Issues of the Heart (Part 2)

Issues of the Heart (Part 2)

By Pastor Gary Wayne

Text: Matthew 15:1-20, Proverbs 4:23

What is the #1 thing God is after more than anything else in your life? Your heart.
So He is in constant pursuit of my heart – not my religious activity, my heart.

Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.
Why did God tell us to keep our heart? Because we have issues. Heart issues.

About 1000 years after Solomon wrote this, Jesus was speaking, and there was constantly a religious crowd trying to trap Him.

Mat. 15
There is a lot here that goes over our head because we are removed from that culture.

At hearing this story, we might first think to ourselves, washing before you eat is a REALLY good thing. (Make sure you sing happy birth day 2 times)
Didn’t Jesus over-react just a bit? No, not when you understand the back story.

In the OT law, the High Priest, and the other priests, anyone doing sacred work had to do ceremonially washings so they were always ready to do God’s work.
If they had touched unclean things, then did sacred work God could kill them.
This law from God for the Tabernacle Workers, had morphed into a tradition imposed on everybody, now thought of as a law.

So Jesus countered with them in ver.3-6 What was this about? Jesus’ audience understood what He was talking about, but it is lost on us.

These leaders had come up with a tradition loophole that allowed them to violate the 5th commandment. They had this rule that you could verbally say, “I dedicate all I have to the Temple.” But then you could use what you owned to support you and your family as long as you lived.

But according to this tradition, there was a loophole – if someone asked you for financial help, they could drop back and show off how “religious they were – see how good I am, I have dedicated all I have to God” – so, I can’t help you.
A major factor in that culture was that the children were to take care of their parents when the parents couldn’t care for themselves.
But they could now say… “I would love to help you dad, but I have already dedicated what I have to God.”

Jesus said: ver. 6-7 “Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition. "Hypocrites!”

They were more impressed by how they kept OT traditions then how they treated their family.

I have watched this happen with church people my whole life. Myself included.
I am impressed with my “religious activity” and justify my un-godly behavior towards others people, at home, on the job, in Missoula when no one is looking.
As if keeping Biblical traditions were more important than how I treat others.

Ver.8-9 “These people honor me only with their words, for their hearts are so very distant from me. They pretend to worship me but their worship is nothing more than the empty traditions of men.” (Passion Translation)

Ver.10-11 Jesus wanted them to understand the main point.

What is the point for us here in S.L – this group of people this morning?

The issues of my heart that I don’t deal with are what cause problems for me with: God, spouse, children, co-workers, friends, myself, etc.
We tend to be so impressed with our personal religious activities, and we think they are a statement of how much I am in love with God.
But God is more interested in the content of my heart verses the religious activities I do.

He is more interested in the un-dealt-with “issues” in my heart than what I say I believe.

He is more interested in how I treat people then what I know about Him.

I’m more impressed with my theology – what I believe about God and then I excuse my day to day behavior that’s not in line with God’s heart.

I believe these heart issues are VERY common with church people – I identify with this “issue” - I have to work on a regular basis.

I am so impressed with my love, dedication, theology, personal experience with God that I justify my negative actions – especially towards others in stressful situations.

Jesus said these words / actions are what defile us – they come from heart issues.

Ver.17-20
When we read the list in ver. 19, we tend to think, I don’t murder, fornicate, lie on the witness stand, I don’t use God’s name in vain – see this is talking to those “other” people in the room.

Mark 7:21-22 give a bigger list – but the point is I am looking for a loophole instead of identifying that my heart needs to be examined by God, not me!

Ps 139:23-24 “search me” Ps.51:10 “create a clean heart”