May 23, 2012
The letter of the law—verses—the intent of the law. God wants our obedience and not our sacrifices. He doesn't want people who "do" church, He wants people who are the Church. He doesn't want people who go through the motions (religious unbelievers), He wants true followers who are committed and surrendered believers.
The Pharisees had faith in their "religious" systems, instead of by faith accepting God's Christ. The Pharisees asked, "Why do your followers break the traditions of the elders?" I love Jesus' response. He said, "And why do you break the command of God (emphasis mine) for the sake of your traditions?" (Matthew 15:3) Can it be said any clearer than that? Heaven forbid that tradition not be followed, but what does it matter if God's commands aren't followed! Man's traditions—verses—God's commands. They were willing to stake everything on their own ideas and traditions but they weren't willing to accept and follow God's commands.
Jesus said, "Isaiah was right when he said about you:
I Samuel 15:22 - "What pleases the LORD more: burnt offerings and sacrifices or obedience to his voice? It is better to obey than to sacrifice. It is better to listen to God than to offer the fat of sheep. Disobedience is as bad as the sin of sorcery. Pride is as bad as the sin of worshiping idols."
Psalm 51:17 - "The sacrifice God wants is a broken spirit. God, you will not reject a heart that is broken and sorry for sin."
Isaiah 1:13–17 - "Don't continue bringing me worthless sacrifices! I hate the incense you burn. I can't stand your New Moons, Sabbaths, and other feast days; I hate your new moon feasts and your other yearly feasts. They have become a heavy weight on me, and I am tired of carrying it. When you raise your arms to me in prayer I will refuse to look at you. Even if you say many prayers, I will not listen to you, because your hands are full of blood. Wash yourselves and make yourselves clean. Stop doing the evil things I see you do. Stop doing wrong. Learn to do good. Seek justice. Punish those who hurt others. Help the orphans. Stand up for the right of widows."
Isaiah 29:13 - "These people say they love me; they show honor to me with words, but their hearts are far from me. The honor they show me is nothing but human rules."
Hosea 6:6 - "They will come to worship the LORD, bringing their flocks and herds, but they will not be able to find him, because he has left them."
Matthew 23:25 - "How terrible for you... You are hypocrites! (religious unbelievers) You wash the outside of your cups and dishes, but inside they are full of things you got by cheating others and by pleasing only ourselves."
Matthew 23:23 - "How terrible for you... You are hypocrites! You give to God one-tenth of everything you earn— even your mint, dill, and cumin. But you don't obey the really important teachings of the law—justice, mercy, and being loyal. These are the things you should do, as well as those other things."
Mark 12:29–31 - "The most important command is this: ...The LORD our God is the only LORD. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength. The second command is this: 'Love your neighbor as you love yourself.' There are no commands more important than these."
God wants our obedience. He wants our surrendered hearts. He wants all of us. What God doesn't want is someone going through the motions. Someone who is following traditions made by man instead of following God's commands. He wants us to walk the walk not just talk the talk. Our actions should match what we say we believe. Anything less than that God hates.
I want my life, all of it, to be pleasing to God and to bring Him honor, glory, and praise.
Next Entry: Matthew 15:1–39 (Continued)
The letter of the law—verses—the intent of the law. God wants our obedience and not our sacrifices. He doesn't want people who "do" church, He wants people who are the Church. He doesn't want people who go through the motions (religious unbelievers), He wants true followers who are committed and surrendered believers.
The Pharisees had faith in their "religious" systems, instead of by faith accepting God's Christ. The Pharisees asked, "Why do your followers break the traditions of the elders?" I love Jesus' response. He said, "And why do you break the command of God (emphasis mine) for the sake of your traditions?" (Matthew 15:3) Can it be said any clearer than that? Heaven forbid that tradition not be followed, but what does it matter if God's commands aren't followed! Man's traditions—verses—God's commands. They were willing to stake everything on their own ideas and traditions but they weren't willing to accept and follow God's commands.
Jesus said, "Isaiah was right when he said about you:
These people show honor to me with words, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is worthless. The things they teach are nothing but human rules." Isaiah 29:13Religious—but—unbelievers. Outward appearances of honor but hearts that are not surrendered. And God hates it.
I Samuel 15:22 - "What pleases the LORD more: burnt offerings and sacrifices or obedience to his voice? It is better to obey than to sacrifice. It is better to listen to God than to offer the fat of sheep. Disobedience is as bad as the sin of sorcery. Pride is as bad as the sin of worshiping idols."
Psalm 51:17 - "The sacrifice God wants is a broken spirit. God, you will not reject a heart that is broken and sorry for sin."
Isaiah 1:13–17 - "Don't continue bringing me worthless sacrifices! I hate the incense you burn. I can't stand your New Moons, Sabbaths, and other feast days; I hate your new moon feasts and your other yearly feasts. They have become a heavy weight on me, and I am tired of carrying it. When you raise your arms to me in prayer I will refuse to look at you. Even if you say many prayers, I will not listen to you, because your hands are full of blood. Wash yourselves and make yourselves clean. Stop doing the evil things I see you do. Stop doing wrong. Learn to do good. Seek justice. Punish those who hurt others. Help the orphans. Stand up for the right of widows."
Isaiah 29:13 - "These people say they love me; they show honor to me with words, but their hearts are far from me. The honor they show me is nothing but human rules."
Hosea 6:6 - "They will come to worship the LORD, bringing their flocks and herds, but they will not be able to find him, because he has left them."
Matthew 23:25 - "How terrible for you... You are hypocrites! (religious unbelievers) You wash the outside of your cups and dishes, but inside they are full of things you got by cheating others and by pleasing only ourselves."
Matthew 23:23 - "How terrible for you... You are hypocrites! You give to God one-tenth of everything you earn— even your mint, dill, and cumin. But you don't obey the really important teachings of the law—justice, mercy, and being loyal. These are the things you should do, as well as those other things."
Mark 12:29–31 - "The most important command is this: ...The LORD our God is the only LORD. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength. The second command is this: 'Love your neighbor as you love yourself.' There are no commands more important than these."
God wants our obedience. He wants our surrendered hearts. He wants all of us. What God doesn't want is someone going through the motions. Someone who is following traditions made by man instead of following God's commands. He wants us to walk the walk not just talk the talk. Our actions should match what we say we believe. Anything less than that God hates.
I want my life, all of it, to be pleasing to God and to bring Him honor, glory, and praise.
Next Entry: Matthew 15:1–39 (Continued)
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