WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.040 So that's Matthew chapter 15 verses 1 to 20. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:37.820 Anyone tells his father or his mother, what you would have gained from me is given to God. 00:00:38.340 --> 00:00:39.939 He need not honour his father. 00:00:40.719 --> 00:00:43.840 For the sake of your tradition, you have made void the word of God. 00:00:44.480 --> 00:00:45.340 You hypocrites! 00:00:46.140 --> 00:00:54.179 Well, did Isaiah prophesy of you when he said, these people honours me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. 00:00:54.679 --> 00:00:59.879 In vain they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men. 00:01:00.840 --> 00:01:11.460 And he called the people to him and said to them, hear and understand, it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth that defiles a person. 00:01:12.379 --> 00:01:18.640 Then the disciples came and said to him, do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying? 00:01:19.099 --> 00:01:25.420 He answered, every plant that my heavenly father has not planted will be rooted up. 00:01:26.379 --> 00:01:27.340 Let them alone. 00:01:27.340 --> 00:01:29.760 They are blind guides. 00:01:30.340 --> 00:01:34.100 And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit. 00:01:34.960 --> 00:01:38.659 But Peter said to him, explain the parable to us. 00:01:39.180 --> 00:01:42.400 And he said, are you still without understanding? 00:01:43.200 --> 00:01:48.180 Do you not see whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is expelled? 00:01:48.180 --> 00:01:54.440 But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart and that defiles a person. 00:01:55.240 --> 00:02:04.560 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. 00:02:04.560 --> 00:02:07.280 These are what defile a person. 00:02:07.780 --> 00:02:11.699 But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone. 00:02:11.699 --> 00:02:18.339 Well, for those who are visitors, my name is David. 00:02:18.419 --> 00:02:22.739 I'm one of the pastors here and I'll be taking you through this passage, Matthew 15, 1 to 20. 00:02:22.740 --> 00:02:32.939 Last Sunday, we started to ease back into Matthew's account of the life and ministry of Jesus after a 10-month break. 00:02:33.780 --> 00:02:46.920 I spoke last week about the importance of understanding both Matthew's big picture and also the details of the many incidents and personal encounters people had with Jesus. 00:02:46.919 --> 00:02:54.739 And I said that we needed to understand that the specific incidents stand alone. 00:02:55.119 --> 00:02:56.339 They're stories in their own right. 00:02:57.299 --> 00:02:59.239 But we should never take them alone. 00:03:01.199 --> 00:03:10.159 Because together, they form what I'm calling this morning an identikit composite of Jesus, who he is and what he's come to do. 00:03:10.799 --> 00:03:13.599 If you're familiar with identikit, it's what the police use. 00:03:13.599 --> 00:03:20.900 They'll put the eyebrows on and the mouth on and the nose on and eventually they'll get a very, very close resemblance to the person they're trying to describe. 00:03:21.479 --> 00:03:23.240 Well, that's what Matthew's doing here. 00:03:24.019 --> 00:03:31.219 Bit by bit, he's brush stroking in the picture of Jesus, who he is and what his mission is. 00:03:32.879 --> 00:03:36.620 And he's writing particularly to a Jewish audience. 00:03:36.620 --> 00:03:46.680 And he's writing to convince the Jews that Jesus is the long-promised, long-awaited Messiah from the Old Testament. 00:03:47.180 --> 00:03:50.819 The one who was called God's King and Savior. 00:03:51.840 --> 00:03:56.960 The one who would come and establish God's kingdom, God's eternal kingdom, a worldwide kingdom. 00:03:57.319 --> 00:04:00.259 That is, God's rule in the hearts and minds of people. 00:04:00.259 --> 00:04:06.939 Matthew wants the Jews particularly to understand that Jesus is this man, this Messiah. 00:04:07.719 --> 00:04:08.299 He's here. 00:04:08.799 --> 00:04:09.399 It's happening. 00:04:11.479 --> 00:04:20.680 And so therefore, the big picture of Matthew is that Matthew primarily wants us to see the Jesus that people met. 00:04:20.680 --> 00:04:28.000 It's his picture that we want to see emerging from Matthew's account. 00:04:29.139 --> 00:04:36.639 The Jesus people met as they encountered him individually and in groups, in all sorts of different circumstances and incidents. 