Getting Rid of the Lies
Notes
Transcript
1 Then some 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 bread.” 3 And He answered and said to them, “Why do you yourselves transgress the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? 4 “For God said, ‘Honor your father and mother,’ and, ‘He who speaks evil of father or mother is to be put to death.’ 5 “But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother, “Whatever I have that would help you has been given to God,” 6 he is not to honor his father or his mother.’ And by this you invalidated the word of God for the sake of your tradition. 7 “You hypocrites, rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you: 8 ‘This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far away from Me. 9 ‘But in vain do they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.’ ” 10 After Jesus called the crowd to Him, He said to them, “Hear and understand. 11 “It is not what enters into the mouth that defiles the man, but what proceeds out of the mouth, this defiles the man.” 12 Then the disciples came and said to Him, “Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this statement?” 13 But He answered and said, “Every plant which My heavenly Father did not plant shall be uprooted. 14 “Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind. And if a blind man guides a blind man, both will fall into a pit.”
Don’t Pacify Popularity
Understand that the Pharisees were a highly respected group in that society. They taught the scriptures, but they held their ancestral and cultural traditions on the same playing field as scripture, walked strictly to their traditions and expected conformity from the Jewish society to be recognized as a devoted Jew. So when they observed that Jesus’ disciples didn’t wash their hands before eating, they had an issue with it. Jesus confronts them publicly with the truth, and they don’t like it.
Application: There are respected people, in all sort of circles, posing to know and teach what’s right. And when the truth hits them, it hurts them. When it is a matter of truth, some people will get offended. Thus truth is confrontational for some. Especially when the truth counters their cultural norm.
We don’t seek out confrontation. Often it comes our way through avenues, trying to enforce culture at the expense or neglect of scripture. We should never steer away from truth. Even speaking it in love, some people will be offended. We should not be so concerned about peoples feelings at the expense of the truth.
Jesus hears his disciples concern for this popular religious group. He too knows they didn’t take it well. But Jesus did not pacify them or the subject at hand. He responded with more sternness, through an agricultural allegory to demonstrate that this group teaching, despite their claims, popularity, impact on society, etc, does not come from GOD.
Why would Jesus say this? Because their traditions, or cultural applications passed down, did not originate with GOD, but from human minds. Jesus says in Matt 5, that all they do is to be seen by men. In John 5, he says they accept glory or praise from humanity, but not from GOD. What they did conflicted with GOD more than honor GOD.
Application: There are MANY sources and platforms of information that are not from GOD. Particularly, those who have taken the stand to teach, it is a grave danger to teach anything against or on the same level as scripture!!
Leave Them Alone
Jesus we heard your allegory, that your Father is going to uproot everybody who falsely teaches concerning him. But these men are well known and respected in our society. They have the most likes. Their poll ratings are generally high. How should we respond to them? Leave them alone!!
Application: This is a grave warning for all of us. There are some stubborn, self-praised, popular people propagating religious ideas that are far from accurate with scripture. Should we argue? Should we pacify? Naw, leave them and what they teach alone!
Why would Jesus command this to his disciples? Because he realizes their status and those who follow them. They are blind! Which means they don’t know the path or where they’re going. The sad part is that the folk they are directing are actually looking for right answers. But because they don’t know, and these popular false teachers also don’t know, they all will have the same fate.
Application: We don’t need to leave some folk alone for no reason. The reason is they are misinformed. There are a plethora of guides to information in today’s world. Internet, media, social media, people, etc. That offer all kind of information related to living and how to live. Life itself is a GOD topic, because we know that life comes from him. Yet concerning life coping, marriage, parenting, friendships, life goals, investments, sexuality, health, priorities, affiliations, etc, often people, even God’s people, lean more on people to gain knowledge and truth with respect to life and how to live. All is not bad. But if blindly led, means blindly following.
Believe that God’s word is truth and leads to eternal life.
Know the truth, to set free from misinformation.
Prove all things, 1 Thess 5:21 (compare what you hear with the word of GOD; have someone show from the word of GOD), hold to what’s good and true.