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Lets take a look at a few more things that Jesus had to say about men…. More specifically….. pastors.
Matt 15:1-20
1 Some Pharisees and other Jewish leaders now arrived from Jerusalem to interview Jesus.
2 “Why do your disciples disobey the ancient Jewish traditions?” they demanded. “For they ignore our ritual of ceremonial handwashing before they eat.”
3 HE REPLIED, “AND WHY DO YOUR TRADITIONS VIOLATE THE DIRECT COMMANDMENTS OF GOD?
4 For instance, God’s law is ‘Honor your father and mother; anyone who reviles his parents must die.’
5 But you say, ‘Even if your parents are in need, you may give their support money to the church instead.’ And so, by your man-made rule, you nullify the direct command of God to honor and care for your parents.
7 You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you,
8 ‘These people say they honor me, but their hearts are far away.
9 THEIR WORSHIP IS WORTHLESS, FOR THEY TEACH THEIR MAN-MADE LAWS INSTEAD OF THOSE FROM GOD.'”
A lot of us have a perception of God that is completely false.
The reason why we have these beliefs is based around what we have been taught by men.
Pastors teach all kinds of concepts that they have formulated in their heads and they pass them as teachings that are from God.
The congregation believes that these teachings are from God….. because of the fact that they believe that this “man of God”…… is speaking on behalf of God…… which is a complete lie.
This is the reason why Jesus specifically says that we should have no pastor……. because as a result of the teachings of men…… people’s opinion of God has been completely distorted.
Men have all sorts of traditions that contradict the message of God.
Men have all kinds of laws and ways of doing things that have absolutely nothing to do with God.
In this particular scenario….. the pastors claimed that it was a sin to eat without washing hands.
10 THEN JESUS CALLED TO THE CROWDS AND SAID, “LISTEN TO WHAT I SAY AND TRY TO UNDERSTAND:
11 “NOT WHAT ENTERS INTO THE MOUTH DEFILES THE MAN, BUT WHAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH, THIS DEFILES THE MAN”
12 Then the disciples came and said to Him, “Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this statement?”
13 But He answered and said, “Every plant which My heavenly Father did not plant shall be rooted up.
14 “LET THEM ALONE; THEY ARE BLIND GUIDES OF THE BLIND. AND IF A BLIND MAN GUIDES A BLIND MAN, BOTH WILL FALL INTO A PIT.”
It is because of the blindness of pastors….. and the blind followers of these men….. that we completely lack understanding.
15 And Peter answered and said to Him, “Explain the parable to us.”
16 And He said, “Are you still lacking in understanding also?
17 “DO YOU NOT UNDERSTAND THAT EVERYTHING THAT GOES INTO THE MOUTH PASSES INTO THE STOMACH, AND IS ELIMINATED?
18 “BUT THE THINGS THAT PROCEED OUT OF THE MOUTH COME FROM THE HEART, AND THOSE DEFILE THE MAN.
19 “FOR OUT OF THE HEART COME EVIL THOUGHTS, MURDERS, ADULTERIES, FORNICATIONS, THEFTS, FALSE WITNESS, SLANDERS.
20 “THESE ARE THE THINGS WHICH DEFILE THE MAN; BUT TO EAT WITH UNWASHED HANDS DOES NOT DEFILE THE MAN.”
The last set of verses are particularly important especially in relation to us.
We need to be very aware of our heart condition.
There is a popular saying…… “you are what you eat”
But a much more important saying would be…….”you are what you think”.
It is what you think about that makes up who you are.
What you think about dictates the kind of things that you do.
What comes from inside you….. is a much deeper representation of who you are than what you take in from the outside.
Christians are often reluctant to associate with people who are atheists….. simply because they believe that it will have an irreversible effect on their faith.
They stay away from people who they label as “unbelievers” because they feel that they are defiled simply by virtue of the fact that they don’t believe.
We have become so conscious and focused on the outside….. that we completely neglect the inside which is essentially what matters most.
It is one thing to listen to what a man says.
It is another thing to store what he says in your heart.
It is one thing to listen to a man teach.
It is another thing to regard that man as your teacher.
On one side you listen and discern…… on the other side you listen and believe without questioning.
Therein lies the difference.
To be continued…..
Radical Chic Magazine 