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Leviticus 15:1-16:28; Mark 7:1-23; Psalm 40:11-17; Proverbs 10:13-14
“‘Are you also as lacking in understanding? Don’t you realize that nothing going into a man from the outside can defile him? For it doesn’t go into his heart but into the stomach and is eliminated. (As a result, He made all foods clean.)’ Then He said, ‘It’s what comes out of a person that defiles him. For from within, out of people’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immoralities, thefts, murders, adulteries, greed, evil actions, deceit, lewdness, stinginess, blasphemy, pride, and foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a person.'” (Mark 7:18-23)
At the beginning of this chapter, the Pharisees were upset because Jesus’ disciples were eating without ceremonially washing their hands. Jesus called them hypocrites and told them that they care more for the traditions of men rather than the true doctrine of God. They were more concerned with ritual cleansing, certain foods and man made rules of the temple than they were with the souls of men. A common person could probably never attain the righteousness within this religious group.
Jesus then leads into the above scripture, really bringing His point home to His disciples. And what is the point? That our hearts are of more concern to God than our religious traditions. That it is what comes out of us that determines what kind of people we are, not what we consume.
God is always more interested in where we are as people rather than whether we appear right in the eyes of some. It is not the external acts of righteousness that impress Him, it is the condition of our hearts. Are we broken, yielded, are we seeking Him rather than relying on our own righteousness? Are we placing restrictions and rules on people rather than promoting relationship with God?
PRAYER:
Father, help me to develop my relationship with you. I pray that out of our relationship I will find myself a better person. I submit myself to you and ask that you would use me to set people free. I pray that my life will make people hunger for you and your truth. Convict me if ever I am putting people in bondage for religion’s sake. In the name of Jesus I pra |