00:04:36.639 --> 00:04:52.839 And it's then that the details of the people that Jesus met become really helpful because we then see people's individual and perhaps also group conclusions about this Jesus they've been encountering. 00:04:53.680 --> 00:05:02.019 People form conclusions and respond personally to Jesus, either positively or negatively, but they do respond. 00:05:02.019 --> 00:05:06.899 So the details feed into the big picture. 00:05:10.199 --> 00:05:13.259 And the big picture then, as I say, delivers perspective. 00:05:14.479 --> 00:05:21.120 So from the start of Jesus' ministry, the public ministry, Jesus declared himself to be Messiah, God's King and Savior. 00:05:21.120 --> 00:05:36.319 Now, we would expect, when that's declared by a Jew to the Jews, we would expect them to welcome Jesus and respond, fall in line and believe. 00:05:40.139 --> 00:05:46.620 But in fact, as we trace through the life and times of Jesus, we find actually growing opposition. 00:05:46.620 --> 00:05:59.120 Many of the huge crowds who initially flocked to Jesus out of interest had now left the crowds and gone home in bitter disappointment. 00:06:00.660 --> 00:06:05.980 Jesus just wasn't the sort of person they expected Messiah to be. 00:06:07.860 --> 00:06:11.379 And therefore, Jesus couldn't be Messiah that he claimed to be. 00:06:11.379 --> 00:06:20.240 Perhaps some of them left because Jesus wasn't the sort of Messiah they wanted him to be. 00:06:23.639 --> 00:06:30.279 In response to his growing opposition, as I said last week, chapter 13, Matthew teaches a series of parables. 00:06:30.719 --> 00:06:33.459 And in those parables, he says, my kingdom is like. 00:06:33.459 --> 00:06:47.299 And throughout that chapter, Jesus is really saying that in spite of opposition, his kingdom, that is his rule in the hearts and minds of people, was here. 00:06:47.419 --> 00:06:49.039 It was happening, already happening. 00:06:49.959 --> 00:06:57.459 And that in spite of appearing weak and pathetic and small in the face of opposition, it would flourish. 00:06:57.459 --> 00:07:03.439 It would end as a massive, eternal, worldwide kingdom. 00:07:04.519 --> 00:07:14.759 It would sweep up all sorts of people who would see him as the treasure they'd look for, the most desirable thing they could imagine. 00:07:16.240 --> 00:07:22.939 And they would reorientate their lives to align with the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:07:22.939 --> 00:07:33.259 And then after chapter 13, as I said again last week, Matthew illustrates this truth in a series of rejection incidents. 00:07:34.540 --> 00:07:37.379 And we talked to those a little bit last week. 00:07:37.459 --> 00:07:40.339 And I just want to bring them all together to build this big picture. 00:07:40.899 --> 00:07:44.439 So Matthew introduces to rejection in Nazareth. 00:07:44.620 --> 00:07:46.399 Nazareth was, of course, Jesus' hometown. 00:07:46.860 --> 00:07:48.159 It was his local community. 00:07:48.639 --> 00:07:50.259 Now, here's the thing. 00:07:50.259 --> 00:07:59.159 In a culture, in a society, where pedigree was everything, lineage and pedigree was everything. 00:07:59.259 --> 00:08:00.800 It was a major pillar of society. 00:08:01.240 --> 00:08:03.099 What did they conclude about Jesus and his hometown? 00:08:03.899 --> 00:08:06.399 Nah, Jesus is way too ordinary. 00:08:07.860 --> 00:08:08.659 Way too ordinary. 00:08:08.800 --> 00:08:09.759 He doesn't have. 00:08:10.699 --> 00:08:12.159 He's the son of Mary. 00:08:12.620 --> 00:08:13.639 Yeah, Mary, that Mary. 00:08:13.639 --> 00:08:21.479 Then there was rejection by the Jewish royal household. 00:08:23.000 --> 00:08:23.939 Chapter 14. 00:08:24.439 --> 00:08:29.120 Herod Antipas, who's the son of, also called Herod the, I don't know, I'll get it. 00:08:29.500 --> 00:08:30.759 The son of Herod the Great. 00:08:32.759 --> 00:08:35.620 He had murdered John the Baptist. 00:08:35.620 --> 00:08:41.559 And now he's on the trail of Jesus, thinking that Jesus is a reincarnation of John the Baptist. 00:08:41.559 --> 00:08:46.079 Now, remember, this is the second major pillar of Jewish society. 00:08:46.199 --> 00:08:47.619 This is the king. 00:08:50.379 --> 00:08:54.919 The king who is supposed to rule God's people with God's righteousness. 00:08:56.619 --> 00:08:59.579 And here he is lining himself up for a second murder. 00:08:59.739 --> 00:08:59.959 Why? 00:08:59.960 --> 00:09:05.620 Because he didn't want to be called out for his sinful behavior. 00:09:09.740 --> 00:09:19.460 And then as we move into chapter 15, we find the third pillar of Jewish society, the Jewish religious leaders, the Sanhedrin. 