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Devotional: Matthew 15:1-9

Today’s passage: Matthew 15:1-9

Helpful thoughts: 

  • After hearing of all the “unclean” people who are touching Jesus and being healed, the Pharisees and scribes decided to complain about the disciples hand-washing.
    • Notice, this hand-washing was a “tradition of the elders”.  This is not even in the Law.
  • Jesus does not answer their question.  He is not threatened by the opposition in the heat of the moment.
  • Jesus points out the Pharisees’ and scribes’ manipulation of the Law, which they have used for their own personal wealth and in opposition to the spirit of the Law.
    • This practice of calling the finances “God’s” was also a tradition of the elders…  Jesus is reiterating the Jewish leaders’ error of placing tradition over the Scripture.
  • He quotes Isaiah 29:13 in telling the Pharisees ans scribes that all their works of righteousness are in vain.  Their efforts were fruitless.  They weren’t righteous at all.
  • “Commandments of men” can often start out as an attempt to help people obey actual Scripture.  But, they can quickly turn into more than what they should be.
    • This is why we refer to this practice as “Legalism”.  Making up laws and believing a person’s righteousness is based on whether or not they kept the laws.

Questions to consider:

  1. What are some things we have treated (or still do) as doctrines which were only the “commandments of men”?
  2. Where do we need to repent of this practice?
  3. What would be the danger of “whip-lashing” back from legalism?  What is the right, biblical perspective to have?
  4. What is your righteous standing based on?  Praise God for our righteous substitute!

October 29, 2018 Category: Devotions, Matthew

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