The Heart of Man

INTRODUCTION

WHAT TO EXPECT OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL WEEKS…PARABOLIC

What defines a person?

Illustration from Social Media Video: 6 Christians, 1 Atheist. In the video there are six “christians” and 1 imposter pretending to be a Christian. The way the social experiment worked was that the group would have the opportunity to talk amongst themselves for a few minutes. Every few minutes, the group would vote on who they thought the imposter was. That person would have to leave the group and they would continue. The goal of the social experiment was to see if “Christians” could tell who was real and who was not. The problem was that given their conversations and what they divulged about themselves, “Christian” was just a religious preference. It didn’t define their lives, it just defined their religious flavor preference. Their conversations revolved around what kind of church they attended, acceptance of their sexual preferences, how their family traditions started them in Christianity, etc. Not once was Jesus mentioned. By the end of the social experiment, the atheist was still standing and had successfully cashed in by talking a better “church” game than the others. In his exit interview, he said he was born and raised into a Lutheran Church. He became atheist soon after his baptism. He thought that being baptized and accepted into the church would make him feel something and change something in his mind. It didn’t and so he started to question if God were even real, ultimately to conclude that religion is empty and therefore God doesn’t exist. He was right partially…religion is empty…but God is real and you can only know Him through a relationship. Societally approved religion that defines you, fails you, but a Relationship with God that defines you, builds a genuine person of faith.

MATTHEW 15:1-20; MARK 7:1-23

1) GET BELOW THE SURFACE (vs. 1-13)

Religion only looks at surface level interactions, because it distracts from the reality of what is going on.

The Pharisees were focused on the surface level habits of Jesus and His disciples instead of what was really happening in front of them.

Jesus points to the folly of their surface traditions. He shows them that what they have deemed to be culturally ethical is biblically irresponsible because it violates the commandments of God.

Too often, we will distract ourselves from what is really happening right in front of us, but focusing on the surface, instead of the heart.

Examples of this in today’s society

Racial Strife

Sexual Revolution

Media

Pandemic Response

Political Preferences

What is happening all around us is not a battle for your vote…it is a battle for your mind and your heart.

2) GROW BEYOND SOCIETY (vs. 14-16)

Jesus wants to move the conversation beyond the surface.

He does not want you to continue to live your life and build your acceptance of what is appropriate based on what the culture deems to be acceptable.

In order to communicate the truth of their disposition, Jesus gives them this parable: “There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him. If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.”

Jesus wants to set the record straight in your life. He wants you to gain understanding about the reality of your life.

He wants you to know that you have real issues that need serious attention, not cultural redefinition.

Whatever we let define what is right and wrong in our lives, will ultimately define our mindsets, our habits and routines, and our tolerances.

Is it any wonder that so many churches and denominations are moving further and further away from biblical standards? Is it any wonder that individuals who used to be so faithful to Jesus and being involved with his church are becoming more and more tolerant of our sin culture?

For many people and for far too long, Christianity was nothing more than a religious flavor preference that was socially acceptable. As societal standards change, so does the hearts and minds of those trapped by society.

This is why Jesus wants us to hear and understand Him, so that He defines us, and not the culture. The culture will only cover up our sin and deaden our awareness of our true needs. Jesus wants to reveal our need and be our Savior.

3) GAIN BIBLICAL STANDARDS (vs. 17-23)

What truly defiles us? It’s not surface level grievances! We have a severe heart issues that needs immediate attention.

Jesus lays out for His disciples, that defilement does not come from a violation of societal or religious norms. It comes from much deeper and more dangerous place…our own hearts…that is the place that makes us tick…the core of who we truly are.

Jesus tells the people to reexamine their entire lives, not just their religious practices.

When you and I hear Jesus and understand His call to biblical standards, then we realize that we are in desperate need of a Savior. We realize that there is nothing good in us.

Just as a doctor hits straight to the core of our prognosis, so that we will take the treatment seriously, so Jesus is hitting straight to the core of our situation, so that we will take His call to be redeemed by Him seriously.

In Jesus we need to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. In Jesus we need to be set free from societal and sinful tolerances. In Jesus we need to gain life that is eternal and solid. We need to accept biblical standards, rather than settle for religious or societal norms.

CLOSING

In a world and society that is telling us to follow our hearts and do whatever we think is acceptable and right, Jesus is calling us to GET BELOW THE SURFACE, to GROW BEYOND SOCIETY, and to GAIN BIBLICAL STANDARDS. Being truly devoted to Jesus and not just having a “Christian” religious flavor is not popular, but it is necessary for real life in Jesus. There are some questions we need to ask ourselves this morning:

Am I a Jesus-follower or do I simply have a “Christian” religious preference?

Does Jesus hold my heart or does what is socially acceptable hold my heart?

Am I becoming more and more tolerant of sin because society is promoting its acceptance?

Do I simply live by what’s on the surface, or do submit my life and surrender my heart to Jesus daily, knowing that outside of Him there is nothing good in me?