ONE OF THE GREATEST BARRIERS TO A FRESH, VIBRANT HEART IS A DEAD TRADITIONALISM, NITPICKING MIRACLES

1. It was dead customs that prevented the Bible preaching Pharisees from enjoying Jesus personally
2. Today we still have troubles & must be sharp to distinguish between commands & customs
3. Jesus rebuked with strong words these who were sitting on custom instead of living with open enjoyment of God's Presence- His apostles become worried that he had offended the Pharisees.

I.- THE ENTANGLING QUESTION Mark 7:10

The simplest form of confrontation is a debate - with questions and answers given publicly

A.- THE QUESTIONING OF THE PHARISEES V. 5 REVEALED THE HARDNESS OF THEIR HEARTS RE: HUMAN NEED

1. The technical faultfinding of the Pharisees covered wicked & corrupt hearts with manners & (illegible)
2. The washing of hands was very important when everyone ate from a common bowl, but not sacred
3. They made an insane fad out of cleanliness & they have friends in Phx-Cleanliness is not Godliness

B.- JESUS GAVE THEM A SCRIPTURAL ANSWER 6.7 THEIR PROBLEM WAS IN THEIR HEARTS, NOT STOMACHS

1. In Matt 15:3 Jesus asks a question to drive into heart of false evaluation, judgement-
2. He quotes Isa 29:13 where the Prophet of men who mock God with lip service- & fear men
3. Traditions, customs, social grace may be important to culture- but not to spirituality

C.- JESUS SPOKE PLAINLY TO THE HEART OF THE MATTER, AND ACCUSED THEM OF EXCHANGING CUSTOM FOR COMMANDS

1. Doctrines, Commands of God, are to be taken from the Scripture- and held or else!- death
2. The full impact of v.8,9 is that men try to elevate their preferences into Scripture- Pride
3. Men have a lot of ideas of how to run churches. Lots of leeway- but none in doctrine!

We need to be careful that fancy manners do not demand more attention than God's Law

II. JESUS TEACHES THE PHARISEES - v. 9-13

These boasting fundamentalists- strong convictions- should have followed Jesus easily-

A.- JESUS ILLUSTRATED THEIR SERIOUS ERROR IN THEIR TRADITIONS IN A VERY PRACTICAL WAY- v.10-12

1. God has stern commands regarding honor for parents- these cannot be set aside by custom!
2. These were almost Nazarites- "I have given all to God- so my parents cannot be helped by me"
3. Jesus did not destroy God's Law- and we cannot skip 1st command with promise-

B.- JESUS ACCUSED THE PHARISEES OF DESTROYING THE WORD OF GOD BY THEIR TRADITIONS~ 5:8- v.13

1. These made their boast of the Word of God- but used it to preach to others- instead of self
2. Their interpretations twisted scripture, nullified its glory, and missed its heart.
3. All their hard work in the religious area was in vain- a handicap, cf. Matt 23:23

C.- THE HEART OF THE MATTER, V. 9 CENTERS ON THE SELFISH VANITY OF WANTING ONE'S OWN WAY

1. God has given us a structured society secure in His laws, and in His Love- peace comes
2. But men want to add their own desires- some add strictness -binding & blinding -Puritans
3. But some go the other direction and remove God's demands- so that they can be free- & peril

The Bible warns us not to add to or take away from the Word of God - be careful & prayerful

III.- JESUS INSTRUCTS HIS PEOPLE, AND DISCIPLES v.14

Even those who walked with Jesus could not understand His harshness with Pharisees-Matt 15:12

A.- JESUS CALLED THE PEOPLE UNTO HIM, AND SPOKE A FEW WORDS VERY PLAINLY AND POINTEDLY -14-16

1. Food- faddists might not like this- but its not what you eat, but what is eating you that matters
2. Jesus gave a direct statement- you could believe it, or argue it- "If you have ears"--
3. It is strange that people hear, and understand- just what they want to!  Rearrange prejudice

B.- THE DEEPER MEANING JESUS GAVE TO HIS DISCIPLES INSIDE THE HOUSE- v.17 -ARE YOU INSIDE ?

1. Jesus spoke plainly- The stomach has a disposal system to throw away impurities -18-19
2. But what comes out of the heart- defiles the man-Jer 17:9 -Heart of man desperately wicked
3. YOUR natural heart is wicked!- unbridled passion destroys- a disciplined man mortifies- 21,22

C.- HOW CAN WE GET THESE THINGS OUT OF OUR HEARTS, AND BE CLEAN AND SERVE THE LORD?- Poisons

1. Only God can forgive,- only God can give clean heart- Ezek 11:19,36:26- heart of flesh!
2. Forgiveness, gentleness, real love & concern- comes from the new spirit of law in new heart
3. The only way we can walk in His statutes is to have this new heart-Ezek 11:20

Will you draw close enough to Jesus to hear what He says about your heart,- & do something about it?

REVIVAL COMES INTO OUR HEARTS WHEN WE LET JESUS SHOW US HOW WICKED IT IS, AND CRUSH THE HARDNESS

1. As long as we criticize others more than self- we cannot find God's love & grace-
2. Look into your own heart- Do you see any of the list- v.21,22?  Then come confessing- repent
3. You will either bring your heart to God, or you will make a way that seems right to your old wicked heart- but that way will lead to death!