Sermon Tone Analysis

Passages to ponder

We started last week in a new series “Passages to ponder.”

These will be passages for us to consider to evaluate our walk, our maturity and opportunities we have in Christ Jesus.

Lesson One: Kingdom Beatitude (Mt5:3-11)

The supreme blessedness we have as citizens of the kingdom.

The character of those who are citizens of the kingdom.

When we spoke about the character of citizens of the kingdom, or would be citizens we look at it was the

Poor in spirit - Spiritually poor, broken and know they are

They mourn - in regards to their own sinfulness

They hunger and thirst for righteousness - because of awareness of brokenness, sinfulness and the solution that God offers through Jesus Christ.

(transition) we cannot, should not take the magnitude of our sinful heart lightly.

(Other scriptures referenced in intro: Ecc9:3; Jer17:9, Mk2:8; Rev2:23)

The heart can be evil (Ecc9:3)

The heart can be wicked (Jer17:9)

Jesus knows the heart of man (Mk2:8)

Wait, I better give that verse in context.

That is what we are looking at today, the defilements of the heart, so open your bible to Mark chapter 7 please.

The Context

Context matters, if we want to understand the defiled heart so not to have a defiled heart, we need to look to the scripture.

So please join me in Mark chapter 7, our focus is on (Mk7:21-23) but will need to bring in more of Mark chapter 7 to keep things in context.

Evil thoughts, evil things, come from within and the come out.

I think we can agree and pull that from the scripture.

Now I think to appreciate these insightful words of Jesus more we need to look at context in Mark chapter 7.

There is the challenge of the Pharisees (Mk7:1-5)

Jesus disciples were eating with what they would consider defiled hands

They were not adhering to the traditions of the elders

So, we need to stop and ask ourselves when looking at this, whats more important tradition of man, is that what defiles the heart?

This leads to Jesus responses.

First to the Pharisees (Mk7:6-13)

I think we will read the passage and make some observations about the passage

Traditions of the elders stated (vv.3-4)

Don’t eat without cleansing first

Pay attention to cleansing rituals of things too!

Jesus questioned (v.5)

Why do your disciples not walk according to traditions? - notice the accusation is about traditions, not about the law.

Jesus response (vv.6-13)

Look at (v.6-8) with me again.

I’m not putting on screen.

Mk7:6-8 “6 And He said to them, “Rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far away from Me. 7 ‘But in vain do they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.’ 8 “Neglecting the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men.””

They are offering up vain and hypocritical worship which is false, fake worship.

They are accused of setting assigned the commandments and keeping the traditions (v.9)

Jesus offers proof, an illustration of law vs.

tradition (vv.10-11) using the word “corban” which means set aside for God, or dedicated to God, given to God, so to neglect responsibility of honoring Father and mother.

This is rendering the Word of God of no effect through their traditions.

Second to the multitude (Mk7:14-16)

If you look down to (vv.14-16) you will see the heart of the matter the heart of what we are looking at today.

Defilement comes from the inside not the outside.

(Expand on this some) - it is not the things on the outside, the things we see and touch that defile us and keep us from the kingdom.

It is the things on the inside, the heart that keeps us from the kingdom.

Then to the disciples (Mk7:17-23; 1Tim4:3-5)

Now as we continue, trying to keep everything in context leading to our passage in (vv.21-23) we see the disciples had questions.

It is OK to have questions, it is OK to ask questions and to seek answers (v.17)

Jesus is not berating them (v.18-19)

Jesus is getting their attention to the explanation and illustration He gives to them.

Notice in (v.19); speaking to Jews, that he declared all foods clean!

This ties in with

True defilement is not what goes in, but what comes out of a man

Evil things proceed from within that bring defilement (see v.23) and we will expand on that in a moment

(Transition) This passage thus far points out the heart ofthe problem, the Pharisees were putting the traditions of man over the word of God.

The external over the internal.

Jesus addresses the heart of the issue is a matter of the heart.

There is a heart problem that must be address.

Heart of the problem

I think we know there is a heart problem.

The heart that rejects the Lord.

The heart that rebels against the Lord.

And to look at the heart of the problem means we must look at the heart.

For the heart is the source of much evil (Mk7:21-22)

From the evil of the heart it is that which defiles a man (Mk7:23)

Evil thoughts lead to defilement from the inside.

According to the Bible Knowledge Commentary it states ‘evil thoughts’ precedes the verb in the Greek text and is viewed as the root of various evils which follow.”

Ibid states “Evil thoughts generated in a heart unite with one’s will to produce evil words and actions.”

Evil thoughts, leading to evil words and evil doings

Adulteries -illicit sexual relations

Fornication -illicit sexual activities of varies kinds

Murders - taking someones life intentionally

Thefts -stealing, pilfering

Covetousness - greediness, a form of idolatry (Eph5:5; Col3:5)

Let me show you scripturally

and you can see also in

Wickedness - evil acts done with malice

Deceit - acting with guile and intent to defraud

Lewdness - unrestrained/unconcealed immoral behavior

Blasphemy - Slander, verbal abasing of God or man

Pride - arrogance, boastful opinion of self, disdain of others comes with this often

Foolishness - lack of common sense

(Transition) So the outward, the traditions of man, is not what defiles a man, or gives man a defiled heart, it is caused by a sinful heart.

So, don’t have a defiled heart.

Let’s pray.

Wait, hold on no way, we need to look at ways not to have defiled heart, we need to look at application, we need to look at the solutions and prevention’s.

The Application

Preventative measures, scripture if full of them and to avoid a defiled heart we must look at some now.

Are you ready for a scripture marathon?

Hope so, for when it comes to preventative measures the solutions are found in the word.

Application: Take the matter of the heart seriously

There has always been a heart problem (Gen6:5, 8:21)

and

We are all sinners (Jm1:14-15; Rom3:23)

And one we know well

Enslaved to the power of sin if we don’t take it seriously (Jn8:34; Rom7:18-20)