Sermons on San Mateo 15:8:

Disregarding Tradition And Taboo (Matthew 15:1-39)

Contributed by Donald Whitchard on Aug 20, 2025

In this chapter, we read about the Lord Jesus’ encounter with the Pharisees yet again, and of His mercy to a Gentile woman whose daughter was possessed by a demon.

Coming from Jerusalem, the Pharisees asked Jesus why His disciples did not perform the traditional ritual of washing one’s hands before eating. This ceremony had been established by the “elders” and had nothing to do with hygiene alone, but was instead an elaborate ritual that involved not only ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 15:1-39, Isaiah 29:13, Mark 7:24-30, Mark 8:1-9

Denomination: Baptist

Celebrating God’s Watchman Because Of Their True Value

Contributed by Otis Mcmillan on Oct 28, 2025

We celebrate our pastors because of their vigilance as they are called to be constantly on duty and alert to dangers that could harm their flock.

Sermon: Celebrating God’s Watchman Because of Their True Value Scripture: Isaiah 21:11-12 “The burden of Dumah. He calleth to me out of Seir, Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night? The watchman said, The morning cometh, and also the night: if ye will enquire, enquire ye: return, ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 21:11-12, Matthew 15:8

Denomination: Methodist

The Heart Matters Most - Lessons From Matthew 15 Series

Contributed by William Akehurst on Jun 12, 2025

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.

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 ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 15:1-39, Isaiah 29:13, Psalm 51:10, Psalm 139:23-24

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Dead End Decisions

Contributed by Randy Wood on Sep 27, 2002

Our text this morningwill show us the cause and effect of good and bad decisions.

DEAD END DECISIONS TEXT: JOSHUA 24:15 INTRODUCTION: Every day all of us face many decisions that range from trivial to very important ones. When you get up out of the bed in the morning it is a ¡§new¡¨ day that god Himself has given to you that could possibly have an outcome that can effect ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 24:15, Matthew 15:1-29

Denomination: Pentecostal

Dead End Decisions

Contributed by Randy Wood on Sep 27, 2002

Our text this morningwill show us the cause and effect of good and bad decisions.

DEAD END DECISIONS TEXT: JOSHUA 24:15 INTRODUCTION: Every day all of us face many decisions that range from trivial to very important ones. When you get up out of the bed in the morning it is a ¡§new¡¨ day that god Himself has given to you that could possibly have an outcome that can effect ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 15:1-29, Joshua 24:15

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Gripe About Methods

Contributed by Andrew Chan on Jun 15, 2001

Concern over "trends" in ministry need not be scary to us, it’s biblical for methods to change in order to reach the lost.

The Gripe About Methods, Chorus on Overheads By Pastor Andrew Chan, PBC, Vancouver June 2000 Singing choruses nothing new, but why is this “trend” in most churches to sing form the overhead instead of having a book, i.e. a hymnal? - Ask someone at PBC. Will the Bible disappear also? Matt ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 15:1-20

Denomination: Evangelical Free

French Horns Or Paper Dolls?

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Jun 30, 2002

Which would you rather be - a Christian who puts on Christ’s character like a costume, or an instrument playing beautiful music in God’s hands?

I admit it – I played with paper dolls as a young boy. I guess I got them from my sisters – we may have even played them together. But I remember thinking it was pretty cool that you could take this people, cut out different clothes and hair and stuff for them and make them into anything you wanted ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 15:1-20

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Why Is There An Elephant In My Living Room?

Contributed by Edward Boyce on Jan 26, 2002

Most folks have areas in their lives that they ignore. In this sermon, Jesus calls us to put first things first.

WHY IS THERE AN ELEPHANT IN MY LIVING ROOM? This morning I would like to tell you a story. It begins as does many stories with a very familiar phrase. Once upon a time on a fine spring day, a young mother sat through a very boring contract negotiation, while her son sat through a boring ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 15:1-9

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

How To Not Get To Heaven

Contributed by Brian La Croix on May 19, 2002

A sermon outlining the ways people think they will get to heaven.

How to NOT Get to Heaven Various Scriptures May 19, 2002 Introduction There is a story of Billy Graham when he was visiting a city for one of his crusades. He had finished writing a letter and began to look for a place to mail it. Walking around the city for a while, he came across a young boy. ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:8-9, Matthew 15:6-9

Denomination: Wesleyan

Faith On Autopilot – Going Through The Motions Without Heart Series

Contributed by Dr. John D. Wentworth on Sep 27, 2025

There’s comfort in routine. Singing the same hymns, praying the same prayers, sitting in the same pew each Sunday—it all feels safe. But these familiar patterns can lull us into a dangerous place: performing religion instead of pursuing Jesus.

Title: Faith on Autopilot – Going Through the Motions Without Heart Text: Matt. 15:8-9 ‘This people honors me with their lips but their heart is far from me; 9 in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ “When routine replaces relationship” Introduction: “When faith ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 15:8-9

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Heart Of The Matter: When Tradition Makes A Trespasser

Contributed by Paul Dayao on Oct 4, 2025

This sermon delivers Jesus' powerful warning that religious traditions can become a dangerous substitute for God's commands, leading to a worthless worship from a heart that is far from Him.

Introduction: The Danger of Good Habits Traditions can be wonderful things. They give us a sense of identity and rhythm. They connect us to our heritage and to our families. In the life of faith, traditions and habits—like coming to church, praying before a meal, or reading our Bibles—can be ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 15:1-14

Denomination: Baptist

The Power Of Truth

Contributed by Joseph Ondu on Apr 5, 2023

If a man is not truthful to God, he cannot be truth to himself. He will definitely struggle to be truthful to his neighbor. Truth is walking in the light; falsehood is groping into the darkness.

This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips but their hearts is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrine the commandments of men (Matthew 15:8-9). What a serious indictment! In our key verse above, our LORD Jesus Christ was ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 15:8-9, Psalm 15:2-3

Denomination: Pentecostal

Profile Of Hypocritical Religious Pharisees Series

Contributed by Shaila Touchton on Sep 15, 2022

Religious Hypocrites are compared to whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness.

Religious Hypocrites are compared to whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness. Religious People should keep themselves unstained from the world but rather they take part in the unfruitful works of darkness If any Religious ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 15:7-9, Matthew 23:27-28, James 1:22-23

When You Can’t Draw Near - Mark 7:1-13 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Oct 23, 2023

Legalism is an insidious problem because it allows your heart to drift far from God while making you think you’re doing great spiritually.

Mark 7:1 The Pharisees and some of the teachers of the law who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus and 2 saw some of his disciples eating food with hands that were “unclean,” that is, unwashed. 3 (The Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they give their hands a ceremonial ...read more

Scripture: Mark 7:1-13, Matthew 15:1-9

Healing And Hypocrisy. Revised.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jul 2, 2023

Tradition versus Scripture.

HEALING AND HYPOCRISY. Matthew 14:34-36, Matthew 15:1-9. MATTHEW 14:34-36. It was noised abroad that, of all that ever came to Jesus, He turned none away, ‘and He healed them all’ (cf. Matthew 12:15). It is no wonder that, arriving on the other side of the Lake, Jesus found that His fame had ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 14:34-36, Matthew 15:1-9

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational