Bible Verse Synopsis 3-4-25
Matthew 15:
Scribes and Pharisees from Jerusalem came down to see Jesus and question Him. They questioned first the Disciples and their not washing of their hands when eating. The ritual had more to do with the washing of the demons from our hands than with sanitation. Jesus then laid into them in verses 3-9. Jesus addressed them directly in verse 7 & 8- “ You hypocrites, well did Isiah prophesy of you saying, This people draw near unto Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me”. All the traditions they practiced were created by man and their worship was not with a full heart of God but a full heart of man. How often do we fall into this trap where our rituals of man take us over the edge and discern us differently from when Christ is the ritual we practice. Lord help us to take this lesson and let your teachings be our guide.
Jesus expounds this to the disciples later in particular Peter. The hand washing is insignificant relative to the words that come out of our mouth. The words and things we speak are what represents our hearts. Evil hearts will spread lies and blasphemy and all the other sins, yet a heart “infected with the Holy Spirit” will be void of these flaws and sing praises or say naught at all. The disciples were also worried about the appearance of the upset religious leaders from Jerusalem. Christ proclaimed to them that every plant that is not of my father will be rooted up! Meaning they were not of God! Christ was not worried about their feelings, only about their hearts. They were blind men leading other blind men. Blind to the truth of the Word by sin. We are free of this blindness and have our eyes open, Lord. Allow us to see.
A gentle woman’s daughter was ill. She approached Jesus calling Him the “Son of David”. This term was only for the Jews and Jesus did nothing. She continued and called Him “Lord, help me”. Jesus tested her faith and she responded by placing herself amongst the dogs and therefore turning herself over to Christ. Her daughter was healed on the spot. We must show the same fealty as this woman. Groveling for our place in the kingdom to escape the pack of dogs that nip at our heals. Allow Christ to adopt us into His children and be separated from the strays.
Jesus again feeds the multitude of followers with little food. The displaces had to continue to return to Him for more as their baskets continued to run empty. Yet, Christ continued to refill them. The people had to fully rely on Christ to feed them. We must be the same. Trust in Christ to keep us fed, both spiritually and physically. He has the power to do this if we trust in Him and cast away our doubts.