Abide Together: Reflections on Matthew 15

Matthew 15 records Jesus having a run in with the Pharisees and scribes, He teaches on the heart, heals a daughter of a Canaanite woman, heals many others and feeds 4,000.  His miracles once again show His power over everything and His compassion for people.  His healing of the daughter of the Canaanite shows His mission was no only the Jews, but every other nation as well.  The thing that stands out to me is Jesus teaching on the heart.  The Pharisees and scribes are accusing the disciples of breaking the tradition of the elders by not going through a ceremonial washing of their hands when they eat.  It was not the breaking of God’s law that bothered them, but the breaking of the “tradition of the elders” that upset them. They had elevated tradition over God’s law.  Jesus calls them out on this by pointing to the fact that they break God’s law by not caring for their parents who are in need, because they have “dedicated their resources to God.”  Jesus says by doing this they invalidate the word of God for the sake of tradition.  People do the same today when they elevate preferences or traditions over God’s Word.  Jesus then tells the crowds and his disciples that it is not what goes into a person that defiles them, but what proceeds out of them that defiles them.  He explains to the disciples that what goes into a man’ s mouth runs its course through the digestive tract and then is eliminated. What comes out of man’s mouth comes from the heart and this is what defiles him/her.  Our words and actions come from our hearts.  Without Jesus mankind’s heart is wicked and only lives for self.  Praise the Lord, that those who trust In Jesus as Lord and Savior – they are given a new heart that has the desire and power to say and do what honors the Lord and His Word.  Lord, may I always choose your principle/truth over preferences so that You are glorified.  Thank you for giving me a new heart in Christ so that I may honor you with my lips and my life.

– Bryan McKenzie