Turning Religion Inside Out Logos Bible Fellowship 11/7/07

Get Ready… “…it is probably the case that nothing ever said was as radical in terms of the religion of [Christ’s] day and all human thoughts about religion and true worship as what He told the [people] in the first half of Matthew 15.” ~ James Montgomery Boice

Breakdown of Passage 1. The Inadequacy of Tradition (vv.1-2) 2. The Importance of Scripture (vv.3-6) 3. The Indictment of Hypocrites (vv.7-9) 4. The Inner Nature of Sin (vv.10-11, 15-20) 5. The Impact on the Kingdom (vv.12-14)

The Inadequacy of Tradition (vv.1-2)  The disciples ate bread with impure/unwashed hands (Mark 7:2) Tradition of the elders – Extrabiblical oral law (later to be written in the Mishna) that Jews saw as the highest religious authority Tradition of the elders – Extrabiblical oral law (later to be written in the Mishna) that Jews saw as the highest religious authority The washing ritual – not a cleaning but a ceremonial rinsing in not in the O.T. The washing ritual – not a cleaning but a ceremonial rinsing in not in the O.T.  Their question was really an accusation  What was wrong with their assumptions and accusation?

The Importance of Scripture (vv.3-6)  Jesus charged them with setting aside (Mark 7:8), transgressing (v.3), and invalidating (v.6) the commandment of God for the traditions of men (note the contrast in v.2 and v.3)  Jesus rebuked them with Ex. 20:12 & 21:17 to show that their loophole violated God’s law  Unless the LORD builds the house, They labor in vain who build it… (Psalm 127:1) Side note: compare v.4 to Mark 7:10 Side note: compare v.4 to Mark 7:10  What are some religious traditions of our day that Jesus would reject? How do they offend?

The Indictment of Hypocrites (vv.7-9)  Jesus, quoting Isaiah 29:13, forcefully chastised them and indicted them on three charges: 1.Cold and heartless externalism 2.Vain/false worship 3.Elevation of tradition over Scripture  See Matthew 23:13-33  How have churches today “strained out a gnat and swallowed a camel”? How can we be part of the solution?

The Inner Nature of Sin (vv.10-11, 15-20)  Taught to the crowd then the disciples  See Matthew 5:8, 12:34-37, 23:28; Jeremiah 17:9; Psalm 24:3-4; Romans 14:17-18  “Since food is merely physical, no one who eats it will defile his heart or inner person, which is spiritual. Physical pollution, no matter how corrupt, cannot cause spiritual or moral pollution. Neither can external ceremonies and rituals cleanse a person spiritually.” ~ John MacArthur  What does this say about nature versus nurture? What about the nature of sacraments/ordinances?

The Impact on the Kingdom (vv.12-14)  Taught to the disciples in private  Application of the parable of the wheat and tares (tares were planted by Satan, not God – c.f. John 8:44) You have planted them, and they have taken root; they grow and bear fruit. You are always on their lips but far from their hearts. (Jeremiah 12:2) You have planted them, and they have taken root; they grow and bear fruit. You are always on their lips but far from their hearts. (Jeremiah 12:2) I will build them up and not tear them down; I will plant them and not uproot them. I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the LORD. They will be my people, and I will be their God (Jeremiah 24:6-7) I will build them up and not tear them down; I will plant them and not uproot them. I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the LORD. They will be my people, and I will be their God (Jeremiah 24:6-7)  God circumcises hard hearts (Jeremiah 4:4; Deut 30:6; Romans 2:17-29)  This is what it means to be “born from above” (Ezekiel 36:26-27 ; John 3:5-7)

The Bottom Line “When we remember that the Pharisees were the most highly regarded men of religion of their day, we see how shocking this is. By these words, Jesus was not only condemning their system, He was condemning the best of human religion, saying that all human efforts to please God are external and vain, and that the only thing that really matters is a radical change of heart.” ~ James Montgomery Boice

Your Choice… “…a love of tradition more than a genuine love of God always leads to false religion [and] self- righteousness…[which] does not bring a person into heaven. Rather, it leads to judgment and death since the only possible basis for our justification before God is Christ’s righteousness, not our own.” ~ James Montgomery Boice  Do you stand before God with clean hands only or with a new, clean heart?  Will you reject unbiblical traditions and teach others to do the same?