00:09:19.960 --> 00:09:23.780 They also are ganging up against Jesus. 00:09:24.220 --> 00:09:25.580 But we'll get to that in a minute. 00:09:25.580 --> 00:09:34.639 But in the meantime, in the midst of all that opposition, and Jesus teaches and shows some miracles, he's providing ample evidence. 00:09:36.320 --> 00:09:37.180 He's calm. 00:09:37.620 --> 00:09:40.840 He gets on with the business of what he's here for, of healing people. 00:09:40.940 --> 00:09:44.800 That is, demonstrating that he's here to undo the effects of sin and renew people. 00:09:45.720 --> 00:09:47.600 To bring them into the kingdom. 00:09:47.759 --> 00:09:52.400 That is, to bring them under his rule in renewed form as they were created to be. 00:09:52.399 --> 00:10:01.360 He's getting on with the business of doing that, calmly, and providing at the same time ample evidence that he is who he says he is. 00:10:02.259 --> 00:10:05.120 Only God could do the things that Jesus is doing. 00:10:06.240 --> 00:10:13.899 And in the doing of those things, he shows himself to be Lord of the universe, able to suspend the laws of nature at will. 00:10:13.899 --> 00:10:24.519 He shows himself to be a compassionate saviour who comes to his people in the midst of their brokenness and sin and lostness and restores them. 00:10:28.059 --> 00:10:31.159 And he shows himself to be the one worthy of worship. 00:10:31.299 --> 00:10:32.340 We saw all that last week. 00:10:33.240 --> 00:10:35.899 Now, we bring all that with us into chapter 15. 00:10:36.559 --> 00:10:37.699 That's big picture stuff. 00:10:37.700 --> 00:10:40.180 Rejection is real. 00:10:41.300 --> 00:10:45.740 But Jesus calmly gets on with the job of building the kingdom. 00:10:48.800 --> 00:10:51.420 So let's walk through the incident in chapter 15 then. 00:10:53.040 --> 00:11:00.740 So, the Jewish religious leaders throughout his public ministry have constantly challenged Jesus 00:11:00.740 --> 00:11:07.500 about what they believed was careless disregard of various aspects of God's law. 00:11:10.279 --> 00:11:12.279 And so, you can see what they were pushing for. 00:11:12.360 --> 00:11:16.799 They believed that Messiah would never act like that. 00:11:19.039 --> 00:11:23.980 So, since Jesus was acting like that, conclusion, well, Jesus had to be a fraud. 00:11:23.980 --> 00:11:28.480 That Jesus was misleading God's people. 00:11:31.019 --> 00:11:31.860 Verse 1. 00:11:33.139 --> 00:11:40.120 It all comes to head when a high-level delegation of Pharisees and scribes, that's the Jewish religious leaders, 00:11:40.680 --> 00:11:42.240 arrive from Jerusalem. 00:11:44.060 --> 00:11:47.980 And essentially, they ambush Jesus as he's getting about his business. 00:11:47.980 --> 00:11:54.960 And what is happening here is that these scribes and Pharisees essentially put Jesus on public trial. 00:11:56.519 --> 00:12:02.440 And they do so by launching a formal, serious charge against him. 00:12:02.519 --> 00:12:08.100 And the charge is that he's got no regard for the very important practice of ritual cleansing 00:12:08.100 --> 00:12:12.740 as defined by the tradition of the scribes and the Pharisees. 00:12:12.740 --> 00:12:20.560 Now, in the judiciary of the time, when you were charged like that, you had to respond. 00:12:20.680 --> 00:12:21.980 You had to defend yourself. 00:12:23.680 --> 00:12:28.039 For Jesus not to defend himself, for Jesus to be found guilty at this point, 00:12:28.500 --> 00:12:31.000 left himself open to a punishment of death. 00:12:32.980 --> 00:12:39.019 So, this is a major ambush by a high-level delegation. 00:12:39.019 --> 00:12:42.580 Let me tell you how it all works, if I can, very briefly. 00:12:43.680 --> 00:12:47.919 So, the Pharisees and scribes were very, very, very religious people. 00:12:48.840 --> 00:12:53.100 And they wanted people to know that they were very, very, very religious people. 00:12:53.639 --> 00:12:54.799 And essentially, they were. 00:12:54.879 --> 00:12:55.659 They were good people. 00:12:57.159 --> 00:13:02.480 They spent their lives trying to do good, trying to do right, trying to honour God's law. 00:13:02.659 --> 00:13:04.659 And they thought they were pretty good at it, to be honest. 00:13:04.659 --> 00:13:13.620 Now, they had, the scribes and the Pharisees, we might consider them to be sort of high-level academics 00:13:13.620 --> 00:13:17.360 and professors at our sort of theological colleges or something like that. 00:13:17.419 --> 00:13:19.339 That's the sort of people we're dealing with here. 00:13:19.340 --> 00:13:28.600 But they also had legal responsibility to ensure that God's written law to Moses was kept on every detail. 