God’s Ways Above Man’s Ways - May 24, 2020

God’s Ways Above Man’s Ways

 Mark 7:1-22

Thesis: “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways,’ declares the Lord” Isaiah 55:9

 Jesus is confronted by the “Pharisees and some teachers of the law” because his disciples are not following the teachings of the religious leaders. (vs1-5)

1. The religious leaders of Christ’s day were sticklers on enforcing their religious customs, as we would describe, “keeping the rules of the Church”.
2. They had many “religious washing methods” that they believed brought spiritual merit.
3. We have such traditions today, that are “traditions of man” and not God, that many have attached spiritual merit too, such as:
4. The order of the worship service.
5. The sanctuary furnishings and architectural styles of the building.
6. The type of Sunday attire worn.

                      “But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7)

1. The choice of instruments to be used in worship music.
2. The times of Sunday Worship.
3. The choice of Biblical translations to use.

 

1. Jesus draws a distinction between the Laws of God and the traditions of mankind, that were wrongfully taught as from God. (6-13)

     “You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.” (vs8)

1. The religious leaders had developed laws from their religious traditions that were not from God.
2. Traditions may even be helpful to the Church, but they must not be viewed as the law of God or even given by God.
3. It is heresy to say, “the traditions of man are of equal value to the laws of God”, and the modern-day Church has been as guilty as the Pharisees in violating this truth.
4. Jesus is saying, “Do not be a hypocrite (literally means “actor”) by “worshiping me in vain; their teachings are rules taught by men” (see verses 6-7).
5. Jesus used as an example, the religious leaders teaching the people it was justified to violate the 5th Commandment-- “Honoring your Father and Mother” to finance the Temple. (vs9-13)

 

III. Jesus then addresses the condition of a person’s “heart” which is the main source of all Spiritual issues. (vs14-23)

1. Jesus clarifies that eating food with unwashed hands will not make you spiritually unclean and “In saying this, declares all food ‘clean”.
2. Jesus makes it very clear that “it is what comes out of a man (person) that makes him unclean,” (vs15b &20-23) because it reflects the condition of their heart.
3. Jesus gives a list of evils that come from a sinful heart in vss21-23.
4. The very reason Jesus came was to provide the possibility for every person’s “heart” to be right with God.

• “If you declare with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 8:9)
• “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (I John 1:9)
• “Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” (James 4:8)