Matthew 15
COMMENTARY:
: 2 Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they wash not their hands when they eat bread. (3862 “tradition” [paradosis] means what is transmitted, giving up, giving over, hand downs, a giving over which is done by word of mouth or in writing, or the substance of a teaching.)
DEVOTION: The Pharisees were noted for making up many rules for the people to follow. It is said that they had three hundred and six-five negative traditions to follow. They had some positive ones as well but they still took people away from the Scriptures and made them follow manmade rules. Sometimes even the Pharisees followed the rules.
One such rule as that before anyone is to eat they had to do a ceremonial washing of the hands. Before people were allowed to eat they had to wash everything that was going to be used. The disciples were with Jesus and were eating bread. The disciples didn’t practice this washing of the hands and the Pharisees wanted to know why.
Jesus answered a question with a question. One of the ways HE always taught. HE wanted the Pharisees to see that they were replacing the commandments of God for their rules. HE wanted them to realize that God’s commands are more important than their manmade rules. HE pointed out that they made a rule so that children didn’t have to support their parents when they were old. They were able to say that they had donated their property and goods to the church. So they couldn’t use any of it to help their parents. They were disobeying the command to “Honor their mother and father.” This made the commandment null and void because the children were not honoring their parents. They were using the rules of the Pharisees to get out of that responsibility. Children are to help and honor their parents even today.
The church today has many manmade rules and sometimes leaves the Bible behind when they are making the rules. I was involved in a church where the board and the pastor were not getting along. Three of us went to meet with the board to try to correct the situation. However, when we said what the Bible said about the situation, one of the leaders stated “I don’t care what the Bible says, our constitution says.” The constitutions of some churches are not in agreement with the Word of God. That should not be. One other hand me down in one of the churches was that the doxology had to be sung after the offering was taken. I changed it and boy what a problem. We can get into habits in churches that turn into tradition that can hinder the work of the LORD. We need to emphasize the Word of God over manmade rules. The church needs to get back to the basics regarding their actions toward one another and God.
CHALLENGE: Look at your church and see what is Biblical and what tradition is. Don’t fall for we have always done it that way.
: 14 Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch. (3595 “leaders”[hodegos] means guide, teacher of the ignorant and inexperienced, to show the way, to instruct, or conductor.)
DEVOTION: There are people that we have to leave alone. It is hard to be in ministry and leave anyone alone. If there are people who leave the church we should try to have them come back if that is possible. If there are people who are dissatisfied with what is happening at church you want to meet with them to see if any misconceptions can be corrected. If there are complaints you want to get them settled.
However, we find that in some instances this is not possible. No matter how much you try some people will never be satisfied with your answers. Sometimes people will believe that you are not the right person to guide the church in the right direction. There are a few that want to be a devil’s advocate in the church and just want to cause problems no matter how hard a pastor or the elders try to settle a matter.
Here Jesus is telling HIS disciples to not worry about the Pharisees being offended with HIS actions. HE was perfect and doing what the LORD wanted HIM to do and yet there were people who were religious guides who didn’t agree with HIM and spoke out against HIM.
Jesus didn’t put HIS punches regarding those who were Pharisees. HE called them blind. Remember that those who are outside of Christ are called blind and ignorant and foolish on many occasions. Those outside of Christ are also called dead men walking. They are blind. They can’t lead in the right direction.
In fact, Jesus says that they are leading the people over a cliff where they will fall to their death not only spiritually but physically. We have people today that we would call Pharisees. They think they know it all but yet they know nothing. They are trying to guide people spiritually but they don’t have a relationship with the LORD.
We have to remind ourselves that if someone has a genuine relationship with the LORD HE will chasten them to bring them back or if they don’t respond to the chastening HE will end their life prematurely in our eyes to save their souls. Those who suffer no chastening are not true followers of the LORD.
Look at the guide you are following to see if the LORD has worked in HIS life through blessings and chastening. Christ died on the cross. Paul had a thorn in the flesh. Each of those who were true followers suffered for their faith.
CHALLENGE: We are warned of false teachers. Listen to the Holy Spirit regarding who is to be your guide in your spiritual walk with the LORD.
: 16 And Jesus said, Are you also yet without understanding? (801 “without understanding” [asunetos] means foolish, unintelligent, stupid, lacking the ability to understand the meaning or importance of something, dull, or senseless.)
DEVOTION: Do you ever get tired of teaching some people the same things over and over again? This is the problem that Jesus was facing while HE taught HIS disciples to understand the parables HE was teaching.
HE thought by this time they could start thinking for themselves and figures out what HE was saying to them. HE had told them that He was teaching in parables so that those who were not believers would not understand but HE thought the disciples should understand.
Does that mean HE didn’t answer any more questions by HIS disciples? NO!! HE wants us to ask questions because that is the only way we learn. HE will sometime through the ministry of the Holy Spirit try to impress us that we need to learn to understand on our own after a while. There is a maturity level that each of us need to reach the longer we are followers of Jesus Christ. HE wants some to be “fathers” according to I John. There seems to be three stages in our growth: baby, young men, and fathers. We need leaders who are “fathers” in their learning and teaching.
Paul warned the people that they should be teachers of great Biblical truth but were still being babies and carnal Christians. The author of Hebrews was repeating the same thoughts. There is supposed to be a growth process in our life after salvation. Some people do learn faster than others but there should be some advancement in our knowledge of the things of God.
CHALLENGE: Never stop asking questions but also learn to understand more of the Word of God each year. We need growing Christians!!!
: 24 But HE answered and said, I am not sent but to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. (649 “sent” [apostello] means send forth, to be or become sent towards, or a designated goal.)
DEVOTION: Jesus had a focus in HIS ministry. HE stated the focus to the woman from Canaan. HE told her that HE was sent exclusively to the house of Israel. HE came to HIS own people but they rejected HIM.
Does this mean that HE wouldn’t help those who were not Jews? NO!! HE gave her a hard time to check out her faith. She kept asking and HE provided healing for her daughter.
The Bible says that we are to be persistent in our asking for those things that we want that are in the will of God. HE many times gives an answer of wait because HE knows when we are ready for what we ask for better than we know.
Too often we tend to give up too soon. Paul asked the LORD for the removal of the thorn in the flesh but the LORD said no because it didn’t serve HIS purpose. HE wanted Paul to learn that HIS grace was sufficient to help deal with this thorn.
The people in the church prayed all night for Peter to be released from prison but it came and Peter was released. He went to the house where the prayer meeting was going on and they were so surprised that he was there. They weren’t sure what the LORD wanted to happen but they kept on praying. So we need to be persistent in our prayer life for what we think the LORD wants to happen.
Also we are to have a designated goal in our ministries. We are to reach those in our world with the message of Jesus Christ. We have to focus on that goal each day. Jesus was focused but HE also took time to reach those who came to HIM with a need.
CHALLENGE: Remember HE can answer yes, no or wait a while. HE knows what we can handle and what we need more experience to handle.
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