Examen
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Today we are going to continue in the book of Matthew. I have really enjoyed our time together the last several weeks. Several of you have talked to me about how helpful and encouraging the messages have been and I really appreciate that.
I believe that today’s message will be that way as well. We are going to look Matthew Chapter 15:10-28 and right up front I want to tell you that this passages is very challenging, and encouraging all at once.
We are going to look at how we can remain undefiled by the influences of worldly attitudes and how we can guard our hearts and minds so we can experience the natural benefits of a healthy relationship with God and our world.
Matthew 15:10-28 NLT
10 Then Jesus called to the crowd to come and hear. “Listen,” he said, “and try to understand. 11 It’s not what goes into your mouth that defiles you; you are defiled by the words that come out of your mouth.”
12 Then the disciples came to him and asked, “Do you realize you offended the Pharisees by what you just said?”
13 Jesus replied, “Every plant not planted by my heavenly Father will be uprooted, 14 so ignore them. They are blind guides leading the blind, and if one blind person guides another, they will both fall into a ditch.”
15 Then Peter said to Jesus, “Explain to us the parable that says people aren’t defiled by what they eat.”
16 “Don’t you understand yet?” Jesus asked. 17 “Anything you eat passes through the stomach and then goes into the sewer. 18 But the words you speak come from the heart—that’s what defiles you. 19 For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, all sexual immorality, theft, lying, and slander. 20 These are what defile you. Eating with unwashed hands will never defile you.”
21 Then Jesus left Galilee and went north to the region of Tyre and Sidon. 22 A Gentile woman who lived there came to him, pleading, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! For my daughter is possessed by a demon that torments her severely.”
23 But Jesus gave her no reply, not even a word. Then his disciples urged him to send her away. “Tell her to go away,” they said. “She is bothering us with all her begging.”
24 Then Jesus said to the woman, “I was sent only to help God’s lost sheep—the people of Israel.”
25 But she came and worshiped him, pleading again, “Lord, help me!”
26 Jesus responded, “It isn’t right to take food from the children and throw it to the dogs.”
27 She replied, “That’s true, Lord, but even dogs are allowed to eat the scraps that fall beneath their masters’ table.”
28 “Dear woman,” Jesus said to her, “your faith is great. Your request is granted.” And her daughter was instantly healed.
Jesus is in a tug of war with the prevailing religious sect of the Pharisees seemingly since he was born in Bethlehem. Every time there is a problem between Jesus and the religious establishment the Pharisees seem to be at the center of it. They ask leading questions designed to put Jesus into a no win situations.
So its really not surprising that prior to our passage we see the Pharisees were at it again. After everything we talked about the last couple of weeks…Jesus healing lots of people, feeding the multitudes and walking on water, empowering Peter to walk on water, saving Peter from his doubts and finally calming the storm when he got on the boat. The Pharisees took this moment to hit Jesus with their best punch....Jesus why don’t you and your disciples wash your hands before you eat?
I know in our current situation it is really important to wash our hands and practice exceptional hygiene but in this context it is obvious that the Pharisees were really scraping the bottom of the barrel.
I mean handwashing....how petty can a group of people get? So in this passage Jesus has had enough and calls out the leaders of this sect by saying that they use their traditions not to worship God but to push their own agenda. They are more than willing to throw out certain aspects of the law for their own benefit.
Then he quotes a less than flattering prophecy from Isaiah that says basically they are a people that are using their religious standing to personally prophet not to worship God. In fact Jesus says that they worship with their lips but their hearts are far from God.
Then he goes on to answer them by saying what goes into a person’s mouth might well render that person ritually unclean, but it does not break contact with God and others.
However, what comes out of a person’s mouth can indeed break contact with God and others.
It is a hard word and Jesus didn’t soften the blow…in fact the disciples had to ask him if he knew that he had upset the Pharisee.... Jesus did not let up after his answer
Instead of backing down and going to them to make them feel better he basically said:Don’t worry about them they will lead each other to destruction like the blind leading the blind.
Jesus exposes the Pharisee’s self serving way of worshipping God. We would do well to remember this whenever we apply our faith to our reasoning.
Faith is not to be used to justify our conduct or improve our standing in the eyes of others. Our purity of heart is a natural outcome of a vibrant and obedient walk with God.
The words that flow from our mouths, social media, and private conversations give an accurate account of the condition of our heart and our spirit.
Now I have taken a ton of time in explanation of verses 10-20 and have not even touched the story of the gentile women verses 21-28. We may even struggle with how these two passages connect?
Skipping all the back story becuase we read it already...I want to focus on the gentile women’s understanding of who she was and her willingness to accept scraps from the masters table.
She understood she was not the intended audience, she was not interested in whether Jesus washed his hands or not, she was not asking for a place at the table. There was no pretence, or demands. There was just an acknowledgment of the power of and identity of Jesus.
All she wanted was to be near the master. The result of this desire to be close to the master, and her faith that being near the master was enough overwhelmed Jesus.
This is exactly what Jesus needed in this moment.....
Here was a gentile women that understood what a group of Religious Scholars refused to understand. I dare say it restored Jesus hope in Humanity.
In order to remain undefiled by our desires and the influences of worldly attitudes we must guard our hearts and minds so as not to unintentionally drift into selfish pursuits of God.
In order to remain undefiled by our desires and the influences of worldly attitudes we must guard our hearts and minds so as not to unintentionally drift into selfish pursuits of God.
How do we make sure our hearts are not being defiled???
There is an ancient method or practice of reviewing your day in the presence of God called the daily Examen. It is actually more of entering into an attitude of contemplation by setting aside 15 to 20 min sometime in your evening to allow God to walk through. Just take about 3 or 4 min for each of the following.
Ask God for Light…As God to look at your day with His eyes, not your own
Give Thanks…The Day I have just lived is a gift from God. Be grateful for it.
Review the Day…Carefully look back on the day and try to remember everything from your waking up, work, school, or home activities. How did I handle the day?
Face your Shortcomings…Face the ways you have defiled and own it and repent
Look toward the day to come…Ask God to give you a plan to overcome those areas of your life that lead to improper ??????
This will be hard and awkward at first but don’t give up…as you look forward to this time and put in the effort on the front end I promise God’s peace and His assurance will manifest itself in your life in a beautiful way.
This is what happens with communion as well....
Communion