, IS TO BE PUT TO DEATH’;

The sarcasm that Jesus uses here in verse 9 is clearly construed in Greek and can also still be seen if correctly translated from its original language. The Greek phrase Καλῶς ἀθετεῖτε τὴν ἐντολὴν τοῦ Θεοῦ, which the NIV properly translates as "You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God” (7:9) allows one to see Christs’ sarcasm towards the Pharisees. By examining this phrase, one could almost say that Jesus is accusing the Pharisees of delighting in neglecting the commandments of God. But if that phrase is not strong enough, Jesus goes one step further beginning with the Greek word ἵνα, meaning ‘so that,’ which is used here in its most common use, showing an effect of a previous action. The previous action, “setting aside the commands of God,” was the Pharisees means to keeping their tradition (7:9). However, looking at their actions this concept seems to be intensified. Rather than merely “neglecting the commandments of God” as it reads in verse 8, the Pharisees are nullifying God’s commandments by their tradition taking precedence over God’s commandments.

10 “For Moses said, ‘HONOR YOUR FATHER AND YOUR MOTHER’; and, ‘HE WHO SPEAKS EVIL OF FATHER OR MOTHER, IS TO BE PUT TO DEATH’;

Verse 10 begins with Jesus, quoting the words of Moses from the decalogue in . Mark is strategic in formulating Jesus’ argument “For Moses said…” Moses penned the Law; all of the Pharisaical “traditions” are based on the words of Moses; also, anytime the Pharisees made an attempt to ‘trick’ Jesus, they do so in the language of “Moses said… what do you say?” The Pharisees always use “the words of Moses” to frame their arguments and supposedly their beliefs as well. Jesus wants to tear down the Pharisees’ facade of holiness, so that He can get to the heart of the matter; namely, their heart. Mark is cleverly displaying that the Pharisees clothe their faithless hearts under the banner of “the words of Moses,” so that they can wave their righteous prestige in the face of the public. At this point in the text, Mark is setting up the passage directly following: where Jesus uses this example to point out that actions do not inherently define holy vs. unholy. What defines holy vs. unholy is the meditation of one’s heart ().

Verse 11 & 12 - but you say, ‘If a man says to his father or his mother, whatever I have that would help you is Corban (that is to say, given to God),’ you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or his mother;

12 you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or his mother;

Mark’s first few words in this verse clearly contrast the views of Moses the views of the Pharisees, Look at the Scripture: “for Moses said…” (v. 10), “but you say…” (v. 11). Mark is exposing that what the Pharisees practice, is not in agreement with what Moses said. In verse 11, Mark describes how Jesus exposes the Pharisees bad practice of Corban. Essentially the practice of Corban was a distortion of the Law.

One theologian, James R. Edwards has explained Corban Like this, “Corban was similar to the concept of differed giving. Today, a person may will property to a charity or institution at his or her death, though retaining it until then, In the case of Corban, a person could dedicate goods to God and withdraw them from ordinary use, although retaining control over them himself. In the example of verse 11, a son declares his property Corban, which at his death would pass into the possession of the temple. In the meantime, however, the son retains control over the property - and his control deprives his parents of the support that otherwise would have been derived from the property in their old age. Once property had been offered to God, priests could discourage anyone from withdrawing it from Corban in order to return it to human use.

Corban

Verse 13 - thus invalidating the word of God by your tradition which you have handed down; and you do many things such as that.”

By this point, Jesus had completely explicated a deficiency in the Pharisees’ practice. By holding so fastly to their tradition, the pharisees had come to the point where they had completely warped the commandment to Honor one’s father and mother. But that was not all. Scripture then goes on to tell us that this is not the only commandment of God the Pharisees had rejected. Look with me in the latter half of Verse 13, and find the word “do;” “you DO many things such as that.” This word in Greek is poiete and even though it is commonly translated “do” it rather means a continual practice of something. So How this phrase should read is “Thus invalidating the word of God by your tradition which you have handed down; and you practice many things such as that.” There is no telling how many commandments of God that the Pharisees were breaking

Transition Statement: Now that we have a general idea about what the passage means, we can learn from this passage what Mark is trying to teach about our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

By holding so fastly to their tradition, the pharisees had come to the point where they had completely warped the commandment to Honor one’s father and mother.

New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. (1995). (). La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

What Does this Teach About Christ

What Does this Teach About Christ?

Each of the Gospel writers have something that they want to teach about Christ, and each of the Gospels have an overarching goal for how they are going to present Christ. For instance, Matthew presented Jesus as the one true King, Luke presented Jesus as the sympathetic Son of Man, John presented Jesus as Divine, but Mark presented Jesus as the authoritative, miracle-working Son of God.

In , Mark is continuing with his purpose which is, to reveal Christ as the “authoritative, miracle-working Son of God.” Christs’ authority and miracle working abilities become evident in the narrative of this passage. As the authoritative Son of God, He is able to command a higher righteousness by rebuking the pharisees of not being faithful to the word of God. He is able to have this authority and insight because He is the only one who could look into their lives, their innermost being, and know that their true love was not God, but rather themselves and their traditions. Only God in the flesh can teach and rebuke with the authority that Jesus displays in this passage.

Application

Application

1. God Desires a Commitment

1. God Desires a Relationship not a Robot

One important thing to note is the personal pronouns here in verses 6 and 7. Beginning in the quotation of Isaiah, Jesus says:

BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR AWAY FROM ME.

This people honors Me with their lips

7 ‘BUT IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME,

But their Heart is far away from Me.

But in Vain do they worship Me.

I’ll say it once again, Jesus did not indict the Pharisees because of their lack of committment, it was because of their lack of fellowship with the Father.

Turn with me if you will to Matthew Chapter 6.

New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. (1995). (). La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

Jesus once again is talking about the Pharisees and demonstrating that they have impure motives.

3.

2. God Desires a Pure Heart

At first glance, Jesus seems to not answer the Pharisees’ question to Him, but if you read on past verse 13 you learn that this teaching is illustrating the point that He is going to make in verses 14-23. Look at verse 15...

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 7

15 there is nothing outside the man which can defile him if it goes into him; but the things which proceed out of the man are what defile the man.

And then Continuing on in verses 20-23...

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 7

20 And He was saying, “That which proceeds out of the man, that is what defiles the man.

21 “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries,

22 deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, aenvy, slander, pride and foolishness.

23 “All these evil things proceed from within and defile the man.”

I had a teacher in High School, great Christian lady, who would often say “whats in your heart comes your mouth.” It was one of her many ways of quoting scripture to unruly students without coming right out and doing it. But I think she summarized well what Jesus is communicating here. How you act, what you say, how you respond to the circumstances around you tells a great deal about the condition of your heart.

And it is evident by how we act that some of us need a heart transplant. But I have good news. There is a great Physician who is able to preform this spiritual heart transplant. And it can happen today if you want it to let me tell you how...

Conclusion

Maybe you are here today and you would like to know more about this spiritual heart change that is offered only through Jesus Christ. In just a minute I would like you to meet me down in front of the alter.

People who have never believed

Christians who have not been Living right

Christians who can pray.