Sin Is A Heart Problem! Series

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