King Jesus | February 12, 2023

 

+ Read Scripture

Matthew 15:1-9

1 Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, 2 "Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat." 3 He answered them, "And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? 4 For God commanded, 'Honor your father and your mother,' and, 'Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.' 5 But you say, 'If anyone tells his father or his mother, "What you would have gained from me is given to God," 6 he need not honor his father.' So for the sake of your tradition you have made void the word of God. 7 You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said: 8 "'This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; 9 in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'"

Talk Sheet Questions

  1. On a scale of 1-10, how important was it to the religious leaders to wash their hands before eating? What score would you give it? What score do you think Jesus would give it?

  2. Jesus cites a separate tradition. Mark 7:11 makes it more clear. What is the problem with this tradition?

  3. Can you think of any traditions that you grew up with that help you follow God’s commands? Any that don’t?

  4. How can you tell if you honor God with your lips, but your heart is far from him? What does that look like in practice?

Prayer

Pray that we will follow the Lord from the heart!

 
 
Scott Reavely