THE LIFE OF CHRIST - THE MINISTRY OF WITHDRAWALS

First Withdrawal

-Objection Regarding the Ceremonial Washing Done By Tradition

-John 7:1, Mark 7:1-23, Matthew 15:1-20

-“tradition of the elders”

            -“Mark gives a glimpse of the organized opposition against Jesus.  Between the events of this

             and the preceding chapter were Christ’s discourse (John 6:22-71) and the third Passover of his

             public ministry, which he did not attend (John 6:4; 7:1).  Disappointed in not seeing Jesus at

             the Passover (John 6:4; 7:1), they probably came to Galilee to watch his movements and to

             conspire against him.  These Pharisees and scribes were sent, doubtless by the authorities in

             Jerusalem, to counteract the widespread influence of Jesus in Galilee.  No doubt the shrewdest

             and most able were sent.  Sent from the seat of learning and authority, able and shrewd, and

             they were considered better prepared to meet Jesus than the ones who resided in Galilee”

             (Dorris, pg 167).

            -Mark 7:4 - “wash” - baptize  -  Other translations say “bathe”.  In case they had come into

              contact with something or somebody that would cause them to be unclean, they felt

              they needed to bathe.  This of course was their tradition and not God’s law.

                        -The law did require the unclean to bathe (Lev 14:9-15 and other passages).  However, this

                         cleansing done by tradition was strictly ceremonial.

                         “By our own theories, ‘logical deductions’ and traditions, it is possible for us to

                         become pharisaical” (Dorris, pg 169).

                        -Let’s be careful that we don’t find ourselves simply “going through the motions” when it

                         comes to our worship.  Doing such would be pharisaical.

-Jesus responded to the challenge with scripture - Isaiah 29:13.

            -These Jews were giving an outward appearance of following God.  But, inwardly,

              their hearts were far from Him.

            -Rather than following God’s law, they followed their own traditions.

            -As a result, their worship of God was in vain (empty, without profit).

            -Consider a few important lessons from this passage:

                          1.  We must follow God’s ways.

                          2.  We must have His word in our hearts.

                          3.  Our worship can be in vain if we don’t do the previous two.

-Example of tradition placed before God’s law

            -Honour mother and father - more than just words - requires appropriate action

            -Some wouldn’t properly help/support their parents.  Instead, they claimed that the money they would

              have used in such an avenue was given to God.  As a result, they neglected their parents, thereby

              violating God’s law, while proclaiming their own self-righteousness.

-“Hear and Understand” (Matthew 15:10) - The importance of the heart

            -We must hear (read) God’s word and study it to understand it.

            -It isn’t what goes into the body that defiles it.  It is what comes out of the heart.

            -A heart separated from God can produce much sinfulness.

            -While proclaiming (and attempting to show) their own self-righteousness, these Jewish leaders had

              separated their hearts from God.

-In Matthew’s account we find that the Pharisees were offended by the words of Jesus.

            -Jesus then described these leaders as being blind - plants not planted by the Father.  Those who

             follow their seed of falsehood are also blinded from the truth.  Through these falsehoods, both the

             leaders and followers will fall - be rooted up by the Father in the last day.

            -“The traditions of the elders were plants which God had not planted; they were the doctrines of men,

             and such can never stand before the word of God” (Boles, pg 329).

            -Jesus instructed the apostles to “Let them alone” (Matt 15:14).  “We may learn from this that we

             should not be deterred from doing our duty and speaking the truth in the face of opposition or

             popularity; it is the duty of teachers to compare their teaching with the word of God and that

             Christians must be patient in the face of adversaries” (ibid).

-These long-observed traditions hindered the apostles’ understanding of the lesson presented by Christ.

            -So, He explained again.  It is not the violation of long-standing tradition (in the immediate context -

              the ceremonial washing) that causes defilement.  The sin that proceeds from a heart separated from

              God is what defiles. 

            -The Jewish leaders were very concerned with the outward appearance but neglected the inward man.