Culver Community Church

Pastor Chris Sweeney

Sermon Notes

June 03, 2018

What is Truly Important! - Matthew 14:33 – 15:20

{vs. 33-36} After the early morning worship service, and after Jesus has taught and dismissed the crowd that followed them from around the lake (John’s gospel), Jesus and the men head inland onto this plain, a beautiful but largely uninhabited place – it was very fertile farmland.  These three simple verses serve as the transition for the events of chapter 15.  Jesus is in a place where not too long ago, the residents literally begged Him to leave.  You remember when Jesus cast the demons out into the pigs?  The demons got their request (to go into the pigs); the people got their request (Jesus departed) - - - strangely, the only one who was denied was the man formerly possessed!  That man had asked to go with Jesus, and was denied so that he could remain behind and be a witness (just as we are in our Christian lives).  Apparently, he did such a marvelous job that when Jesus landed . . . everyone starts spreading the word and everyone with a condition, deformity or possession came from all around!  From unwelcome to overwhelmed, Jesus is once again surrounded by multitudes of people in need.  They begin to come up begging just to touch the edge or hem of His cloak and all who did were healed (instantly, not gradually or progressively). 

What the people have instituted was the first “drive-thru” healing ministry.  Not wanting Jesus to have to deal with each one of them individually, they formed some sort of a line and as they go by they just touch Jesus’ apparel - - - and they are all healed!  I want to make sure that you and I remember, there was no magic in Jesus’ clothing (unlike Frosty the Snowman’s old silk hat) – this was God’s power flowing through Jesus released by a ‘touch point’ for faith.  What I mean by that is we sometimes hang our hopes on God acting based upon a method or moment – it may be an anointing, the laying on of hands, the touching of a garment or a special day or time (like prayer after worship).  The power is not in these things, but as we come and expect (a part of faith) – our belief (another part of faith) is transformed or activated.  We may believe that God can heal . . . but do we expect it?  Often we think that these things or having Pastor pray will make the difference or get the job done.  It is always God, according to His power and purposes but these things can help our faith, as long as we don’t put our trust in them or make them idols!

{vs. 1-2} As Jesus is ministering some of the religious leaders come down from Jerusalem (everywhere was down from Jerusalem – figuratively, but not literally it was the highest point on Earth for them).  These were the big wigs!  Up until this time, Jesus has been clashing with the local leaders – the synagogue rulers, teachers and men of position in the communities.  It may have been that these men, who were constantly bested by Jesus had sent for help!  Or maybe the news of Jesus had reached the temple – the feeding of the 5,000 was the very highest point of Jesus’ popularity in His three year ministry.  These distinguished ‘gentlemen’ had come a long way to challenge the traveling teacher - all the way from Jerusalem clear up to Galilee, which was a journey of over a week, depending on your mode of transportation.  Imagine if you will the elite of that day and society with long flowing robes that seem out of place in this lush green farmland.

At their arrival, they ask (accuse) "Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They don't wash their hands before they eat!"  Now for up to a week these men have been bumping up and down on the rough roads of Palestine and thinking about what they should ask and how it should be asked.  They have heard the reports from the spies they have already sent (sorry, I mean delegations).  They cannot find fault with His theology or teaching (every challenge has been not only been defended but they always end up with egg on their faces).  So, they turn to the traditions of the elders.  These held a high and exalted position (even higher than God’s Word itself) in the minds of the religious Jews.  These traditions were supposedly started with oral teachings that Moses did not include in the Pentateuch but grew to include commentary on those, commentary on scripture and teachings/interpretations made up by every rabbi of stature since the time of Moses himself.  By Jesus’ day, the collection (the Talmud) was twenty volumes (sort of like a set of encyclopedias!) 

The question they chose was one of basic everyday practice – every ‘good’ Jew would use a small amount of water to ritually wash (cleanse) their hands before eating and in between courses.  This was in part because of good hygiene but really it was an outward show, a hoop to jump through displaying how pious they were.  Similar to a surgeon, they would rinse with their hands up so the water would run off at the wrist, then reverse the process – then they put their left foot out and shook it all about (sorry, that’s another ritual!)  The hands were not filthy with dirt or germs – it was part of their spiritual checklist.  Just imagine for a moment, Jesus has the crowds (the 5,000 plus women and children) sit down in a desolate place and He multiplies the loaves and fish - - - but there is no water for the washings?  (Unthinkable!)  It probably took them all of two minutes to see the disciples, who had been wandering from place to place following Jesus had no water to wash.  They don’t want to directly attack Jesus however, so they find fault with His followers.  Have you followed Jesus long enough to know that the world does this still today?  Don’t worry, we don’t have to claim or put on airs of perfection – we can own our sin and mistakes and simply praise God because He has cleansed and forgiven us!

