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Many of us look like we have it all together on the outside while what’s on the inside tells a different story. Today we are challenged by Jesus to take an honest look INSIDE OUT and see if we are His or if we are Hypocrites.
Breaking Tradition
Why had these leaders come all the way from Jerusalem - a trip that takes several days? They first confront Jesus by asking why He let’s his disciples get away with breaking the tradition of the elders. For example, they don’t wash their hands before they eat. This wasn’t just about making sure hands got clean. This was about ceremony, symbolism, & tradition - when to wash, what to wash, what to wash with.
The tradition of the elders were interpretations of the written Scriptures, sometimes particular commands given to a particular group of people, yet applied to ALL people. (The Scriptures do not command people to wash their hands before they eat.) Exodus 30:17-21 DID command the priests to wash their hands as they performed their priestly duties at the tabernacle and later temple. Notice: this was a lasting ordinance for Aaron and his sons - the priests, NOT the rest of the people.
Long Trip from Jerusalem to Galilee
Honoring Tradition & Disobeying Scripture
The Scriptures say to honor your father and mother (Exodus 20:12; Deut. 5:16) and that anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death (Exodus 21:17; Lev. 20:9). But these religious leaders were teaching the people to nullify the word of God as written in the Scriptures in place of their tradition of making a vow devoted to God.
- The expression of a “gift devoted to God” comes from the Hebrew term qorban (“Corban” in Mark 7:11), a term referring to a pledge made to God with a gift supporting the temple’s ministries upon one’s death. These funds could be used for a personal emergency, but they could not be used to help others like one’s own parents.
And that’s how human tradition replaces God’s Word the authority over our lives.
- When God’s Word and the human tradition collide, which will you recognize as being more authoritative in your life? Will you bend your beliefs to fit the Bible or will you bend the Bible to fit your beliefs?
- Christians must make sure that God’s Word outweighs & overrules Human Tradition.
Hypocrites or His?
Blind Guides
These religious leaders would have strongly objected since there were many foods that were considered unclean and commanded - by God - not to be eaten. This must have been a stick in the eye for Jesus’ religious foes, and the disciples of Jesus recognize that He is in deep weeds with them now.
Inside Out
Mark’s gospel here makes the comment that by saying this that “In saying this, Jesus declared all foods clean.” (Mark 7:19) When God says it’s now clean, it’s now clean!
What makes a person sinful is what he/she does, says, and thinks - what comes out of a person.
A Strange Encounter
This woman is a Canaanite, not a Jew. To Jews she would be considered unclean - a pagan Gentile. In fact, Israel is the nation that had conquered her ancestors. Yet she calls Jesus “Son of David” - Jewish phrase for the Messiah who would come through the line of King David.
She has no doubt heard about the miracles Jesus has done and she has a HUGE favor to ask Jesus. She calls out for Jesus to have mercy on her - to take time to respond to her request. And that request is super significant, her daughter is demon-possessed.
I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel. Jesus was the Jewish Messiah, the King of Israel. He was born into a Jewish family and most of His ministry was to Jewish people (Rm 1:16), but Jesus would ultimately send His Jewish disciples to make disciples of all nations (Mt 28:19-20), which is why we are followers of Jesus today!
Jesus is not being racist or unkind to this desperate Gentile woman. Instead, this is a beautiful story that demonstrates how Jesus responds to those who seek Him.
Among 1st century Jews, dogs were often viewed as unclean animals that scavenged garbage dumps and even attacked people. But here Jesus refers to domesticated dogs. Though we care about our house pets, we wouldn’t give our children’s food to our dogs instead. Our children are our first priority. So too, the Jewish people (children) are the first priority of Jesus’ ministry, while the pagan Gentile nations - dogs - were not. Their time to hear the good news of Jesus would come, but the good news of Jesus was to go to the Jews first (Rm 1:16, Ac 3:26; 13:46).
This Gentile woman with a daughter who has an unclean spirit has great faith, faith in Jesus.
- The Jewish religious leaders who are super clean…on the OUTSIDE, but they stand against Jesus and refuse to recognize Him as the Jewish Messiah. They prove to be HYPOCRITES who say one thing and do another.
- But this Canaanite woman - an unclean Gentile whom most Jews wouldn’t talk to, proves to be HIS - a person who had a genuine faith in Jesus - the Jewish Messiah.
- Which one are YOU? If your life was turned INSIDE OUT and who you really are on the inside was seen on the outside, would you be proven to be a HYPOCRITE or HIS?
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Take some time to discuss these questions with your family, friends, or group.
- Read Matthew 15:1-9. Discuss the significance of the complaints the religious leaders and Jesus have of each other. How is it possible for us to be “religious” and yet be far from God?
- Why is it so important that God’s Word outweighs & overrules Human Tradition? Share about a time when human tradition collided with the Word of God in your life. Explain if it was difficult or not to change your tradition or challenge another’s tradition.
- Read Matthew 15:10-20. How do our thoughts, words, actions, & attitudes show what is in our hearts?
- Read Matthew 15:21-27. What stood out to you in the interaction between Jesus and the Canaanite woman?
- How does our persistence in prayer show God’s character? How persistent are you in your prayers to God?
- What differences do you see between the religious leaders confronting Jesus and the Canaanite woman?
- What challenged or encouraged you most from today’s teaching?
- What does God want YOU to do with what we studied today?
- Share prayer needs and pray for one another.
