"Then came together unto him the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, which came from Jerusalem. And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault. For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders. And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brasen vessels, and of tables. Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands? He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition. For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death: But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free. And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother; Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye. And when he had called all the people unto him, he said unto them, Hearken unto me every one of you, and understand: There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man. If any man have ears to hear, let him hear."
In spite of the importance of today's quote it is one of the most ignored lessons in the entire New Testament.
This lesson applies to the vast majority of "Christianity" today, just as much, or maybe even more so, than it did to the "scribes", "Pharisees", and "Sadducees" of Jesus day. Far too many of today's "Christians" dwell more on their own outward appearance than they do on the actual substance of the message they were commanded, by Jesus, to bring.
For example, today's "Christians" are much more apt to be condemned for failure to show up at "chruch" two or three times a week than they are to be condemned for failing to provide for the needy in the community.
Although there still are and will always be, those who do their very best to adhere to the gospel of Jesus Christ, just as He taught it, they are more and more being overrun by those who fit Jesus description of the "scribes" and "Pharisees".
Our Christian responsibility to the gospel of Christ is simple. We are to teach everyone we can reach that Jesus is the virgin born Son of a our living God, that He lived, taught, was crucified, died, was buried, and rose again as a living sacrifice for the souls of all who would simply place their faith in Him. His life was ordained and dedicated so that those of us who believe in Him would be released from the bondage of sin that was imposed on God's chosen people by Mosaic law.
Just as Jesus so clearly taught in today's lesson, it is NOT the outward appearance or actions of mankind that matters in our commitment to Jesus Christ and to His gospel. It is the intent, and content of one's heart that truly matters. Everything we do is fine, so long as our actions fit within the restrictions Jesus placed on us when He gave us these two great commandments, "Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." (Matthew 22:37-39)~
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