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Daily Devotions

Matthew

Matthew 
Day 
Day 223

A Deeper Explanation Requested

Text: Matthew 15 : 1 - 20

Peter, frequently a spokesman for the rest of the disciples spoke to Jesus, voicing what all of them must have felt. They needed a deeper explanation of what had just been said!

“Then Peter answered and said to Him,
‘Explain this parable to us.'”
MATTHEW 15:15

A DEEPER EXPLANATION OFFERED

Had Jesus not clearly explained things already? Why did Peter think that what He said was a “parable”?

“So Jesus said, ‘Are you also still without understanding?
Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth
goes into the stomach and is eliminated?
But those things which proceed out of the mouth
come from the heart, and they defile a man.
For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts,
murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witnesses,
blasphemies. These are the things which defile a man,
but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man.'”
MATTHEW 15:16-20

1. Wherein lies understanding?

We need to raise this question as Jesus rebuked His disciples for their lack of comprehension. Why should there be a lack of understanding at all?

a) Does the problem lie with the Teacher?

Why did the disciples struggle so much with what Jesus taught? Does the problem lie with their Teacher or the knowledge that He offered?

b) Does not the problem lie within the heart of the hearer?

It should have been quite clear to the disciples what Jesus taught! The system represented by the scribes and Pharisees was totally incompatible with the truth taught by Jesus! Did they at least comprehend that?

Did the disciples fear the scribes and Pharisees so much that they would have breathed a little easier if Jesus offered a “compromise”? Jesus had made it very clear that He had come to teach the Scriptures! The Word of God cannot be compromised in its purity with the false commandments of men!

2. Hard Truths in plain language

Did the disciples think that Jesus could have been clearer? Would plainer language be less offensive? Jesus went their route and offered the following startling statement!

a) The realm of the physical-ritual

Jesus made the clearest distinction ever, between the physical-ritual and the moral-spiritual realms in this statement. Food consumed belonged to the physical realm! Whatever pains a person may take to follow religious rituals, food is still only food. What food is consumed and how food is consumed does not defile a person before God!

b) The realm of the moral-spiritual

When God looks at a person He sees beyond the physical! He is deeply concerned about the following things that man does.

i) The words that issue from a person’s mouth!

ii) The thoughts that come from a person’s mind.

iii) The deeds that ultimately proceed from a person.

These were the things that truly defile a person!

c) The sins of the scribes and Pharisees

What were they guilty of? Let us consider the following list! Let us just single out two for consideration!

i) Evil thoughts

ii) Blasphemies

The scribes and Pharisees were so self-righteous that they did not see themselves as they really were! They may have kept up with their rituals and in their mind they may feel that they are righteous! The hard reality was that they were sinful and defiled – and not just in the sight of God!

DEEPER REASONS

There were deeper reasons why Jesus wanted His disciples to learn these lessons well!

1. They must become much more discerning

The scribes and Pharisees had hidden their wickedness behind a façade. They had hidden their innermost thoughts under the smokescreen called “the tradition of the elders”. They were breaking the Written Laws of God and covering their transgressions by their “oral law”.

2. They must become bolder in facing opponents

Jesus knew that His disciples were afraid of the scribes and Pharisees. At that point of time, they were no match for their opponents. They did not know enough to hold their own!

The answer was obvious! They must work even harder with reference to knowledge of the Scriptures!