Audio will be posted on March 8.
The Trouble with Tradition
Matthew 15:1-9
1. Background
• increasing awareness of and opposition to Jesus
• identity of Pharisees and Scribes
• internal/external issue
• identity of Pharisees and Scribes
• internal/external issue
2. Pharisees and Scribes Inquire 1-2
• more accusation than request
• repeated activity of disciples
• tradition of elders regarding ceremonial purity (Lev. 11-15)
• repeated activity of disciples
• tradition of elders regarding ceremonial purity (Lev. 11-15)
3. Jesus Exposes the Activity of the Religious Leaders 3-6
• emphatic counter-question
• repeated violation of the religious leaders
• example: tradition that nullifies the teaching of God (Ex. 20:12; 20:28, 21:17)
• repeated violation of the religious leaders
• example: tradition that nullifies the teaching of God (Ex. 20:12; 20:28, 21:17)
4. Jesus Assesses the Hearts of the Religious Leaders 7-9
• a stinging rebuke
• cold hearts and empty words (Isa. 29:13)
• echoing the emptiness of human precepts
• cold hearts and empty words (Isa. 29:13)
• echoing the emptiness of human precepts
5. So What?
• Because Jesus desires your authentic worship, ponder the proximity of your heart to Him.
• Worship: “…quickening the conscience by the holiness of God, feeding the mind with the truth of God, purging the imagination by the beauty of God, opening the heart to the love of God, and devoting the will to the purpose of God.” (W. Temple)
• Worship: “…quickening the conscience by the holiness of God, feeding the mind with the truth of God, purging the imagination by the beauty of God, opening the heart to the love of God, and devoting the will to the purpose of God.” (W. Temple)