Instruction
Scripture: Mark 7:1-13
Jesus found himself in the middle of controversy raised by
the Pharisees: His disciples hadn’t properly washed their hands before eating.
Jesus used their accusation against Him to reveal that it was they, the
Pharisees, who had ignored something greater than a tradition, they had ignored
God’s Word. This passage challenges us to look at our own lives to see where we
have traditions or behaviors that we hold which are contrary to God’s Word.
Teaching
Jesus specifically confronted the Pharisees regarding one of
the traditions that they held regarding caring for one’s parents. They held
that if one had dedicated an offering to the Lord, it could not be repurposed
to help parents who were in need. He knew that the Pharisees often gave offerings
in order to look good in the eyes of others. He says it is better to do as
God’s Word teaches and to honor our parents.
The issue of the keeping of the Fourth Commandment gives a
good illustration of how people can use pious sounding words and actions to
hide their sinful desires. God’s Word does not leave room for that in our
lives. Instead it condemns our sin, calls us to repentance, and grants us
forgiveness by grace.
Life
There is a derogatory remark that is sometimes thrown at
people who are trying to obey God’s commands. People say, “She is acting holier
than thou!” We do well to recognize that sometimes we act in ways that make
people think that we think we are better than them. When our faith becomes a
shield against accusations that reveal our sin, we must be careful. We are
people who repent of our sin, which means we acknowledge and turn from them. We
are not “holier than thou,” except by the forgiveness Jesus gives freely to all
who believe in Him.
Prayer
This prayer is written
in the themes of Confession, Petition, and Instruction.
Father in Heaven, please forgive us for setting aside Your
commands and placing our own self-righteous deeds as our hope for holiness.
Forgive us for not honoring our parents as You have called us to do. Forgive us
for living “holier than thou” lives which do not recognize our sin, but finds
fault in others.
Lord, let Your Word take root in our hearts so that we would
know that our deeds do not make us holy, but only Your grace and forgiveness.
As forgiven people help us to live according to Your Word and to represent it
rightly to others in our thinking, speaking, and doing. Help us to keep Your
Word in its proper place in our lives and please guard us from presumptuous sin
and false humility.
O Holy Spirit, teach us in this Word that living rightly has
less to do with washed hands and flattering lips, and more to do with a heart
that is close to You. Help us to recognize the doctrines of men that reject
Your Word so that we live according to Your guidance, and let us see where we
set aside God’s Word so that we would learn our sin fully and confess its depth
and breadth so we may fully know the power of Jesus’ forgiveness which You
deliver to us. Amen.
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