Mark 7:1-13 The Corruption of Religion
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Joel and Mary Nadel, Covenant Church
Joel and Mary Nadel, Covenant Church
From J.C. Ryle’s “Expository Comments on the Gospels - Mark”
From J.C. Ryle’s “Expository Comments on the Gospels - Mark”
House Rules: Phones, Respect, Stay on the Text
House Rules: Phones, Respect, Stay on the Text
Pray
Now when the Pharisees gathered to him, with some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem, they saw that some of his disciples ate with hands that were defiled, that is, unwashed. (For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands properly, holding to the tradition of the elders, and when they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other traditions that they observe, such as the washing of cups and pots and copper vessels and dining couches.) And the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, “Why do your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?” And he said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, “ ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men.” And he said to them, “You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish your tradition! For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’ But you say, ‘If a man tells his father or his mother, “Whatever you would have gained from me is Corban” ’ (that is, given to God)— then you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or mother, thus making void the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And many such things you do.”
Pray
Introduction
Introduction
Mark is one of the Gospels - it tells us how we can be reconciled to God and gain eternal life
1 Corinthians 15:3–4 (ESV)
For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,
Introduction
Introduction
Mark is one of the Gospels - it tells us how we can be reconciled to God and gain eternal life
Preceded by John, Jesus came from Galilee
John got the people’s attention
Jesus began his ministry
Signs and wonders demonstrated His lessons
Cripples, diseases, resurrections, casting out demons
Created food from nothing - controlled the weather
Knew He was going to the cross - trained His disciples
Today: how we as humans try to manipulate the word of God for our own selfish reasons
A picture of how humans can corrupt religion
Jesus has come not only to save us, but set us straight
1 Mark 7:2-5
they saw that some of his disciples ate with hands that were defiled, that is, unwashed. (For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands properly, holding to the tradition of the elders, and when they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other traditions that they observe, such as the washing of cups and pots and copper vessels and dining couches.) And the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, “Why do your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?”
Firstly, the Decayed condition of Judaism when Christ came
Firstly, the Decayed condition of Judaism when Christ came
What could be more disgusting and disappointing than this passage?
The Jewish leaders of Israel came 100 miles to find fault - interfere with His ministry
Motivations had to do with power and money
Accusation: ate bread with unwashed hands
Accusation: Made a big deal out of washing cups, pots and pans
He who paid the most attention to these trivialities was the most holy?
Most highly favored nation in the world
Given the law on Mt Sinai, privileged to serve God, priesthood, promises and covenants,
Great men of God - Moses, Samuel, David - prophets - Isaiah, Elijah, Daniel lived and died among them
Like no other nation, they had trashed their glorious history and blessings from God
From the glorious books of the OT and their rich heritage - to a religion of washing pots and pans - great fall
No wonder Jesus found the people like sheep without a Shepherd
Outward appearances don’t help the conscience or cleanse our hearts
History of the Jewish church is a warning to us
never fool around with false teachings
Never know, when we mess with it, how far we may fall
Leave the King’s highway of truth, and we end up washing pots and cups, like the Pharisees and scribes
Nothing is to low, too minor, or crazy for the man who turns his back on God’s word
Many supposedly Christian churches where the Bible is not read, nor the Gospel preached - churches whose religion is based on meaningless traditions and man made holidays
They began well, but have fallen into decay
We can never be too careful about false teaching
We must earnestly contend for the whole faith, once delivered to all the saints
And he said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, “ ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’
Secondly, lip service is useless in the worship of God
Secondly, lip service is useless in the worship of God
Jesus illustrates this point with this quote: “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, “ ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me
The heart is the part of man that God takes notice of in worship (explain worship)The practice of expressing praise, thanksgiving, adoration, etc. to a deity or perhaps to a regent. Also: Adore; False Worship; Praise; Worshipping God
bowed head, taking the knee, the serious face, the formal posture, the formal amen - none of these make a spiritual worshipper
God looks further and deeper - inside the Christian
“My child, give me your heart”
Remember this when you go to public worship - like church
Can’t leave our hearts at home
Others may think we are outstanding Christians, neighbors think us a great example of a Christian, we may sing louder than the rest - but nothing is worse in God’s sight, if our hearts are far away
Only hay, wood, stubble before the Lord, who knows our thoughts and secrets
Remember this is your private prayers
Heart and lips must go together
Does no good to pray long and hard, if our minds are elsewhere - God sees and rejects
Heart prayers are the prayers He loves to hear
Prayers may be week, our words stuttered - may think them weak in our own eyes
May be presented without fine words or elegant language
If they come from the heart, God understands them and delights in them
And he said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, “ ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men.”
Lastly - it is sad when man-made tradition replaces God’s Word
Lastly - it is sad when man-made tradition replaces God’s Word
Three times the Lord brings this charge against the Pharisees
“Laying aside God’s commandments, you hold to the traditions of men”
“Full well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your own traditions”
“Making the word of God of no effect, through your traditions”
Steps in corrupting a religion
add their traditions to the scriptures
place them on equal level with the Word of God (the bible) - equal authority
honour them above Scripture - demote Scripture from its right position
This was the state the Lord found on the earth - tradition was everything - word of God nothing
Obedience to traditions constituted true religion-obedience to the Scriptures had been lost completely
Too many Christians follow in the steps of the Pharisees
Process has repeated itself time and time again - same result
Holidays and traditions of man-made invention have been forced on many Christians
These appear useful, well-meant, but no where commanded in the Bible
These traditions are followed more enthusiastically then God’s commandments, defended more forcefully than God’s word.
History provides many examples
Beware of adding any thing to God’s Word, especially regarding salvation
God lets us become legalistic and blind
Same as saying Bible is not perfect - that we know better what is necessary for salvation
Adding or subtracting can destroy God’s word - buries it under tradition or denying its truth
The whole Bible must be our rule of faith - nothing more, nothing less
Bringing it home
Bringing it home
Draw a clear line between those things invented by man and those which are commanded in the Bible
What God commands is necessary for salvation - what man commands is not
What man devises may be useful for the times, but salvation does not depend on it
What God requires is essential for eternal life - the one that disobeys God’s command ruins his own soul
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