2025.06.15.Sermon Notes. The Heart Matters Most – Lessons from Matthew 15
When Religion Misses the Point
William Akehurst, HSWC
Reminder: It’s Father’s Day
Scripture: Matthew 15:1-39, Isaiah 29:13, Psalms 51:10, Psalms 139:23-24
INTRODUCTION:
JESUS confronts the religious leaders for honoring tradition over truth. HE reveals that true defilement doesn’t come from unwashed hands, but from an unclean heart. HE praises a Gentile woman’s persistent faith, heals the broken, and provides for the hungry. Through it all, JESUS reminds us that GOD is not impressed by rituals—HE wants our hearts.
Many people today practice religion outwardly, but Jesus calls for inward transformation.
Jesus challenges man-made tradition, reveals the heart’s true condition, honors persistent faith, and meets physical and spiritual needs.
BIG IDEA: God cares more about the condition of your heart than the traditions you keep.
God desires genuine inner purity and authentic faith, not religious performance.
True righteousness comes from a transformed heart, not outward tradition.
MAIN POINTS:
• Highlights the core issue—the heart.
• Points to Jesus’ confrontation of empty religion.
• Invites reflection on personal faith and authenticity.
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I. TRADITIONS VS. TRUTH (Matthew 15:1–9)
THE DANGERS OF EMPTY TRADITION
1 Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying,
2 “Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.”
3 He answered and said to them, “Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition?
4 For God commanded, saying, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’
5 But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to God”—
6 then he need not honor his father or mother.’ Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition.
7 Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying:
8 ‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth,
And honor Me with their lips,
But their heart is far from Me.
9 And in vain they worship Me,
Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’”
Isaiah 29:13 Therefore the Lord said:
“Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths
And honor Me with their lips,
But have removed their hearts far from Me,
And their fear toward Me is taught by the commandment of men,
SUMMARY: RELIGION WITHOUT RELATIONSHIP
THE CONFRONTATION WITH THE PHARISEES (VV.1–9)
• Pharisees criticize Jesus' disciples for not washing hands ceremonially.
• Jesus exposes their hypocrisy: they elevate man-made traditions above God's commands.
• Key Verse: v.9 – “In vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.”
• "These people honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me." (v.8)
POINTS:
• The Pharisees elevate tradition over God’s command. The Pharisees focus on rituals (washing hands) but miss God’s commandments about honoring parents.
• Jesus confronts their hypocrisy—outward religion without inward righteousness. Jesus exposes how traditions can nullify God’s Word when they contradict true obedience.
• Jesus quotes Isaiah about people honoring God with lips but having hearts far from Him — a warning about hypocrisy that exposes a heart problem: lips say one thing, but the heart is far from God.
APPLICATION:
• Are we more concerned with religious habits than relational holiness?
• Are we holding to human traditions that invalidate God’s Word?
• True worship starts in the heart, not merely in rituals.
LESSON: Are there any traditions or rules we follow that might blind us to God’s real heart? True faith honors God fully, not just outwardly.
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II. TRUE DEFILEMENT COMES FROM WITHIN (the HEART) Matthew 15:10–20
10 When He had called the multitude to Himself, He said to them, “Hear and understand:
11 Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.”
12 Then His disciples came and said to Him, “Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?”
13 But He answered and said, “Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted.
14 Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch.”
15 Then Peter answered and said to Him, “Explain this parable to us.”
16 So Jesus said, “Are you also still without understanding?
17 Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated?
18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man.
19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.
20 These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man.”
SUMMARY: THE PRINCIPLE OF TRUE DEFILEMENT (VV.10–20)
• It's not what enters the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the heart.
• External rituals can’t cleanse a corrupt heart.
POINTS:
• Jesus shifts focus from external ritual (defilement) to internal condition (corruption). What we eat doesn't defile us—what comes from our heart does.
• True defilement is a heart issue, not a hygiene issue.
The issue isn’t dirty hands—it’s a dirty heart. The heart is the source of evil thoughts and actions— Jesus lists what flows from the heart: evil thoughts, murder, adultery, theft, lying, slander etc.
• From the heart come the sins that separate us from God. Jesus teaches that purity is about inner transformation, not mere external compliance.
• The disciples are slow to understand but Jesus explains clearly: God cares about what is in the heart.
APPLICATION:
• Examine your inner life—not just your external behavior.
• Watch what proceeds from your mouth—because it reveals your heart.
• Pray for a clean heart (Psalm 51:10).
Psalms 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
LESSON: Examine your own heart — what kinds of words and attitudes come from inside? Do they reflect God’s purity or something else?
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III. FAITH OF AN OUTSIDER – PERSISTENT FAITH OF THE GENTILE WOMAN (Matthew 15:21–28)
Jesus Heals and Honors Faith that Perseveres
21 Then Jesus went out from there and departed to the region of Tyre and Sidon.
22 And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed.”
23 But He answered her not a word. And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, “Send her away, for she cries out after us.”
24 But He answered and said, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
25 Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, help me!”
26 But He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.”
27 And she said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.”
28 Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.
SUMMARY: FAITH OF AN OUTSIDER
Jesus travels to the region of Tyre and Sidon, where a Canaanite woman boldly asks Him to heal her demon-possessed daughter. Initially, Jesus tests her faith by saying He was sent only to Israel.
• Jesus seems to test her faith—not to reject, but to draw it out.
• She responds with humility and persistence, calling Him Lord.
• The woman’s persistent faith impresses Jesus, and He heals her daughter instantly.
• Jesus praises her for her great faith, rare even among Jews.
"O woman, great is your faith!" (v.28)
The Canaanite Woman’s Cry for Mercy (vv.21–23)
• She pleads for her demon-possessed daughter.
