Matthew 15:7-9 You hypocrites! How well did Isaiah prophesy of you when he said, 'These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is empty, because they teach human rules as doctrines.'" (ISV)

Happy Sabbath!

The Scribes and Pharisees had many traditions which were handed down from generation to generation. These traditions, or pretend laws, were numerous and petty. They had no scriptural foundation for these laws. They were passed down by word of mouth. The Scribes and Pharisees followed these laws to the letter and considered them more important than the laws of God. Their laws about washing weren't simple. There were numerous laws about how to wash, laws about how to handle the water, and so on. Their laws were not just for cleanliness. It was a religion and a matter of superstition to them. They believed that the person who did not wash their hands according to tradition had sinned and their soul became defiled and impure. They believed it invited evil spirits. A person could be excommunicated if they didn't follow these laws correctly.

Jesus and his disciples did not keep, or obey, the traditions of men. Therefore they did not do the washing according to the traditions. The Scribes and Pharisees saw this and came to Jesus asking, "Why do your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread." Matthew 15:2.(MKJV) Jesus responded by asking a question which showed the foolishness and blindness of the Scribes and Pharisees.

But he answered them, "Why do you also disregard the commandment of God because of your tradition? For God said, 'Honor your father and your mother,' and 'Whoever curses father or mother must certainly be put to death.' But you say 'Whoever tells his father or his mother, "Whatever support you might have received from me has been given to God," does not have to honor his father.' Because of your tradition, then, you have revoked the authority of God's word. You hypocrites! How well did Isaiah prophesy of you when he said,

'These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is empty, because they teach human rules as doctrines.'" Matthew 15:4-9 (ISV)

The Scribes and Pharisees allowed people to break the fifth commandment. The one found in Exodus 20:12 which says, "Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you." If the people told their parents that any money, gift, or support for their parents, was given to God, such as dedicating it to the Church, then they did not have to honor their parents. They used their own traditions to break the laws of God. Jesus said Isaiah had prophesied of this happening. That prophesy is found in Isaiah 29:13.

Jesus then called to the crowd to Him and commanded them to "hear and understand." He said to them, "Not that which goes into the mouth defiles a man; but that which comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man." Matthew 15:11 (MKJV) Jesus was saying that it is not eating with unwashed hands that defiles a person, but what they say from the heart that can defile a man. An uncontrolled tongue or mouth is what defiles a man. This truth is also found in James 3:6;

"And the tongue is a fire: the world of iniquity among our members is the tongue, which defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the wheel of nature, and is set on fire by hell." (ASV)

After Jesus made the statement in Matthew 15:11, the disciples came up to Him and said, "Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?" This doesn't come as a surprise that the Pharisees were offended. Even today, people who cling to formality or traditional teaching over Biblical truth have difficulty accepting the truth when it is plainly shown to them. Just like the Pharisees, many people have a hard time admitting being in error and do all they can to keep others from knowing they were wrong. Even when presented with facts and clear truth, these people will argue and fight it to the bitter end. Unfortunately, those people are letting their pride and traditions come between them and their Savior because they refuse the word of God so they can hang on to their pride and cherished traditional teachings.

The answer Jesus gave the disciples was, "Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted shall be rooted up. Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch." What Jesus was saying here is that every doctrine that is not from God will be eventually rooted up or corrected. He said to let the Pharisees alone, or don't worry about their anger. They are blind and they had a big influence over the people which made the people also blind. This doesn't mean we are to leave people in error, it just means not to worry about people getting upset when the truth is presented. In fact, it is something to expect to happen at times. It is better to face the anger than to let someone lead another person away from God through false teachings, man-made rules, or traditional teachings and doctrine. We have a responsibility to prayerfully study the Bible for ourselves and not just let someone else tell us what is in the Bible. We also have a responsibility to present the truth to others.

In verse 15 we read that Peter asked Jesus to explain this parable to the disciples. The word "parable" can also mean a saying, like an instructive saying or meaningful saying. Peter was asking Jesus to explain the saying which had upset the Pharisees so much. This is the answer Jesus gave to Peter;

"Are you also still without understanding? Do you not yet understand that whatever enters in at the mouth goes into the belly, and is cast out into the waste-bowl? But the things which come out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile the man. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies; these are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man." Matthew 15:16-20 (MKJV)

Whatever goes into a person's mouth goes through a purification process and then is eliminated through waste matter. The body has it's own way of cleaning itself and what goes into it. While it is healthier to use a little soap and water on the hands before using them to eat with, a person is not defiled, wicked, or sinful if they don't wash their hands. What defiles a person is any evil they have in their heart. The only way to clean that is to let Jesus be the Ruler of our heart, mind, actions, and words. Giving ourselves completely to Him and His will is the purification process needed to clean up our hearts.

Have a Happy Sabbath!