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October 19th

The bible reading today is in Matthew 15 and Mark 7.

Religious leaders came from Jerusalem to Gennesaret to accuse the disciples of Jesus concerning the breaking of Jewish tradition.

Interesting the devil uses the same ploy today. Seeking to disrupt the ministry of Christ by taking aim at his followers. Let us be alert to the schemes of the devil and trust Jesus every day to save us from temptation.

So Jesus intervened on behalf of his friends and told a parable about washings and foods. The Jewish religious leaders were there to declare publicly that those who followed Jesus, instead of them and their traditions, they were “unclean”...no longer accepted at Temple for the worship of Yahweh God.

Temple worship was huge for the Jewish people. Satan was using the Pharisees to accuse Jesus’ followers of great spiritual crimes.

I'm sure it was upsetting to most in the crowd of seekers. So Jesus got right to it. Worship was from the heart...not from practicing ritual traditions made by man.

That was a big step of faith for the Jews in the crowd. They had been brought up on those religious traditions for years and years. They were taught that those traditions were way to God.

Jesus came saying, “I am the Way...” In more ways than one, Jesus was making claim to be the Messiah. “Make sure that your heart is right with God by believing Me.

And Jesus says one more thing to seal his fate with the Jewish religious elite...“And he said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, “‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’”

‭‭Mark‬ ‭7:6-7‬

Jesus was declaring out loud Isaiah’s prophesy about these religious leaders. He called them Hypocrites...religious actors...wearing masks...pretending to know God.

He said that their hearts were far from God. They attended church but their hearts were far from God. They read their bible but their heart was far from God. They prayed eloquently but their heart was far from God. They contributed money but their heart was far from God. They loved to sing but their heart was far from God.

And these were the spiritual leaders from Jerusalem. No wonder Isaiah said...they worshipped God in vain...they had not the heart to seek the Lord in worship...they were just going through the religious motions.

O Jesus, may that not be me. “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭139:23-24‬ ‭

In Your Name, I pray Jesus.

Have a great day