Practice
Genuine Purity Matt.
15:1-20 October 21, 2007
Introduction
It amazes me how many people get all concerned about
clean hands but pollute their bodies
with all kinds of destructive elements. The Pharisees possessed that
kind of attitude. They were
very concerned about their traditions related to clean hands and body,
but neglected cleanliness
of the heart. Some Christians enjoy a special emphasis on a particular
pet peeve; while being
guilty of an obvious neglect of obedience to God's Word. None of us are
perfect in our actions
and obedience, but that should be our desire. We need to make every
effort to Practice Genuine
Purity in all areas of the Christian life.
1. Answering . .
Questions About The Practice Of Genuine Purity. 15:1-9
A. Through . . Receiving Questions
About Purity.
1 The Pharisees and scribes came from Jerusalem to
Jesus and asked, 2 "Why do Your disciples break the
tradition of the elders? For they don't wash their hands when they
eat!"
B. Through . . Requesting
Answers To Your Questions
About Purity. 15:3-4
3 He answered them, "And why do you break
God's commandment because of your tradition? 4 For God
said: Honor your father and your mother; and, The one who speaks evil
of father or mother must be put to death.
C. Through . . Refuting Answers To Their Questions
About Purity. 15:5-6
5 But you say, 'Whoever tells his father or mother,
"Whatever benefit you might have received from me is a
gift committed to the temple" -- 6 he does not have to honor his father.'
In this way, you have revoked God's word because of your tradition.
D. Through . .
Regarding Scriptures On
Their Question About Purity. 15:7-9
7 Hypocrites! Isaiah prophesied correctly about you
when he said: 8 These people honor Me with their lips,
but their heart is far from Me. 9 They worship Me in vain,
teaching as doctrines the commands of men."
We need an openness to hearing beliefs of
others while planning gently, but firmly, to
correct them. Sometimes the best way to answer a question will be to
ask a question. Jesus used
this method often. He refuted the error of the Pharisees by pointing
out inconsistencies in their
thinking while asking a question. Further; Jesus refuted the erroneous
teaching of the Pharisees
by climaxing His position with scriptures. Some of the cultish people
delight in endless
arguments about their doctrines and ways of life. It really becomes
tiresome debating with them
but we need to refute them with biblical truth.
2. Advancing . . The
Practice Of Genuine Purity. 15:10-14
A. Advance Through . .
Clarification. 15:10-11
10 Summoning the crowd, He
told them, "Listen and understand: 11 It's not what goes
into the mouth that defiles a man, but what comes out of the mouth,
this defiles a man."
B. Advance Through . . Confrontation.
15:12-14
12 Then the disciples came up and told Him, "Do You
know that the Pharisees took offense when they heard
this statement?" 13 He replied, "Every plant that My heavenly Father
didn't plant will be uprooted. 14 Leave them alone! They are blind
guides. And if the
blind guide the blind, both will fall into a pit."
In order to advance truth about purity our
position may need to be clarified. When Jesus
clarified His truth it left little or no room for argument or debate.
Jesus confronted error as He
identified the position held by the Pharisees, and then clarified what
the scriptures really say. . The disciples seemed to be concerned that
Jesus offended the scribes. Let me ask; if you kindly,
but firmly, correct error; do you think you might offend those in
opposition to your beliefs? I
heard our Preacher, R. G. Lee, say he did not want somebody saying at
his funeral, "He never
offended anyone." He further said, You can't preach the Word of God
correctly unless it offends
someone." The old Methodist Preacher, Sam Jones, supposedly said;
"Nobody happy, sad, glad,
or mad, no preaching." Jesus did not go out of His way to offend
people, and neither should we,
but He did not fail to correct error. We should do the same.
3. Analyzing . . The
Practice Of Genuine Purity. 15:15-20
A. Analyze Through . . Explanation. 15:15-18
15 Then Peter replied
to Him, "Explain this parable to us." 16 "Are even you still lacking
in understanding?" He asked. 17 "Don't you realize that whatever goes
into the mouth passes into the stomach and is eliminated?
18 But what comes out of the mouthcomes from the heart,
and this defiles a man."
B. Analyze Through
. . Elaboration.
15:19-20
19
For from the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, sexual
immoralities, thefts, false testimonies, blasphemies. 20
These are the things that defile a man, but eating with
unwashed hands does not defile a man."
Sometimes further analysis of truth is
needed, and Jesus did this through explanation that
illustrated His position. It is interesting that Simon registered the
need for additional
explanation, and it seems to surprise the Lord. Sometimes after
explaining a need further
elaboration exists. Jesus did not hesitate to speak further on the
subject. We need to make sure
in our elaborations that we stay on the subject. These ways might be
included as we attempt to
clarify and Practice Genuine Purity. Amen? Amen!
