sf166 - Confronting False Worship (Matthew 14 34-15 20)

Matthew 14:34-15:20

Introduction

Nothing in life is more important than worship it is the greatest thing we do.

Unless the heart of the worshiper is cleansed and purified, he cannot worship God acceptably, because he cannot worship God honestly and sincerely. The person with a sinful heart is opposed to God and it is not possible for him to worship rightly.

In Matthew 14:34-15:20 Jesus preaches the same message as those prophets: Hearts that are not right with God cannot worship Him. Jesus was still popular with the multitudes of common people, but it was not because they trusted in Him as their Messiah-Savior but because He fed and healed them. Their interest in Him was selfish and their devotion to Him was superficial. They had no desire to follow Him as Lord but only to get from Him what they wanted. T hey did not want to serve Him but rather wanted Him to serve their every whim.

Most of the religious leaders were already openly hostile to Jesus and had been plotting for some time how to kill Him (12:14). But to keep from antagonizing the common people who still followed Jesus, the leaders tried first to discredit Him before they openly attacked Him.

In the present passage Jesus confronts the Jewish religious system of His day head on, showing, above all, the emptiness and worthlessness of its worship. In doing so, He further crystallizes the irreconcilable conflict between His gospel and that system. As the conflict unfolds, Jesus is first seen as the compassionate Healer (14:34-36), then as the condemning Judge (15:1-9), and finally as the correcting Teacher (vv. 10-20).

1A. The Compassionate Healer (14:34-36)

1B. Jesus was available (14:34)

Gennesaret, a small but very beautiful plain located between Capernaum and Magdala.

According to Josephus it was a lush and extremely fertile area that produced a wide variety of crops. The fields and vineyards were irrigated from no less than four large springs, enabling farmers to produce three crops a year.

Because the soil was so rich, it was all devoted to farming, and the area contained no towns or villages. It was therefore a quiet, peaceful region, inhabited by many kinds of birds and offering a good place for retreat and rest.

2B. The crowds sought Him (14:35)

They were motivated by their own needs not by a desire to worship him.

James 4:3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.

They wanted physical healing not spiritual holiness.

1 Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Unregenerate man will always prioritize the physical over the spiritual.

3B. Jesus demonstrates God’s mercy (14:26)

Although their motives are wicked, Jesus still heals them

God is merciful to all men, even to the wicked.

Psalm 145:9 The LORD is good to all, And His tender mercies are over all His works.

2A. The Condemning Judge (15:1-9)

1B. Jesus confronts the Pharisees (15:1-2)

Because of their traditionalism

Ø In their minds the tradition of the elders (the Talmud) was superior to Scripture, in the sense that it was the only reliable interpretation of God’s Word.

Ø They had taken something that was originally intended to protect and elevate the Scriptures and used it to pervert and degrade the Scriptures.

Because of their legalism

Ø The washing had nothing to do with hygiene it was purely ceremonial.

Ø In fact they believed that it was necessary for worship and some believed that it insured a person’s salvation.

2B. Jesus condemns the Pharisees (15:3-9)

For their hard hearts (15:3-6)

Ø They replaced the Word of God with the traditions of men.

“The tradition was not designed to serve either God or the family but to avoid giving up possessions in order to support parents, a person could declare those possessions sacred and unusable; but as soon as he wanted to use them for himself he could just as easily reverse the vow.” (MacArthur)

For their hypocrisy (15:7-9)

Ø Traditions require no integrity of the heart and hey are easily substituted for true worship and obedience.

Ø When the precepts of men are taught as doctrines, man’s wisdom is elevated above God’s—which is the very root of all sin.

3A. The Correcting Teacher (15:10-20)

1B. The principle stated (15:10-11)

Spiritual defilement is not simply a matter of outward actions.

Spiritual defilement is a result of our inward condition.

2B. The Pharisees indicted (15:12-14)

Hypocrites are offended by truth (15:12)

Hypocrites are destined for judgment (15:13; 13:40-42)

Hypocrites lead others astray (15:14; 23:15)

3B. The principle explained (15:15-20)

The disciples dullness (15:15-17)

Ø They failed to accept Jesus teaching

The source of our defilement (15:18)

The substance of our defilement (15:19-20; Galatians 5:19-21)

Matthew 14:34-15:20

1A. The Compassionate _________________ (14:34-36)

1B. Jesus was __________________________ (14:34)

2B. The crowds _____________________ Him (14:35)

They were motivated by their own needs not by a desire to worship him. (James 4:3)

They wanted physical healing not spiritual holiness. (1 Corinthians 2:14)

Unregenerate man will always prioritize the physical over the spiritual.

3B. Jesus demonstrates God’s _____________ (14:26)

God is merciful to all men, even to the wicked. (Psalm 145:9)

2A. The Condemning ______________________ (15:1-9)

1B. Jesus __________________ the Pharisees (15:1-2)