00:13:29.740 --> 00:13:36.860 And also, to ensure that Jewish culture, defined by the ceremonial law given to Moses, 00:13:37.519 --> 00:13:39.899 was preserved from generation to generation. 00:13:39.899 --> 00:13:47.860 So, the way they did that was they took each written law from the Pentateuch. 00:13:47.860 --> 00:13:56.820 And alongside that, they spelled out in detail how that should be applied in any situation, 00:13:57.379 --> 00:14:02.860 especially new situations that weren't around at the time of the giving of the law. 00:14:04.100 --> 00:14:08.080 And so, what happens over a period of years is that you have these laws, 00:14:08.080 --> 00:14:13.279 and then around about them are things that the Pharisees and scribes wrote in 00:14:13.279 --> 00:14:17.120 as essential to keeping these laws. 00:14:17.860 --> 00:14:22.879 And these things became known as the tradition of the elders. 00:14:23.879 --> 00:14:30.200 And they were legally binding and came to have equal authority with Scripture. 00:14:33.220 --> 00:14:35.860 Now, a little bit more specific. 00:14:36.639 --> 00:14:41.259 They charged Jesus with being careless in regard to the laws of ritual cleansing. 00:14:42.519 --> 00:14:45.480 Well, there's some logic to what they've done here. 00:14:45.480 --> 00:14:51.060 They read in the Pentateuch that God is a clean God 00:14:51.060 --> 00:14:56.460 and will not have any fellowship or relationship with unclean or dirty people. 00:15:02.039 --> 00:15:06.980 The Pharisees believed that you could become unclean 00:15:06.980 --> 00:15:11.080 even just by touching someone or something. 00:15:11.080 --> 00:15:20.360 So, to ensure that God's people didn't inadvertently become unclean, 00:15:21.280 --> 00:15:25.800 they formulated these ritual hand-washing traditions. 00:15:26.100 --> 00:15:31.240 So, before any eating, you had to wash your hands in a particular way 00:15:31.240 --> 00:15:32.460 for a particular length of time. 00:15:33.820 --> 00:15:35.140 Now, you can see the logic. 00:15:35.139 --> 00:15:41.059 They were trying to protect God's word, trying to protect God's people. 00:15:44.059 --> 00:15:46.699 And the traditions grew up around that. 00:15:48.699 --> 00:15:53.539 So, they insisted that every person had to ritually cleanse their hands. 00:15:53.980 --> 00:15:58.659 Not to do so was to risk treating God with contempt. 00:15:58.659 --> 00:16:04.539 And if that was proven, then the sentence was death. 00:16:07.079 --> 00:16:10.100 Now, this is what they charged Jesus with. 00:16:11.860 --> 00:16:18.839 But verse 3, Jesus immediately launches a more serious counter-charge 00:16:18.839 --> 00:16:23.399 saying that they gave their own laws, that is their traditions, 00:16:24.079 --> 00:16:26.899 greater authority than the word of God. 00:16:26.899 --> 00:16:33.159 And he cites a very, very damning piece of evidence in verses 4, 5, and 6. 00:16:35.019 --> 00:16:36.379 So, here's how this works. 00:16:36.759 --> 00:16:42.199 God's law was clear that children ought to honor their parents 00:16:42.199 --> 00:16:45.699 by supplying their needs as they were able. 00:16:48.639 --> 00:16:52.259 But one of the interpretive rules of the scribes and Pharisees 00:16:52.259 --> 00:16:54.539 gave people a way out of that. 00:16:54.539 --> 00:16:56.740 That is, if they said to their parents, 00:16:56.860 --> 00:17:00.099 look, mom and dad, the money and energy and time 00:17:00.099 --> 00:17:02.659 I would ordinarily have been putting into you, 00:17:02.959 --> 00:17:05.599 I'm actually dedicating that to the Lord's cause, 00:17:06.299 --> 00:17:10.139 then they could ignore God's written word. 00:17:10.140 --> 00:17:21.300 And so, what they had done was they'd used a man-made tradition 00:17:21.300 --> 00:17:26.580 as the basis of excusing people from obeying God's written law. 00:17:27.320 --> 00:17:30.020 And that's what Jesus accuses the scribes and Pharisees of 00:17:30.020 --> 00:17:31.440 as a counter-charge. 00:17:31.440 --> 00:17:34.940 But not only does he accuse them of that, 00:17:35.380 --> 00:17:36.920 he really goes to town on them. 00:17:37.660 --> 00:17:39.620 They tried to king-hit him. 00:17:40.620 --> 00:17:42.420 He's effectively king-hit them. 00:17:43.600 --> 00:17:46.920 And he continues then to publicly condemn 00:17:46.920 --> 00:17:49.360 these prominent religious men. 00:17:51.360 --> 00:17:54.120 Men who appear to be concerned for God's honor, 00:17:54.119 --> 00:17:59.479 but he condemns them as the worst sort of religious frauds. 