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)
- The religious leaders of Christ’s day were sticklers on enforcing their religious customs, as we would describe, “keeping the rules of the Church”.
- They had many “religious washing methods” that they believed brought spiritual merit.
- We have such traditions today, that are “traditions of man” and not God, that many have attached spiritual merit too, such as:
- The order of the worship service.
- The sanctuary furnishings and architectural styles of the building.
- 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)
- The choice of instruments to be used in worship music.
- The times of Sunday Worship.
- The choice of Biblical translations to use.
- 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)
- The religious leaders had developed laws from their religious traditions that were not from God.
- Traditions may even be helpful to the Church, but they must not be viewed as the law of God or even given by God.
- 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.
- 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).
- 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)
- Jesus clarifies that eating food with unwashed hands will not make you spiritually unclean and “In saying this, declares all food ‘clean”.
- 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.
- Jesus gives a list of evils that come from a sinful heart in vss21-23.
- 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)