You Nullify the Word of God

Rev. Paul J. Miller – Sermon Outline – May 17, 2020

Series Title: Discovering Your Life in the Life of Jesus

Today’s Title: You Nullify the Word of God by Your Tradition

Today’s Text: Mark 7:1-23

Gospel Parallels:   Matthew 15:1-20

 

 “The Pharisees and some of the teachers of the law who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus” (v1)

  - a journey of more than 100 miles . Why did they come all this way?

“Why don’t your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders instead of eating their food with defiled hands?” (v5)

- Their standard is “the tradition of the elders”, not the Law itself Using it to discredit Jesus

He replied, “Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites;

  - He leads with the Word of God from Isaiah

“‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. 7 They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.’” (v7)

  - Words of worship are empty without the heart

“You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.” (v8)

  - screening the Word for the people

“You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions!” (v9)

  - The 10 Commandments “Honor your father and mother” (Exodus 21:17)

- “Corban” – a pledge or an oath to give something of value to God

“And you do many things like that” (v13)

  - this is just exhibit #1 - no wonder Jesus reacted so sternly

“Nothing outside a person can defile them” (v15)

“In saying this, Jesus declared all foods clean.” (v19)

- This is one of the main themes of the entire New Testament

  Peter – Acts 10 & 11 , Paul - Romans 14, Colossians 2:16-23, 1 Timothy 4:3-5

“For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come” (v21)

  - This is the heart of the matter

NO ONE CAN OBEY THEIR WAY TO GOD

- Romans 3:19-24, Galatians 2:19-21, Ephesians 2:13-18

WHICH COURSE WILL YOU FOLLOW?

ACCUSING  ACCEPTING

BLAMING  BELIEVING

CRITISIZING  CHANGING

DENYING  DECIDING