WASH YOUR HANDS Mums might not like this!

Matthew 15:1-9 1 Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying, 2 “Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.”

Matthew 15:1-9 3 He answered and said to them, “Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition? 4 For God commanded, saying, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’ 5 But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me has been dedicated to the temple”— 6 is released from honoring his father or mother.’ Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition. 7 Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying:

Matthew 15:1-9 8 ​‘​These people draw near to Me with their mouth, ​​And honor Me with their lips, ​​But their heart is far from Me. 9 ​​And in vain they worship Me, ​​Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ ”​

I. THE PHARISEES (Religious leaders) Answered their question with a question (His usual method of dealing with tough questions) (and ended with an insult!)

popular & well respected as ‘good people’ ; their hands looked clean! INSULTS TO PHARISEES brood of vipers (serpents & snakes) whitewashed sepulchres (painted graves) hypocrites blind guides evil and adulterous generation children of the devil fools and blind BUT they were also... popular & well respected as ‘good people’ ; their hands looked clean!

Are you a ‘Pharisee’ – a hypocrite? Application 1 Are you a ‘Pharisee’ – a hypocrite? Come to Jesus with your heart, not just your lips

Matthew 15:10-11 10 When He had called the multitude to Himself, He said to them, “Hear and understand: 11 Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.”

II. THE PEOPLE Gives them a challenge & a cryptic clue (“Hear & understand” “What comes out; not what goes in”) For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. Matthew 12:34 The heart of the wise teaches his mouth... Proverbs 16:23 ​‘​These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. Isaiah 29:13 What does that mean? What comes out? They ‘know’ that is not the case! People are not really evil by nature; only be nutrure/environemnt.

Matthew 15:12-20 12 Then His disciples came and said to Him, “Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?” 13 But He answered and said, “Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. 14 Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch.”

Matthew 15:10-20 15 Then Peter answered and said to Him, “Explain this parable to us.” 16 So Jesus said, “Are you also still without understanding? 17 Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated? 18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. 19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. 20 These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man.”

III. THE DISCIPLES (US!) He explains (with a rebuke to Peter!) … It’s what come out that matters; not what goes in. It’s not about clean hands! It’s about a clean heart SIN NATURE is born into us! “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; Who can know it? Jer 17:9 Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life. Prov 4:23 What does that mean? What comes out? They ‘know’ that is not the case! “People are not really evil by nature; only be nurture/environment. “ Do you believe you are evil by nature? What about the person next to you?

Feel offended? What’s in your heart? 19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. 20 These are the things which defile a man, Feel offended?

How bad is sin? Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. Galatians 5:19-21

WASH YOUR HANDS & YOUR HEART What should we do? James 4:8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. WASH YOUR HANDS & YOUR HEART

Why? ​​Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD? ​​Or who may stand in His holy place? 4 ​​He who has clean hands and a pure heart, ​​Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, ​​Nor sworn deceitfully. 5 ​​He shall receive blessing from the LORD, ​​And righteousness from the God of his salvation. Psalm 24:3-5

BEWARE – the bottom line! Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; Hebrews 3:12

Pharisee, multitude, disciple…. Which are you? CONCLUSION Pharisee, multitude, disciple…. Which are you? Repent: Wash your hands (actions) & your heart (values, beliefs, ‘secret’ thought life) The only true satisfaction (happiness) in life comes in BELIEF in the Living God and LIVING for Him.

Expanding the . Kingdom Join the Family