• Jesus tests her faith with silence and seemingly harsh words.
A Faith That Perseveres (vv.24–28)
• She persists, humbles herself, and acknowledges her unworthiness.
• Jesus commends her great faith—He heals her daughter instantly.
POINT: God responds to persistent, humble, and believing faith—even from outsiders.
APPLICATION:
Faith that persists through silence and delay pleases God.
God's mercy is available to outsiders, to the unlikely, to the desperate.
Approach Jesus in humility, trusting that even His crumbs are enough.
LESSON: Genuine faith crosses boundaries, persists through silence or rejection, and receives God’s blessing.
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IV. COMPASSIONATE POWER OF JESUS (Matthew 15:29–39)
Healing the Broken and Feeding the Hungry
29 Jesus departed from there, skirted the Sea of Galilee, and went up on the mountain and sat down there.
30 Then great multitudes came to Him, having with them the lame, blind, mute, maimed, and many others; and they laid them down at Jesus’ feet, and He healed them.
31 So the multitude marveled when they saw the mute speaking, the maimed made whole, the lame walking, and the blind seeing; and they glorified the God of Israel.
32 Now Jesus called His disciples to Himself and said, “I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat. And I do not want to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way.”
33 Then His disciples said to Him, “Where could we get enough bread in the wilderness to fill such a great multitude?”
34 Jesus said to them, “How many loaves do you have?” And they said, “Seven, and a few little fish.”
35 So He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground.
36 And He took the seven loaves and the fish and gave thanks, broke them and gave them to His disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitude.
37 So they all ate and were filled, and they took up seven large baskets full of the fragments that were left.
38 Now those who ate were four thousand men, besides women and children.
39 And He sent away the multitude, got into the boat, and came to the region of Magdala.
SUMMARY: COMPASSION FOR THE CROWDS
KEY VERSE: "I have compassion on the crowd…" v.32
Jesus Heals all who were brought to HIM…and Provides (vv.29–31)
• The blind, lame, mute, and maimed—the multitudes, all are healed of every disease
• They glorified the God of Israel.
The Feeding of the 4,000 (vv.32–39)
Jesus sees their hunger vv. 32-33
• Compassion moves HIM to provide, not just to heal
Jesus multiplies what the disciples bring vv. 34-39
• A different miracle from the feeding of the 5,000.
Seven loaves and a few fish feed over 4,000 men plus women and children.
• Shows Jesus' complete compassion and provision for all.
HE is more than able to heal, provide, and satisfy.
HE satisfies completely—spiritually and physically.
POINT:
• Jesus heals the broken, and then feeds the hungry.
This shows Jesus’ compassion and ability to provide both physical and spiritual nourishment.
• His miracles flow from a heart of compassion.
• He again multiplies scarce resources to meet the needs of the multitude.
o This echoes GOD’s provision and reminds us Jesus cares deeply for our whole being.
o And that GOD can use even the smallest things for GREATER PURPOSE.
o HE INCREASES what we give.
APPLICATION:
• Bring your brokenness and your need to Jesus—He is able and willing to heal.
• Trust His provision—Jesus sees your need, even when you feel forgotten.
• Be a channel—like the disciples—receive from Jesus and serve others.
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CONCLUSIONS
• Jesus cares more about your heart than your habits.
• He calls us to pure hearts of repentance, to genuine faith, and to compassionate service.
• Let’s tear down every tradition that hides the truth. Tradition and external rituals are not enough.
• Let’s deal with every defiling attitude within our hearts. God desires transformation from the inside out.
• Let’s pursue a faith like the Canaanite woman—persistent, humble, bold. Like the Canaanite woman, approach Jesus with faith that won’t quit
• And let’s rest in the care of a compassionate Savior who heals and provides.
Like Jesus feeding the crowd, let us also care for the needs of others, showing His love in action.
TAKEAWAY LESSONS FROM MATTHEW 15
• Examine Your Heart – Are you honoring God with your lips but distant in heart?
Are you drawing near to God with your lips, or with your heart?
• Reject Empty Religion – Don’t let tradition override truth.
Are you trusting tradition, or trusting in Christ?
Stay rooted in Scripture, not just religious routines.
• Pursue Persistent Faith – Like the Canaanite woman, don’t give up when God seems silent.
Are you willing to press through silence and delays with persistent faith?
Approach Him with humility, trust, and boldness.
• Demonstrate Compassion – Be the hands and feet of Jesus to those in need.
Show love that both heals and feeds.
Will you bring your need and the needs of others to Jesus and trust Him to provide?
KEY VERSES:
Matthew 15:18-20a “But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them. For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.” These are the things which defile a man…
PRAYER: Ask GOD to cleanse your heart, to search and reveal any hidden areas of impurity, and to cleanse your inner life and help you walk in faith that pleases HIM.
OUR RESPONSE:
Psalms 139:23-24
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me, and know my anxieties;
24 And see if there is any wicked way in me,
And lead me in the way everlasting.
Let’s Pray,
FATHER, we thank YOU for YOUR Truth that reveals our hearts. Cleanse our hearts by the Power of HOLY SPIRIT, remove anything that defiles us from within. We surrender tradition for Truth, silence for persistence, and our needs for YOUR provision. Give us faith that holds on and compassion that serves others. May we not just honor YOU with our lips— but let us love YOU with our whole hearts. We come to YOU, JESUS, for healing, for mercy, and for a transformed heart. We ask these things In YOUR NAME, JESUS, Amen.
Be blessed and be a blessing,
Bill
Selected Hymns
#169 “Faith of our Fathers” – for FATHER’S DAY
#198 “Just As I Am” – Coming to Christ with humility and need
#386 “Have Thine Own Way, Lord” – Surrender of heart and will
