Lesson 3286

 (Lesson 3286)(01-01-21) Mark 7:1-23

    “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 doctrines 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. And when he was entered into the house from the people, his disciples asked him concerning the parable. And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him; Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats? And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.”

    The overall lesson that is to be taken from today’s quote, is that the hypocritical scribes and Pharisees, just like the majority of today’s religious sects, chose to highlight and inforce the least and most insignificant of God’s laws so as to make themselves appear holy, while virtually ignoring the, more difficult, substantive laws such as demonstrating compassion and fair judgment.

    A perfect example of today’s hypocrisy is the insistance that every child of God be in the church house every time the doors swing instead of taking the good news of God’s amazing grace to the places where the lost can actually be found. Jesus took His message to those who needed to hear it. He did not insist that they come to meet Him in the socially accepted places or in the socially accepted condigion, dress, or manner. 

    Although it’s scripturally obvious that the children of God SHOULD DEFINITELY keep in touch with one another in order to encourage and learn from each other, there is only scriptural passage that gives ANY creedence to the erroneous notion that every child of God should meet together on a constant given schedule. That scripture is Hebrews 10, 23-25, “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: NOT FORSAKING the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” 

    I AM NOT contending that Christian people should not assemble themselves together, I’m simply saying that assembly should NOT take precedence over ALL the other scriptural obligations that Jesus expected of those of us who believe in Him.”

    “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” Matthew 18:20 ~