More Confrontation with the Pharisees

In one paragraph

This message worked through two parallel accounts of Jesus confronting the Pharisees over ritual hand-washing, asking what actually defiles a person. Pastor Carl traced the argument from the Pharisees' accusation against the disciples all the way to Jesus naming the things that come out of the heart. The sermon landed during a communion service, with the list in Mark and Matthew serving as an...

Read together

1. Revelation 4:11 quoted to lead congregation into worship: 'you are worthy, o Lord... to receive glory and honor and power'
2. Romans 8:28 referenced while singing, 'we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him'
3. Colossians 2:14 quoted before singing Jesus Paid It All: 'he canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross'
4. 1 John 3:1 quoted before offering song: 'see what great love the Father has lavished on us that we should be called children of God'
5. John 7:1 opening verse of the sermon passage: Jesus walking in Galilee unwilling to go to Judea because the Jews sought to kill him
6. Matthew 15:1-20 primary sermon text on Pharisees confronting Jesus about disciples eating with unwashed hands
7. Isaiah 29:13 quoted by Jesus against the Pharisees: 'this people honors me with their lips but their heart is far away from me'
8. Matthew 13:24-43 parable of wheat and tares recalled when Jesus says every plant the Father did not plant will be uprooted
9. Luke 6:45 cross-referenced to Jesus' teaching: 'out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks'
10. Matthew 12:34 cross-referenced as another instance of Jesus telling Pharisees 'out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks'
11. Mark 7:1-23 parallel passage to Matthew 15 covering the same confrontation with Pharisees, including the Corban tradition and expanded list of sins from the heart
12. 1 Corinthians 11:23-25 paraphrased during communion: 'on the night Jesus was betrayed he took bread... this is my body broken for you'
13. 2 Corinthians 13:14 benediction: 'the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all'

Talk about it

1. Jesus called out the Pharisees for using religious traditions to avoid caring for their aging parents. Where have you seen religious rules or habits used to justify avoiding something God actually commands?
2. Pastor Carl pointed out that he, as a pastor who showed up to church, is probably one of the people this passage is speaking to. What makes it hard for religious people specifically to hear correction from Scripture?
3. Jesus said that what comes out of the mouth reveals what is in the heart. When you think back over what you have said this past week, what does it tell you about what is going on inside you?
4. The list of things Jesus says come from within the heart includes both obvious sins like murder and subtler ones like deceit, pride and foolishness. Which ones on that list are easiest to overlook in yourself, and why do you think that is?
5. Pastor Carl closed by praying that people would see themselves in the list and run toward Jesus rather than away. What does it look like practically to respond to conviction with trust in God rather than with shame or defensiveness?