Sin … It’s a Heart Problem!
Mark 7:8-23, 1 John 1:8-10
Introduction
- Jesus is demonstrated in this book as a “servant”
-- Key verse: Mark 10:45, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
- IMP: What God says to us here is critical application for living for Him
- Encouragement: When we encounter God’s truth, it should cause a change
-- We should feel uncomfortable in some areas of our life
-- Sometimes however, it IS our entire life that needs to change
-- The Gospel is not for the weak at heart, so count it an honor to be included
- In every sense of the word, this is a beat down of EPIC proportions!
- From Wednesday night … (Jesus’ teaching challenges us every time)
- Pharisees were upset was because Jesus/Disciples weren’t following “their” rules
-- It’s an empty ritual that governs actions like this … and we need to see it
-- Why? Because we have the same problems in how we deal with others!
-- “Don’t do this because I feel convicted about it so you should as well …”
∆ CHANGE SLIDE
- This is a huge comparison to note … what’s clean and what’s unclean
-- Their thinking: People are unclean because of who they are (Gentile, etc.)
-- God’s thinking: People are unclean because their hearts are sinful
- Jesus called them hypocrites b/c they are twisting God’s Word for themselves
-- A hypocrite’s worship is external … it has nothing to do with the heart
-- Matthew 5 covers this in depth (Sermon on the Mount) … it’s a heart issue!
-- The real defilement is in their heart … not in their actions
- This was Adam’s problem.
- This was Eve’s problem.
- This is the Pharisees problem.
- And yes, even, this is OUR problem.
-- APP: It is the root of evil where we think we’ve got it all figured out
- One of the “Big Ideas” from Wed night was:
-- True worship comes from the heart, not from a spiritual rule book!
-- The traditions were put in place to help people MEET the Law
-- They provide structure and boundaries in which we are to live (to remind us)
- Read Mark 7:8-13
∆ Point 1 – We Must Honor God (8-13)
- Jesus reminds the Pharisees that they now consider themselves above God (v8)
-- Example: You’ve got to follow OUR rules in order to live properly
-- This, above anything else, really seals the deal for the Pharisees (he’s gotta go)
-- The critical app for us is seeing ourselves in this situation also
- Do we tell God, “I like your ways, but I think mine are better”
-- Or, do we (wisely) use scripture to guide us to say: Psalm 119:114, “You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word”
-- This is the problem the Pharisees have and it applies to us if we are like them
- The false holiness these men are showing has sickened Jesus
-- He is done trying to deal with the nonsense of their “religious ways”
-- He lays out for them HOW they are rebellious and misusing God’s Word
- ALERT: This would be our HUGE application for us here for two reasons:
-- 1) Jesus is speaking (obviously)
-- 2) Subtly … it’s an opportunity to check yourself!
- Take a look at v10: Honor your mother and father is the command (from Moses)
-- But … what you do is pronounce something “Corban” and it’s off-limits
-- What’s it mean? Pronouncing something “Corban” means it is for God’s service
-- It is something that can only be used in God’s service; it’s set-aside for Him
- For example: I have $1M, and I can then pronounce it as “Corban”
-- Therefore, even though mom and dad might be in dire financial straits …
-- I am ABSOLVED from the need to take care of b/c the money is off-limits
-- “I’ve pronounced this only for God’s service (or use), so … you’re out of luck”
-- HERE’S THE SIN: However, I AM free to use it however I see fit b/c after all, it’s mine, right?
- So v13 follows up: “you do that, and many other things” to violate God
-- APP: If ever there was a time to check out motives, it is right here
-- Are we claiming things off-limits to others when we could help them?
- TRANS: Jesus’ disgust of the traditions of these folks is BEYOND measure
-- If you think Jesus’ doesn’t know what’s happening in your life, look here
-- He has just called these men out without having a private investigator either
-- Jesus is the I AM and He knows our hearts, intentions, and our motives
- Read Mark 7:14-19
∆ Point 2 – Appearance Doesn’t Matter (14-19)
- Then Jesus gives the entire crowd a lesson in spiritual growth (v14)
-- What you put into your body is NOT what violates and makes you unclean
-- (Remember, they had issue with the disciples not washing their hands) (Mk 7:5)
-- Jesus clarifies (v15) it’s what comes OUT of you that makes you unclean
- HUGE CONTRAST:
-- The Pharisees are concerned with outside purity and your appearance
-- Jesus is concerned with what’s going inside, which AFFECTS the outside
-- The Pharisees live an exhausting life trying (pretending) to BE holy
-- Jesus offers us a chance to be holy because the inside is clean!
- This brings us to some insider information (v17) which sheds more light
-- Remember, in public the use of a parable is to teach a message from God
-- Those who don’t understand ever will (deny Holy Spirit’s work)
-- But those who desire to know what God is saying will see its meaning
- In private, Jesus emphasizes the importance of knowing the body
-- In v18 He is asking them how can they STILL not understand what He’s saying!
- IMP: True obedience comes from the love of God, and desire to live for Him
-- It has nothing to do with what you take in (which turns into waste – v19)
-- Note: How about that … a lesson in biology right from scripture!!
- Jesus does two things here for them (and for us if we’ll apply it):
-- 1) He declares all food clean, and,
-- 2) He stresses how to live (from within and not by appearances)
- Real FREEDOM comes from this: How God tells you to live is infinitely more important than how others think you should live! The warning in this however is: Do not get a big head about it and become arrogant and/or unteachable.
- TRANS: This is where we need to tune in and not be dull (v18)
-- Jesus offers them an opportunity to learn; same opportunity we have today
- Read Mark 7:20-23
∆ Point 3 – It’s a Heart Problem (20-23)
- Living externally never really changes the inside without God’s involvement
-- In v20 Jesus takes special interest in reminding us of what to look for
-- We cannot change without Christ’s (real application of Phil 4:13)
- IMP: “What comes out of a person is what defiles them.”
-- It’s like apologizing to the preacher for swearing: it’s not me who’s offended
-- APP: It’s a sign of what’s going on inside of you that God has touched on
- Jesus’ identification of what is going on in society is clearly for them/us
-- We can use these few verses to see our need to be changed by God for His work
- No amount of hand washing will change a person’s heart
-- No amount of ritualistic living changes who we are inside
-- Mark 7:21, “For it is from within, out of a person’s heart …”
-- The sins that follow (v21-22) are a result of impure hearts (use as a checklist)
- IMP: (v23) The life we live reflects the heart that we have within us
-- If anything, it is an opportunity to examine where we are right now
∆ Big Ideas
- What are the big ideas here?
-- 1) Live for God by changing your attitude! (HOW?)
-- 2) Confess that you need HIM and NOT your own desires and selfish ways
-- 3) Then allow Jesus to be Lord (Master) of your life through your repentance
- 1 John 1:8-10, “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.”
- Pray