00:18:00.679 --> 00:18:03.219 They came to him thinking he was a religious fraud 00:18:03.219 --> 00:18:04.699 and misleading God's people. 00:18:05.500 --> 00:18:07.479 The tables are turned and now he's accusing them 00:18:07.479 --> 00:18:10.539 of being religious frauds 00:18:10.539 --> 00:18:13.519 and misleading God's people. 00:18:16.159 --> 00:18:20.119 Verse 7-9, look at the harsh words that he uses. 00:18:20.439 --> 00:18:21.519 He calls them hypocrites. 00:18:21.519 --> 00:18:30.279 Apparently, they're concerned for God's honor, 00:18:32.160 --> 00:18:36.420 but even more concerned to see their own traditions upheld. 00:18:38.859 --> 00:18:41.500 And they're prepared to distort God's law 00:18:41.500 --> 00:18:45.440 about the basis of acceptance and relationship with him. 00:18:45.440 --> 00:18:52.000 And Jesus is really saying, 00:18:52.299 --> 00:18:55.759 that renders all your so-called worship useless. 00:18:57.759 --> 00:18:59.200 Verses 12 and 13. 00:19:00.539 --> 00:19:03.259 Effectively, he calls them noxious weeds. 00:19:05.519 --> 00:19:07.820 Completely out of place in God's kingdom. 00:19:07.820 --> 00:19:14.000 They might claim the authority of God, 00:19:14.000 --> 00:19:18.039 they might look and sound like wheat, 00:19:18.339 --> 00:19:20.339 like God's holy people, 00:19:20.500 --> 00:19:22.299 but Jesus is really saying, 00:19:22.460 --> 00:19:23.460 no, I didn't plant them. 00:19:23.799 --> 00:19:25.619 They're a totally different species 00:19:25.619 --> 00:19:28.680 and they do not belong among my people. 00:19:29.880 --> 00:19:31.059 Those are strong words. 00:19:34.859 --> 00:19:38.240 In verse 14, he calls them blind guides. 00:19:38.240 --> 00:19:42.339 He's speaking of them now with contempt. 00:19:44.019 --> 00:19:48.039 Because not only have they been misled themselves, 00:19:48.839 --> 00:19:52.640 but they lead God's people to destruction, 00:19:53.000 --> 00:19:53.539 not life. 00:19:54.059 --> 00:19:55.839 And the irony is just palpable. 00:19:56.880 --> 00:19:59.380 The very reason for forming all these traditions, 00:19:59.500 --> 00:20:00.180 they said, 00:20:00.440 --> 00:20:02.680 was to lead God's people to life. 00:20:02.680 --> 00:20:06.560 To make sure they didn't break God's law. 00:20:07.120 --> 00:20:09.180 To make sure that in the keeping of God's law, 00:20:09.240 --> 00:20:10.460 they would be acceptable to God. 00:20:11.060 --> 00:20:11.720 And Jesus says, 00:20:12.500 --> 00:20:13.640 blind guides, 00:20:13.720 --> 00:20:15.380 you're leading God's people to death 00:20:15.380 --> 00:20:17.539 down this pathway. 00:20:20.440 --> 00:20:21.580 So the question then is, 00:20:22.120 --> 00:20:23.539 is Jesus over the top 00:20:23.539 --> 00:20:27.100 in his condemnation of these 00:20:27.099 --> 00:20:28.119 eminent, 00:20:28.679 --> 00:20:30.339 religious, 00:20:30.899 --> 00:20:31.799 good people? 00:20:35.740 --> 00:20:36.179 Surely, 00:20:36.579 --> 00:20:37.099 you could say, 00:20:37.179 --> 00:20:38.139 they had good concerns. 00:20:40.079 --> 00:20:40.500 Surely, 00:20:40.599 --> 00:20:41.019 you could say, 00:20:41.099 --> 00:20:42.779 they wanted people to come to God 00:20:42.779 --> 00:20:43.859 carefully and properly. 00:20:47.379 --> 00:20:47.779 Surely, 00:20:48.019 --> 00:20:49.379 they were right to point out 00:20:49.379 --> 00:20:51.179 that God expected his people 00:20:51.179 --> 00:20:52.699 to keep the ceremonial law. 00:20:52.799 --> 00:20:53.559 That was the whole purpose 00:20:53.559 --> 00:20:54.919 in giving it in the first place. 00:20:57.099 --> 00:20:59.539 Surely, 00:20:59.799 --> 00:21:01.319 their desire to protect 00:21:01.319 --> 00:21:03.179 traditional values and practices 00:21:03.179 --> 00:21:04.079 was commendable. 00:21:05.839 --> 00:21:06.319 Surely, 00:21:06.419 --> 00:21:08.119 these guys deserve some credit. 00:21:09.919 --> 00:21:10.219 And yet, 00:21:10.740 --> 00:21:11.379 there's just 00:21:11.379 --> 00:21:13.179 complete condemnation. 00:21:14.419 --> 00:21:15.259 So the question 00:21:15.259 --> 00:21:16.659 the rest of my time this morning is, 00:21:17.059 --> 00:21:17.399 why? 00:21:17.599 --> 00:21:19.159 Why does Jesus condemn them 00:21:19.159 --> 00:21:19.919 so completely? 00:21:21.699 --> 00:21:23.019 I think the answer is really, 00:21:23.179 --> 00:21:23.619 really simple 00:21:23.619 --> 00:21:25.099 and I'll dig into it. 00:21:25.439 --> 00:21:26.359 I think he condemns them 00:21:26.359 --> 00:21:27.219 ultimately because 00:21:27.219 --> 00:21:28.379 he hates religion. 