{vs. 3} Jesus is awesome (here and everywhere else!) – without missing a beat or pausing to consider the matter, Jesus replies.  And why do you – the grammar in the Greek gives us the idea of ‘why do you also’ – Jesus has in this first phrase acknowledged that the disciples do exactly what they are accused of and redirects them to what is truly important!  He tells them that’s all fine, but why are you breaking the actual Word of God because of your (man-made) traditions.  He answers a question with a question as He often did, showing them the fallacy and hypocrisy of their argument.  I won’t sing the song from Fiddler on the Roof, but you should know these traditions were very important to them.  Jesus however clears away all this debris and exposes what is truly important!

{vs. 4-9} Selecting an example from ‘the Law’, Jesus shows them exactly what He means.  This is one of God’s top ten, the first command with a promise 'Honor your father and mother' and follows it up with God’s own commentary from Leviticus 20 (also echoed in Proverbs 20:20).  The scheme they had worked out was that a man who did not want to support his parents in their golden years (a significant drain on one’s finances) could go to the temple and declare that his possessions were ‘corban’ or dedicated to God (literally dedicated to the temple treasury).  This person could then continue to manage the wealth (for God) and live from it (as the steward).  The priests liked the scheme because it meant more money for them (I mean God) – but the same sort of dishonest person who would do this, often cheated on the promised gift too!  They even taught that this dedicated wealth could not be given to others (like the parents) because it was already God’s).  This put all that they had in a sort of ‘lockbox’, so they could enjoy it without feeling guilty about the parents (since they were not allowed to help out poor old mom or dad).  Jesus however is teaching God’s intent, He is saying that honoring your father and mother is a lot more than just saying nice things or sending them a card on mother’s day or father’s day.  It means caring for them and in a world without social security, retirement plans or rest homes this was crucial!  Those parents changed your diapers, taught you right from wrong and gave you your start in life (and hopefully an inheritance) - - - now it is time for you to return the favor!

Jesus followed with the verdict (true Godly judgement) - You hypocrites!  Oh how I would love to be able to say that (in a Godly way of course)!  Jesus applies the words of God delivered by the prophet (Isaiah 29:13) to them.  Essentially saying, you are so far from me!  With your words you say you love Me, but you only love yourselves!  You think following these man-made rules brings you close to me but nothing you can do will make you acceptable!  The only thing that is acceptable to Me is faith and a heart that seeks Me like King David’s!  Humble yourselves and obey Me, stop washing your hands and cleanse your heart!

{vs. 10-11} This is a major break from all that they had been taught and knew!  The Law had given them pictures of what it is to be holy, set apart and clean – images taken from the physical world to know how to apply the concept to spiritual things.  Unfortunately, they loved the pictures and never moved on to learn the real truths!  Jesus declares all foods clean (we must still wash and prepare your food correctly!) as Mark’s gospel tells us through his commentary (Mark 7:19).  Jesus gives them a simple anatomy lesson – food goes in the mouth, to the stomach and out the back – but notice it never touches the heart (the physical heart and especially not the figurative heart – the seat of decisions/emotions)!  Again, this is not what is important!  What comes out of the mouth (out of a person) – the words and deeds are a product of the intentions of the heart!  This is what determines (shows or displays) a corrupt, unclean heart!  The Jews (the Mishnah) taught that there was a demon named Shibtah who dwelled on the hands of people while they slept, so if they ate with unwashed (ritually) hands they would get the demon’s defilement!  Jesus wants them to give up silly superstitions like this and hold to what is true, God’s Word as He gave it (as Jesus is re-teaching the crowds and His disciples now)!

{vs. 12-14} The disciples step in and state the obvious – Jesus, you upset the big important powerful rulers from Jerusalem!  Don’t we need them if we are going to set up the Kingdom?  However, Jesus simply replies using the illustration from the parables of chapter 13.  What He tells them is that they are not planted (sowed) by God – just leave them be.  We can’t tell who is who, but Jesus knows!  They are blind to the things of the spirit, and they will mislead all who follow them!

{vs. 15-20} Peter still doesn’t understand, he thinks this is a parable – not the plain speak that it is!  This is so hard for them – in fact, Jesus restates the truth here and will reteach it to him in Acts chapter 10 and Peter will deal with it again when Paul confronts him in Galatians 2!  Many of those who grew up minding their kosher p’s and q’s would find this very hard to understand.  Have we learned the lesson – it’s not about ritual, outward observances or words!  God is looking on the heart.  What is in your heart?  Is it filled with sin, or are you seeking God with all your heart?