Day 292 – Matthew 15, Mark 7

Talking Points

• The religious elite were concerned that Jesus’ disciples would “break the tradition of the elders” (Matthew 15:2). For years, these men had exchanged the Word of God for the commands of men. Jesus pointed out they were vain and empty in their attempts to worship, because they were “teaching as doctrines the precepts of men” (15:9). We are to be very careful that our worship (and everything for that matter) isn’t grounded on men’s traditions, personal preferences, or false ideas about God. His Word is truth, and so it is to His Word we turn.
• Jesus made it clear: Following Him is not a matter of religious practice, but a matter of the heart. Outward “repairs” such as good deeds or apparent moral changes do nothing about the true issue — the sin in our hearts. Following Jesus isn’t about loud declarations or visible demonstrations. It’s not about finding loopholes so as not to be condemned. It is about giving your heart to the only One who can make it new.
• Don’t miss what Jesus does before He feeds another great crowd in a miraculous way — He gives thanks (Matthew 15:36). Though it could be counted strange that Jesus would pray and give thanks to the Father, it was evidently a big enough deal for God to record it forever in Scripture. It was evidently so important to Jesus that He made it a part of His regular practice, all the way to His last supper with His disciples. The reality is Jesus was thankful! He was thankful for the Father’s care, provision, and love. May we copy this practice of Jesus and also give thanks!

Thoughts

It can be a terrifying thing to read that our God is not fooled or impressed by lip service, vain worship or pious acts. There’s a flash of fear when I read Jesus’ words of condemnation as He pointed out just one of the “many things” of which the hypocritical men were guilty (Mark 7:13). As Jesus tells people that their hearts are “far away” from Him, I wonder about my own. Even as I sit and write these very words, I have to check my heart. Because, nothing is hidden from Him.

…

It can be a very comforting thing to read that our God is not fooled or impressed by lip service, vain worship, or pious acts. See, while people can be fooled, can be impressed by charming words or appearances, there is the Lord God Almighty, the omniscient One who confidently confronts vanity. And, so, if I’ll continue to check my heart, to wonder about my own, to seek to worship Him because of His infinite worthiness, and to ask Him to search me and convict me of any sin, I can find great comfort in the fact that the one true God knows. I don’t have to worry about what anyone else may think or say. Because, nothing is hidden from Him.