11/28/2007
Matthew 15:1 - 2 (HCSB)
1Then Pharisees and scribes came from Jerusalem to Jesus and asked, 2“Why do Your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they don’t wash their hands when they eat!”
Matthew 15:17 - 20 (HCSB)
17“Don’t you realize that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is eliminated? 18But what comes out of the mouth comes from the heart, and this defiles a man. 19For from the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, sexual immoralities, thefts, false testimonies, blasphemies. 20These are the things that defile a man, but eating with unwashed hands does not defile a man.”
The Mosaic Law dictated many rituals for the Jews: everything from how and when they worshiped to how they prepared and ate their food. All these rules and traditions were given for a specific reason, but what was that reason?
The Jews were (and are) the chosen people to be the closest attendants of God’s kingdom on earth. The traditions were given to them specifically to remind them of who they were. And every tradition came with an allegory of what the tradition meant. Yet, over time, the Pharisees and others had forgotten the metaphors of the tradition and had exalted the tradition itself to high status rather than the meaning behind it.
When Jesus came, he broke many of the traditions. However he did not do this out of any vain disregard for them, but rather to point out the meaning behind them. In this case, Jesus and the disciples had begun eating without the ritual cleansing. It is likely that these men of common origin had seldom or never observed this particular tradition. But the Pharisees, who practiced this ritual religiously (pun intended), took the opportunity to point out the failing as a means to make Jesus look bad.
But Jesus made a very interesting point with them. The food we eat makes us neither good nor bad – in a spiritual sense. The ritual of washing had nothing to do with hygiene (although it is wise to wash), the point was that the Pharisees had totally forgotten WHY they were to wash.
So, what is more important? What goes into the mouth or that which comes out?
At the great judgment, you will not be judged based on what you have eaten, but on what you have spoken. Jesus points out that whatever is in your heart will come out of your mouth.
What comes out of your mouth? If you were to evaluate everything you have spoken, would it reflect a Godly heart?
The reason for the ritual washing was to remind the Jews to keep their hearts clean. Will you examine your heart today and take the time to remove those things that will only serve to defile you?
Jeff Justus
Cleff Publishing
www.cleffpublishing.com
©2007 Cleff Publishing, all rights reserved.
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