Disillusioned

INTRO

Main Point

Rather than a superficial religion, we need supernatural regeneration.

MESSAGE

Superficial religion breeds Hypocrisy.

Matt 15:1-9

Matthew 15:1–9 ESV

1 Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, 2 “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat.” 3 He answered them, “And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? 4 For God commanded, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’ 5 But you say, ‘If anyone tells his father or his mother, “What you would have gained from me is given to God,” 6 he need not honor his father.’ So for the sake of your tradition you have made void the word of God. 7 You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said: 8 “ ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; 9 in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ ”

Criticism—vv. 1–2. Jewish customs were added to God’s law. Those who refused to keep these Jewish traditions were criticized by the rulers.

Careless—v. 3. The rulers insisted that everyone keep their laws, but they were careless about keeping God’s laws.

Commandment—vv. 4–6. The Jews instead of helping their parents, gave the money they normally would give to their parents to the temple. (There was no Social Security then.) We should not use our tithes to help our parents although we should not neglect our parents. (1 Tim. 5:8).

Complaint—vv. 7–9. Prophecy of Isaiah 29:13: The people worshiped God with their lips, but their hearts were far from Him. The Jews placed their traditions and laws above the law of God.

Traditions become transgressions when they are valued above scripture.

Traditions become transgressions when they make worship hollow.

Traditions become transgressions when they focus on what is on the outside rather than what is on the inside

Superficial religion is ultimately Hopeless.

Matt 15:10-14

Matthew 15:10–14 ESV

10 And he called the people to him and said to them, “Hear and understand: 11 it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.” 12 Then the disciples came and said to him, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?” 13 He answered, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up. 14 Let them alone; they are blind guides. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.”

Problem—v. 10. The people heard, but didn’t obey. Hearing is not good enough.

Practice—v. 11. “You aren’t made unholy by eating non-kosher food! It is what you say and think that makes you unclean” (LB).

Pharisees—vv. 12–14. The practices of the Pharisees would soon pass away. Only the teachings of Christ would endure. Man’s law changes with the years, but God’s Word never changes.

False teachers will be offended by Jesus’s teaching.

False teachers are tares among wheat and will be destroyed.

False teachers are spiritually blind.

False teachers are leading others to destruction.

What God requires is Holiness.

Matt 15:15-20

Matthew 15:15–20 ESV

15 But Peter said to him, “Explain the parable to us.” 16 And he said, “Are you also still without understanding? 17 Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is expelled? 18 But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. 20 These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone.”

Parable—vv. 15–16. Peter didn’t seem to understand the words of Christ: “The blind leading the blind.”

Practice—vv. 17–20. What you eat doesn’t make you sinful. It is what comes out of your heart that is sinful. Note what comes from the heart of man.

Evil and dirty thoughts. Thinking evil of others.

Murder. Hating is a form of murder (1 John 3:15).

Adultery. Sexual relations out of marriage by the married.

Fornication. Sexual relations of the unmarried.

Thefts. Taking that which does not belong to you.

False witnesses. All lying is sin, regardless of how small the lie is.

Blasphemies. Speaking against the Holy Spirit.

Problem—v. 20. Eating without washing hands is not a sin. Ungodly works or thoughts that come out of the heart are sin.

Exalt the Authority of God’s Word.

Minimize the thoughts of man.

They promote self-centeredness.

They fuel self-righteousness.

They serve self-interest.

Cultic

Catholic

Cultural

Contemporary

Magnify the truth of God.

Let the Word consume your teaching and preaching.

Let the Word drive your decisions and practices.

Promote Authenticity in God’s Worship.

Worship is more than physical action.

Worship is all about spiritual affection.

Cultivate Hearts of Holiness.

The truth

Our greatest need is not cleaner hands.

Our greatest need is changed hearts.

The implication

What the world doesn’t need is the spread of superficial religion.

What the world does need is the spread of supernatural regeneration.

The ONLY way to obtain the holiness that God requires is through Supernatural Regeneration.

CLOSE

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Going Deeper

Getting to know you

What is one tradition that this church (or a church in your past) that you love and would hate to loose.

What is one thing from this weeks sermon that you hope to discuss later?

Into the Bible

If not everyone who quotes Scripture speaks the truth, then how can you prepare yourself to discern truth from error?

Answer the following question: “The Bible was written by men, so how can it be true in everything it says?” What passages might you appeal to in your answer?

Mark 7:1-23 is a parallel passage to this one, take some time to look this over and note the similarities and differences. What stands out to you most? Why?

Read Acts 10:9–16 how do you think that this section in Matthew would inform Peter in Acts? Do these texts have anything to do with each other?

Application

Jesus teaches that holiness proceeds from the heart. Practically, then, how can our group / church cultivate such holiness?

What contemporary trends are putting pressure on believers to compromise faithfulness to God? How can our response involve love, courage, and humility?