Words of Jesus Part 12

Matthew 15:1 Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying,
2 Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.

They still didn't get it. The truth of the word is that our salvation does not depend on outward ordinances, cleanliness or any other outward ritual. It depends on what is in the heart and soul. That is why salvation comes through repentance and turning to Christ for our salvation. He alone can bring it because He alone fulfilled all the requirements of the law. The law condemns every soul to hell all those that break the law even one time. It's good to wash before one eats but it has nothing to do with eternity and whether or not our sins have been remitted. Jesus never sinned in all his life He lived upon the earth. He was the only human that lived without breaking the law even once. Yet He suffered the penalty for breaking the law which was death. His death can count on our behalf if we receive Him into our lives. Our body will still die but our soul is saved for eternity.

Matthew 15:3 But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?
4 For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death.
5 But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me;
6 And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.

Many religions will change any part of the law to suit their own convenience. The commandments are still in effect. It is the outward ordinances and rituals that have no power to save after Jesus came. The spirit of the law teaches love for God and for one another. The whole purpose of the law given through Moses is to lead us to the one that gives us power to keep the law as Jesus did. He fulfilled the requirements of the law. We now can keep the spirit of the Law when we come to Jesus for salvation. Then He sends His Holy Spirit to abide within us so that the love of God is shed abroad within our lives. Our free will can still reject or receive but He is there with us at all times bringing us to the place where we learn that pure love for God, for His word and for our fellow human beings. When we mess us, we get right back up and keep going, seeking forgiveness and seeking His presence within us daily. God wants to save every single one of us. If only we will just believe and receive the one He sent to save us. His Son Jesus.

Matthew 15:7 Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,
8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.

Outward worship honors God in public but it doesn't necessarily mean that one is right with God.

Matthew 15:9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

Practically every church organization and denomination has a few commandments that are manmade and not from God. That is the reason God gave us a volume of a book called the bible so that we can know what is commands and what is manmade ordinances.

Matthew 15:10 And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand:
11 Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.

There are certain things we can eat and drink which will harm the body but as long as it doesn't harm the mind, it has nothing to do with our eternal soul. Jesus wasn't advocating that taking drugs is not harmful, He is mostly talking of food.

Matthew 15:12 Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying?

This is hard for every minister of the gospel, Telling the whole truth will offend many. Jesus told only the absolute truth and He did offend many especially among the religous Pharisees.

Matthew 15:13 But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.

If we are not standing on the solid rock of truth we also shall be rooted up.

Matthew 15:14 Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.

Its heartbreaking but I see this happening in the United States. As a nation we have departed long ago from God and His word. Yet, God always has a remnant that still believes.

Matthew 15:15 Then answered Peter and said unto him, Declare unto us this parable.
16 And Jesus said, Are ye also yet without understanding?

It is really tough for one that has a religion full of traditions to see truth. It is also hard for the Jewish people because not all of their religion was just tradition. Their religion pointed toward the one that was to come and bring them salvation but they didn't see that. They were looking for a conquering king instead of a savior from sin. If one conquers sin which destroys the soul, that is a great victory. Jesus will return one day and become their king and rule over the entire earth but until then many things are to come to pass as bible prophecy teaches us. Jesus came the first time just to be an final pure sacrifice for sin. He had to take care of the sin problem first by offering Himself as a sacrifice for our sins even though He did no sin Himself. That is why we have to receive Him to be saved from eternal damnation. It's the only way. All of us have sinned in one way or another except a little child below the age of accountability. When we believe in Him to remove our sins, it is paid for and done. We are free and can interit eternity with God forever.

Matthew 15:17 Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught?
18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.
19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:

Adultery, murder, fornication, thefts, lying, blasphemy also starts within the heart and soul of all of us. Outward religion does not change the heart, deliver from sin and make the soul ready for eternity. Repentance and receiving Jesus Christ as the sacrifice for our sins, does change the heart and make us ready for eternity. We become "born again" by the spirit of God.

Matthew 15:20 These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.

Sin is the thing that defiles the inner man.

Matthew 15:21 Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon.
22 And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.
23 But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.
24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
25 Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me.
26 But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs.
27 And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table.
28 Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.

Jesus knew all the time that He was going to heal the daughter but He wanted us to see something very important. This Gentile woman was willing to take the crumbs. She knew God had chosen the Jews and accepted the fact that she was not worthy. This lady was willing to take what was left over. Jesus rewarded and commended her faith. Like a dog that will eat crumbs, she was willing to take anything to save her daughter.

We as Gentiles should be thankful for the gospel and that it was extended to us. It was to go to the Jews first, after their rejection of the gospel, it was given to us. We need to be thankful and not high-minded against Jews. According to Paul's writings, the Jews will one day be grafted into their own vine.

Matthew 15:29 And Jesus departed from thence, and came nigh unto the sea of Galilee; and went up into a mountain, and sat down there.
30 And great multitudes came unto him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus' feet; and he healed them:
31 Insomuch that the multitude wondered, when they saw the dumb to speak, the maimed to be whole, the lame to walk, and the blind to see: and they glorified the God of Israel.

Signs will follow a true believer.

Matthew 15:32 Then Jesus called his disciples unto him, and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way.

Again we see the Lord's compassion on the basic human need.

Matthew 15:33 And his disciples say unto him, Whence should we have so much bread in the wilderness, as to fill so great a multitude?
34 And Jesus saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven, and a few little fishes.
35 And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground.
36 And he took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, and brake them, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.
37 And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets full.
38 And they that did eat were four thousand men, beside women and children.
39 And he sent away the multitude, and took ship, and came into the coasts of Magdala.

Our Lord's message to us throughout the "words of Jesus" are many but in summation we can see that He wants us to seek Him for salvation and trust Him for the food, shelter and clothing part. Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added to you. We find so many of us trying to do the opposite. Many are seeking the material and trusting God for the spiritual. It should be the other way around.

-Dorna

Words of Jesus Part 13

Words of Jesus Index