This People

“This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭15:8-9‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Here Jesus is talking about the religious folk; the same as we have today. 

Nothing has changed. 

We also worship "in vain" because our hearts are far from Him. 

"True Worship is obedience to God!" KC

“And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand: Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.” Matthew‬ ‭15:10-11‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The discussion was about man's insistence (doctrine/ commandment) in washing their hands before eating.

Maybe this is from where our "germ-a-phobes" come - and Jesus is saying look at your heart! 

“And Jesus said, Are ye also yet without understanding? Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught? But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭15:16-18‬ ‭KJV‬‬

So He spells it out!

“For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.” Matthew‬ ‭15:19-20‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Isn't that us???

We always wash before we eat yet feast on the trash the world serves; lewd and pornographic advertisements in magazines and on tv and videos; music with murderous and adulterous lyrics. 

We carry antibiotic hand cleaner and use it after shaking hands at church then sit and watch scary movies (opening ourselves up to demonic spirits of fear) and tv shows that excite and cause us to lust for the things of the world!

We have desensitized several generations and wonder why our society has no regard for life. 

And we wash our hands! 

"We go to church and sing 'Oh How I Love Jesus' and then go out to eat and treat the waitress with contempt!" KC

"because our hearts are far from Him"

But our hands are clean!

Our hearts are wicked and our mouths condemn us!

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” Jeremiah‬ ‭17:9‬ ‭KJV

The profanity, that escapes in our conversation, says exactly what is in our hearts, and most often we are unaware of what we are saying; it is so acceptable. I mean after all it's all over the tv!

But our hands are clean!

Please examine your heart! Ask God to expose the sin hiding there; fear and unbelief, unforgiveness, bitterness, gossip, anger, judgments . . . 

Look at what you desire! Is it more stuff or a closer relationship with God?

Repent while there is still time!

Even so - MARANATHA!