00:21:31.839 --> 00:21:33.379 Jesus hates religion 00:21:33.379 --> 00:21:34.359 and religious people. 00:21:36.059 --> 00:21:37.319 That might sound a bit weird 00:21:37.319 --> 00:21:40.059 for somebody in a church 00:21:40.059 --> 00:21:41.559 to say that Jesus hates religion. 00:21:45.059 --> 00:21:47.059 The religious understanding 00:21:47.059 --> 00:21:48.199 and thinking 00:21:48.199 --> 00:21:51.000 was so fundamentally wrong 00:21:51.000 --> 00:21:53.459 that affected everything else 00:21:53.459 --> 00:21:55.139 and undid everything else 00:21:55.139 --> 00:21:55.899 about these people. 00:21:56.359 --> 00:22:00.219 it's a little bit like a house 00:22:00.219 --> 00:22:02.799 can look absolutely magnificent 00:22:02.799 --> 00:22:03.979 when it's just been built. 00:22:04.959 --> 00:22:06.000 But if it's discovered 00:22:06.000 --> 00:22:07.059 that the foundations 00:22:07.059 --> 00:22:08.319 are totally dodgy, 00:22:08.859 --> 00:22:11.599 then there's only one way ahead 00:22:11.599 --> 00:22:11.939 and that is 00:22:11.939 --> 00:22:13.219 you demolish the whole thing. 00:22:13.219 --> 00:22:13.279 So, 00:22:13.279 --> 00:22:21.660 let's dig into that a little bit 00:22:21.660 --> 00:22:23.059 about why Jesus 00:22:23.059 --> 00:22:23.639 condemns them. 00:22:24.039 --> 00:22:24.920 The first point 00:22:24.920 --> 00:22:25.980 I want to highlight here 00:22:25.980 --> 00:22:26.980 is that they refused 00:22:26.980 --> 00:22:28.139 to know themselves 00:22:28.139 --> 00:22:29.039 properly. 00:22:30.740 --> 00:22:31.819 They refused 00:22:31.819 --> 00:22:32.740 to know themselves 00:22:32.740 --> 00:22:33.259 properly. 00:22:33.259 --> 00:22:37.400 what they had done 00:22:37.400 --> 00:22:39.000 was convince themselves 00:22:39.000 --> 00:22:40.980 that externals 00:22:40.980 --> 00:22:42.900 or appearance 00:22:42.900 --> 00:22:45.460 was what mattered 00:22:45.460 --> 00:22:46.420 in terms of being 00:22:46.420 --> 00:22:47.339 acceptable to God. 00:22:48.700 --> 00:22:49.680 Do this. 00:22:50.119 --> 00:22:51.059 Keep this law. 00:22:53.700 --> 00:22:55.099 Not only will you look good 00:22:55.099 --> 00:22:55.859 to those around you 00:22:55.859 --> 00:22:57.099 but you'll be acceptable 00:22:57.099 --> 00:22:57.619 to God. 00:22:57.619 --> 00:23:04.059 And the doing of religious things 00:23:04.059 --> 00:23:05.059 was what they emphasized 00:23:05.659 --> 00:23:07.139 as pleasing to God 00:23:07.139 --> 00:23:09.059 but were completely 00:23:09.619 --> 00:23:10.059 oblivious 00:23:10.719 --> 00:23:13.059 of heart attitudes. 00:23:13.059 --> 00:23:17.500 Now, 00:23:17.740 --> 00:23:18.799 I remind you again 00:23:18.799 --> 00:23:19.659 that these guys 00:23:19.659 --> 00:23:20.740 were the gatekeepers 00:23:20.740 --> 00:23:21.759 of God's word. 00:23:25.519 --> 00:23:27.019 But they were willfully 00:23:27.019 --> 00:23:28.000 ignorant of it. 00:23:29.919 --> 00:23:30.799 Verse 11, 00:23:30.919 --> 00:23:32.259 Jesus tells them 00:23:32.259 --> 00:23:34.919 sin or uncleanness 00:23:34.919 --> 00:23:37.059 comes from the inside out 00:23:37.059 --> 00:23:39.179 not the outside in. 00:23:40.919 --> 00:23:41.720 Jesus said 00:23:41.720 --> 00:23:43.120 it's what a person 00:23:43.120 --> 00:23:44.400 is in their heart 00:23:44.400 --> 00:23:46.120 in their nature 00:23:46.120 --> 00:23:47.160 born state 00:23:47.160 --> 00:23:48.319 which makes a person 00:23:48.319 --> 00:23:49.579 unacceptable to God 00:23:49.579 --> 00:23:50.680 and unworthy 00:23:50.680 --> 00:23:51.420 of relationship 00:23:51.420 --> 00:23:51.880 with him. 00:23:54.880 --> 00:23:55.360 Now, 00:23:55.420 --> 00:23:56.000 here's the rub 00:23:56.000 --> 00:23:56.940 for these Pharisees 00:23:56.940 --> 00:23:57.600 and the scribes. 00:23:58.259 --> 00:23:59.480 This was not new teaching. 00:23:59.759 --> 00:24:00.620 This is what 00:24:00.620 --> 00:24:01.880 Moses had taught. 00:24:02.160 --> 00:24:02.640 This is what 00:24:02.640 --> 00:24:03.759 Joshua taught. 00:24:04.059 --> 00:24:04.460 This is what 00:24:04.460 --> 00:24:05.500 King David had taught. 00:24:05.779 --> 00:24:06.279 This is what 00:24:06.279 --> 00:24:06.759 the prophets 00:24:06.759 --> 00:24:07.920 one after the other 00:24:07.920 --> 00:24:09.000 over a hundred of years 00:24:09.000 --> 00:24:10.539 had all testified to. 00:24:11.720 --> 00:24:14.259 they had condemned 00:24:14.259 --> 00:24:15.059 any thought 00:24:15.059 --> 00:24:16.140 of self-righteousness. 