Sunday, May 09, 2021

Outside religion


Matthew 15:10-11 / Mark 7:14-16…

Is Jesus saying that those things that we think are bad are not actually bad, and that it doesn’t matter what we put into our bodies and our minds? No, what He is saying is that it is the heart that makes us want bad things in the first place. It is moral uncleanness that defiles a person, not ceremonial uncleanness. The traditions of the Pharisees had no effect on removing the stains of the heart. Some of the stuff that we want is indeed bad and bad for us, but wanting that stuff only shows what is on the inside already.

Jesus is talking about our spiritual health, not our physical wellness. He is saying not to worry so much about the customs and traditions and all that but to be concerned instead about what is going on inside you. Food and drink are not what spiritually defiles you (Romans 14:17). Yes bad food can defile your health but that isn’t what Jesus is talking about here. Washing the outside won’t clean the inside. Jesus is telling them that a lot of people with “good clean religion” are not as pious as they may believe.

Now Jesus isn’t telling you that you can play with fire and not be burned (Proverbs 6:27-28 / 1 Corinthians 15:33). It matters very much what we put into our bodies, and into our spirits (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Watch what you eat, physically and most important, spiritually (Galatians 6:8). What He is telling you is to work on your inside first (Matthew 23:26).   

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