Heart Or Lip Service

HEART OR LIP SERVICE

Mark 7:1-13 * Text in red represents the voice of Jesus Christ*

1- And the Pharisees and some of the scribes gathered together around Him when they had

come from Jerusalem, 2-and had seen that some of His disciples were eating their bread with

impure hands, that is, unwashed. 3- (For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they

carefully wash their hands, thus observing the traditions of the elders; 4- and when they come

from the market place, they do not eat unless they cleanse themselves; and there are many other

things which they have received in order to observe, such as the washing of cups and pitchers

and copper pots.) 5- And the Pharisees and the scribes asked Him, "Why do Your disciples not

walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat their bread with impure hands?" 6- And He

said to them, "Rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, ’THIS PEOPLE

HONORS ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEARTS IS FAR AWAY FROM ME. 7-

BUT IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE PRECEPTS

OF MEN.’ 8-"Neglecting the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men." 9- He

was also saying to them , "You nicely set aside the commandment of God in order to keep your

tradition. 10- "For Moses said, ’HONOR YOUR FATHER AND YOUR MOTHER’; and ,

’HE WHO SPEAKS EVIL OF FATHER OR MOTHER LET HIM BE PUT TO DEATH’; 11-

but you say, ’If a may says to his father or his mother, anything of mine you might have been

helped by is Corban ( that is to say, given to God ), 12- you no longer permit him to do anything

for his father or his mother; 13- thus invalidating the word of God by your tradition which you

have handed down; and you do many things such as that."

INTRODUCTION

In this chapter we read the controversy in which Jesus faced concerning the tradition of elders.

The washing of the hands before eating. Jesus’ disciples knew they were in the Pharisees view so

they didn’t wash, because they probably knew they were being watched. The Jews washed their

hands before eating, after returning from some place, or before touching someone. They washed

their hands, then held them up so the water could run downwards. If they did a good job in the

morning and they remained by themselves, that washing was good for the entire day. This was a

good practice ( washing before eating ), but they made it a religious practice.

It was said that people would come from 80-100 miles away to discuss or ridicule Jesus.

I)THE LIP SERVICE

(Ps.78:35-37) -- They end up lying to God. (Titus 1:16) -- They profess that they know God,

but in works they deny Him, being abominable, and disobedient and unto every good work

reprobate. ( Matt.7:21) -- I never knew you (Luke 6:46) -- why call me Lord & Master... The

person with lip service ought to just stay home, God is not honored by them. It is simply all talk

and no show.

II)THE HEART SERVICE

A) The heart according to Jeremiah -- is wicked (Jer.17:9) -- stubborn -- hard nosed -- prone

to madness -- has no love -- deals in unbelief -- can have no faith, no fear and no concern for

God’s holiness.

B) The searching of the heart (Jer.29:11-13)

C) Give Real Heart Service -- Like COKE, IT’S THE REAL THING®

III)TRADITION VERSES BIBLICAL

(Mark 7:3 & 9) Washing was a tradition not a religious practice. If we are not careful our service

can be traditional. Our worship -- will just go thru the motions. Our prayer/ Bible study will

become ritual. We will come to church because we were raised to do so. So many are

concerned with tradition instead of the scriptural intent. So many can do the right thing for the

wrong reason. (IISam.16:7) God sees the heart.

IV)WHERE DO WE STAND

A) How is your heart?

We come Sunday morning and sing the praises -- but what about Monday? Do we serve God

for recognition? Do we serve God out of tradition - or do we really worship Him?

CONCLUSION

(Mark 7:13) Think About It!

(Josh. 24:15)

Where does your heart stand? Is your all on the alter?