00:24:16.240 --> 00:24:17.160 They kept on saying 00:24:17.160 --> 00:24:17.799 to God's people, 00:24:18.259 --> 00:24:18.860 your heart 00:24:18.860 --> 00:24:20.000 is far from God. 00:24:20.079 --> 00:24:20.600 You're doing all 00:24:20.600 --> 00:24:21.700 the right external things 00:24:21.700 --> 00:24:22.680 but your heart 00:24:22.680 --> 00:24:23.579 is far from God 00:24:23.579 --> 00:24:24.259 and God is not 00:24:24.259 --> 00:24:25.100 pleased with you. 00:24:28.200 --> 00:24:28.860 And the prophets 00:24:28.860 --> 00:24:29.500 condemned 00:24:29.500 --> 00:24:30.140 any notion 00:24:30.140 --> 00:24:31.079 of self-righteousness, 00:24:31.160 --> 00:24:31.880 self-salvation 00:24:31.880 --> 00:24:33.160 and they pushed 00:24:33.160 --> 00:24:33.860 God's people 00:24:33.860 --> 00:24:35.640 to look 00:24:35.640 --> 00:24:36.819 for God's grace. 00:24:36.819 --> 00:24:37.359 self-righteousness. 00:24:37.359 --> 00:24:42.339 So these guys 00:24:42.339 --> 00:24:43.039 willfully 00:24:43.039 --> 00:24:44.240 refused 00:24:44.240 --> 00:24:45.099 to know 00:24:45.099 --> 00:24:46.019 themselves properly 00:24:46.019 --> 00:24:47.539 but even worse 00:24:47.539 --> 00:24:49.039 they failed 00:24:49.039 --> 00:24:49.939 to know God 00:24:49.939 --> 00:24:50.439 properly 00:24:50.439 --> 00:24:52.899 and were actually 00:24:52.899 --> 00:24:53.839 I think in practice 00:24:53.839 --> 00:24:54.839 determined to shape 00:24:54.839 --> 00:24:55.419 God 00:24:55.419 --> 00:24:56.279 to their own 00:24:56.279 --> 00:24:56.740 thinking. 00:24:59.000 --> 00:25:00.039 Possibly they weren't 00:25:00.039 --> 00:25:00.639 even conscious 00:25:00.639 --> 00:25:01.339 of doing that 00:25:01.339 --> 00:25:03.240 but because of the way 00:25:03.240 --> 00:25:03.980 they viewed 00:25:03.980 --> 00:25:04.759 their traditions 00:25:04.759 --> 00:25:06.720 I think they inevitably 00:25:06.720 --> 00:25:08.019 started to do that. 00:25:12.440 --> 00:25:14.059 These religious people 00:25:14.059 --> 00:25:14.680 and they were 00:25:14.680 --> 00:25:15.460 religious people 00:25:15.460 --> 00:25:16.960 they were good people 00:25:16.960 --> 00:25:18.720 they had enormous 00:25:18.720 --> 00:25:19.500 reputation 00:25:19.500 --> 00:25:20.660 across society. 00:25:23.819 --> 00:25:24.980 They believed 00:25:24.980 --> 00:25:25.539 sincerely 00:25:25.539 --> 00:25:26.279 they could create 00:25:26.279 --> 00:25:27.079 good relationship 00:25:27.079 --> 00:25:27.599 with God 00:25:27.599 --> 00:25:28.240 through their own 00:25:28.240 --> 00:25:29.319 actions and efforts. 00:25:30.940 --> 00:25:31.859 But as Jesus 00:25:31.859 --> 00:25:33.940 says in verse 9 00:25:33.940 --> 00:25:34.379 quoting 00:25:34.380 --> 00:25:36.420 from the Old Testament 00:25:36.420 --> 00:25:38.260 the whole thing 00:25:38.260 --> 00:25:39.300 is worthless 00:25:39.300 --> 00:25:41.040 in vain 00:25:41.040 --> 00:25:42.440 do they worship me. 00:25:44.200 --> 00:25:44.700 In other words 00:25:44.700 --> 00:25:46.860 good actions 00:25:46.860 --> 00:25:50.860 underpinned 00:25:50.860 --> 00:25:51.880 by a bad heart 00:25:51.880 --> 00:25:54.040 are useless. 00:26:00.040 --> 00:26:01.340 Their engagement 00:26:01.340 --> 00:26:01.960 with God 00:26:01.960 --> 00:26:03.000 was not because 00:26:03.000 --> 00:26:03.980 he was desirable 00:26:03.980 --> 00:26:05.299 and the ultimate 00:26:05.299 --> 00:26:05.839 treasure 00:26:05.839 --> 00:26:06.960 as Jesus 00:26:06.960 --> 00:26:07.339 had taught 00:26:07.339 --> 00:26:07.960 in the parables 00:26:07.960 --> 00:26:08.880 in Matthew 13 00:26:08.880 --> 00:26:11.519 their ultimate 00:26:11.519 --> 00:26:12.880 reason for engaging 00:26:12.880 --> 00:26:13.500 with God 00:26:13.500 --> 00:26:15.160 was self-salvation. 00:26:17.299 --> 00:26:18.220 Their life 00:26:18.220 --> 00:26:18.640 was spent 00:26:18.640 --> 00:26:19.480 trying to be holy 00:26:19.480 --> 00:26:20.420 trying to be good 00:26:20.420 --> 00:26:22.240 trying to look good 00:26:22.240 --> 00:26:24.279 because they believed 00:26:24.279 --> 00:26:24.900 this would 00:26:24.900 --> 00:26:26.539 secure 00:26:26.539 --> 00:26:27.380 and guarantee 00:26:27.380 --> 00:26:28.380 their place 00:26:28.380 --> 00:26:28.740 in heaven. 00:26:29.519 --> 00:26:29.759 And so 00:26:29.759 --> 00:26:31.240 they brought 00:26:31.240 --> 00:26:32.079 that with them 00:26:32.079 --> 00:26:32.680 when they came 00:26:32.680 --> 00:26:33.180 to God. 00:26:39.860 --> 00:26:40.519 And as I was 00:26:40.519 --> 00:26:41.060 preparing this 00:26:41.060 --> 00:26:41.440 I was thinking 00:26:41.440 --> 00:26:42.060 about the 00:26:42.060 --> 00:26:43.500 other reference 00:26:43.500 --> 00:26:44.000 where the 00:26:44.000 --> 00:26:44.980 Pharisee 00:26:44.980 --> 00:26:45.660 and the tax 00:26:45.660 --> 00:26:46.039 collector 00:26:46.039 --> 00:26:47.039 and the Pharisee 00:26:47.039 --> 00:26:47.259 said 00:26:47.259 --> 00:26:48.640 in his opening 00:26:48.640 --> 00:26:49.060 of his prayer 00:26:49.060 --> 00:26:49.960 Lord thank you 00:26:49.960 --> 00:26:50.640 I'm not like 00:26:50.640 --> 00:26:51.380 these other people. 