Day 37: March 4

MATTHEW 15:1-20

SCRIPTURE HIGHLIGHTS:
v 1-9 Pharisees upset the disciples aren’t following tradition and Jesus juxtaposes man’s tradition and God’s commands'

v 10-20 Jesus clarifies what defiles a person isn’t external

OBSERVATIONS:
The Pharisees’ and scribes’ accusation is not denied by Jesus. His reply implies dual guilt and exposes the egregiousness of the Pharisees and scribes misplaced focus. Jesus points out that God’s command has been subverted for a tradition that makes men look holy but denies the truth of their internal corruption. This is like Jesus saying that God didn’t intend for divorce, but MOSES allowed because of the hardening of the heart. The Pharisees and scribes had replaced God’s command and taken from the people a responsibility God called them to fulfill to their parents. Not all leaders are listening to the Lord, and everyone doesn’t see what He is doing.  Jesus first explained himself to the people he specifically called to himself. The disciples missed the explanation because they were with the Pharisees and scribes.  Jesus says the Pharisees and scribes were blind and then chastises the disciples for also not seeing that what comes from the heart is what is important.

APPLICATION:
We must be careful that our best intentions don’t undermine the commands of God. We need to know we can be unschooled and be called by God to be told his secrets and intentions. God can also be actively grooming us but if we are looking at how others are doing what we are called to do, we may miss the message from the Lord himself so keep it simple and have one goal….to honor God.   Not seeing is not the problem, it is the heart of the blind person who thinks they’ve seen everything, so they stop looking. We invent all types of things to do to please God but the truth is obedience is still better than sacrifice.

PRAYER:
Lord God, allow me to see where I am blinded and hear what I’ve missed. Help me hold onto what is best for me when I want to let go because it’s hard. Help me to focus on you and not solely on the practices of people who I’ve admired. Allow me to allow you to do things in your time and your way.  Reveal where I have set up practices that unintentionally defile and miss your intention for me and Lord, please help our leaders focus on hearing your heart.