MATT 72 - CLEAN AND UNCLEAN

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Hello everyone, this is Pastor Dean Thompson with a word of hope clean and unclean Matthew chapter fifteen verses one through nine Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying, Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they wash not their hands when they eat bread. But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? For God commanded, saying, Honor thy father and mother, and he that curseth father or mother, let him die the death. But ye say, Whoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me, and honor not his father or his mother, ye shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. Ye hypocrites, well did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying, This people joyeth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoreth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. But in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. Pharisees and scribes from Jerusalem questioned why Jesus' disciples didn't wash their hands before eating, violating the tradition of the elders. These weren't hygiene laws, but religious rituals that had been added to God's commands. Jesus responded by asking why they violated God's commandment for the sake of tradition. He cited their practice of dedicating money to the temple, Corban, to avoid supporting their parents, thus nullifying the fifth commandment. You hypocrites, well did Isaiah prophesy of you. This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. In vain do they worship me, teaching us doctrines the commandments of men? The word hypocrites hypocrites originally meant actors who wore masks. What religious traditions have you elevated above God's clear commands? How do you balance respect for tradition with obedience to scripture? Is your worship from the heart or just external performance? Oh Lord, please help us distinguish between your commands and human traditions. Keep our hearts close to you, not just our lips. May our worship be genuine, not just external performances. Amen. God bless you, brothers and sisters.