Lesson 2435

(Lesson 2435)(08-15-18) Mark 7:1-16
    “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.”

    In today’s quote, Jesus, seeing the hypocrisy in the scribes and Pharisees, berated them for that hypocrisy relating that it is not the things that are eaten that defiles the soul, but rather, it is the foulness that comes from the mind and proceeds out of the mouth.
    Sadly, today, there are far too many so-called Christians who are guilty of the same hypocrisy that defiled the scribes and Pharisees. To many faithfully attend to the traditions of the “church”, never missing an opportunity to show themselves in supposedly righteous surroundings, giving an outward appearance of obedience to God’s will, while inwardly corrupt beyond measure.
    In my opinion, it is the will of God that we walk in the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ both in what others see in us and what we actually see within ourselves. ~