Mat 15:2 Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.
The Pharisees were so concerned with looking at other people's "faults", when they should remove the plank in their own eye, that they might see clearly. They did not realize that Jesus is the God of the Sabbath, not the law. They miss the point: For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.(Matthew 12:8) And that: I will have mercy, and not sacrifice. These Pharisees were men that everyone looked on as "holy" and if anyone were going to heaven, it was them (by appearance to most men). But God sees their heart, and Jesus who is God come in the flesh sees their hearts, they are white washed tombs, the outside looks great and right but their insides are like dead mans bones. They condemn the guiltless to uphold their form of righteousness and to make all others subject to this righteousness that they establish themselves which is not righteousness. For righteousness can only come from God, and is through God, in Him.
Mat 15:3 But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?
The Pharisees were seen as living out the law perfectly, but in actuality by their self righteousness and by establishing their own righteousness by their "good works" they are transgressing the commandments of God, not upholding them!! Traditions can squash the work of the Spirit, grieve the Spirit, though He is sovereign and will ultimately have His way, the work of the Spirit can still be hindered. Traditions of men, things that were taught by the church all your life can be hindrances to the work of God just like the Pharisees were a hindrance to Jesus. Notice though how Jesus does not shy away from being complete bold, blunt and honest no matter what men thought, He called them out in their sin, He reproves the works of darkness! Only He has power to do this, and for true believers with Him in them, they are able to do this as well for truth to reign and God to be glorified.
Mat 15:4 For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death.
Jesus simply states the commandment of God, to honour father and mother, then compares the Pharisees who claim to do this, but in actuality this is what they were doing...which is not pleasing to God at all...
Mat 15:5 But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, [It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me];
It is a gift? Who do they think they are? The Pharisees are saying that anything they do for their father or mother is a gift, it is not a command of God that is expected of me, to take care of my parents when they can't, etc, it is just a gift that they might profit by me. How prideful of them! Are we like this? Is this our heart? We are not expected to take care of father and mother, we are not expected to take care of them because it is pleasing to God, no, any time I honor them it is just simply a gift from me and they should cherish it, because of what a good person I am. That is Pharisaical, prideful, ridiculous. God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.
Mat 15:6 And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.
Their tradition just made the commandment completely ineffective!
Mat 15:8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
Mat 15:9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
These men who do not draw near God, they do not honor God, these are the men in the high place of teaching people the commandments, and how to worship God. When God says that they worship Him in vain, they aren't worshiping God, not with their heart, not in Spirit and in truth as God is pleased.
Mat 15:11 Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.
Out of the mouth the heart speaks. It is what comes out that defiles him.
I need to meditate further on this, but wow, this is a heavy passage, think about these things.
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