00:26:52.380 --> 00:26:53.120 That was 00:26:53.120 --> 00:26:53.799 where they'd 00:26:53.799 --> 00:26:54.360 got to. 00:26:54.359 --> 00:26:59.539 And verse 12 00:26:59.539 --> 00:27:00.599 even when 00:27:00.599 --> 00:27:00.919 Jesus 00:27:00.919 --> 00:27:01.659 made 00:27:01.659 --> 00:27:02.740 it clear 00:27:02.740 --> 00:27:03.259 to them 00:27:03.259 --> 00:27:05.259 that they 00:27:05.259 --> 00:27:06.019 were wrong 00:27:06.019 --> 00:27:07.559 these 00:27:07.559 --> 00:27:08.479 guys 00:27:08.479 --> 00:27:09.079 and remember 00:27:09.079 --> 00:27:09.379 again 00:27:09.379 --> 00:27:10.139 they're gatekeepers 00:27:10.139 --> 00:27:10.939 of God's word 00:27:10.939 --> 00:27:12.119 these guys 00:27:12.119 --> 00:27:13.139 chose to be 00:27:13.139 --> 00:27:13.759 offended 00:27:13.759 --> 00:27:15.839 rather than 00:27:15.839 --> 00:27:16.479 be corrected. 00:27:16.480 --> 00:27:29.299 they didn't 00:27:29.299 --> 00:27:29.740 like 00:27:29.740 --> 00:27:32.039 the idea 00:27:32.039 --> 00:27:33.420 of having 00:27:33.420 --> 00:27:33.860 to look 00:27:33.860 --> 00:27:34.259 at their 00:27:34.259 --> 00:27:34.599 heart 00:27:34.599 --> 00:27:35.180 attitudes. 00:27:36.519 --> 00:27:37.240 They didn't 00:27:37.240 --> 00:27:37.980 like the idea 00:27:37.980 --> 00:27:38.660 of being guilty 00:27:38.660 --> 00:27:39.539 and rebellious 00:27:39.539 --> 00:27:40.920 on the inside 00:27:40.920 --> 00:27:41.980 in their hearts 00:27:41.980 --> 00:27:42.759 before the Lord 00:27:42.759 --> 00:27:44.259 because they 00:27:44.259 --> 00:27:44.759 had put all 00:27:44.759 --> 00:27:45.279 their efforts 00:27:45.279 --> 00:27:45.839 into what 00:27:45.839 --> 00:27:46.199 was on the 00:27:46.199 --> 00:27:46.740 outside. 00:27:51.480 --> 00:27:52.439 And ultimately 00:27:52.439 --> 00:27:53.519 in being 00:27:53.519 --> 00:27:54.240 offended at 00:27:54.240 --> 00:27:54.759 Jesus 00:27:54.759 --> 00:27:56.819 rather than 00:27:56.819 --> 00:27:57.779 being open 00:27:57.779 --> 00:27:58.480 to correction 00:27:58.480 --> 00:27:58.959 and thinking 00:27:58.959 --> 00:27:59.720 my goodness 00:27:59.720 --> 00:28:00.000 me 00:28:00.000 --> 00:28:01.059 he's right 00:28:01.059 --> 00:28:01.699 we're the 00:28:01.699 --> 00:28:02.220 gatekeepers 00:28:02.220 --> 00:28:02.799 of God's word 00:28:02.799 --> 00:28:04.000 and somewhere 00:28:04.000 --> 00:28:04.599 along the line 00:28:04.599 --> 00:28:05.599 we've lost it. 00:28:06.459 --> 00:28:06.699 Rather than 00:28:06.699 --> 00:28:07.139 taking that 00:28:07.139 --> 00:28:07.419 line 00:28:07.419 --> 00:28:08.619 they thought 00:28:08.619 --> 00:28:09.559 how dare 00:28:09.559 --> 00:28:10.279 Jesus say 00:28:10.279 --> 00:28:10.939 that to us. 00:28:15.839 --> 00:28:17.799 ultimately 00:28:17.799 --> 00:28:18.500 they rejected 00:28:18.500 --> 00:28:19.659 Jesus' word 00:28:19.659 --> 00:28:20.579 for their 00:28:20.579 --> 00:28:21.279 own views. 00:28:24.559 --> 00:28:25.259 And ultimately 00:28:25.259 --> 00:28:25.899 as Jesus 00:28:25.899 --> 00:28:26.419 here says 00:28:26.419 --> 00:28:26.759 to them 00:28:26.759 --> 00:28:27.819 ultimately 00:28:27.819 --> 00:28:29.339 they were 00:28:29.339 --> 00:28:30.500 very keen 00:28:30.500 --> 00:28:31.500 on salvation 00:28:31.500 --> 00:28:32.220 and talking 00:28:32.220 --> 00:28:32.939 about salvation 00:28:32.939 --> 00:28:34.220 but it was 00:28:34.220 --> 00:28:34.819 salvation 00:28:34.819 --> 00:28:36.079 according to 00:28:36.079 --> 00:28:37.059 their standards. 00:28:37.059 --> 00:28:40.899 and they 00:28:40.899 --> 00:28:41.240 were showing 00:28:41.240 --> 00:28:41.759 themselves here 00:28:41.759 --> 00:28:42.299 prepared to 00:28:42.299 --> 00:28:42.859 manipulate 00:28:42.859 --> 00:28:43.460 God 00:28:43.460 --> 00:28:44.359 and even 00:28:44.359 --> 00:28:45.379 twist or 00:28:45.379 --> 00:28:46.379 bypass his 00:28:46.379 --> 00:28:46.839 standards 00:28:46.839 --> 00:28:47.579 for their 00:28:47.579 --> 00:28:48.200 standards. 00:28:53.700 --> 00:28:54.599 And for those 00:28:54.599 --> 00:28:55.159 who claim to be 00:28:55.159 --> 00:28:56.059 gatekeepers of 00:28:56.059 --> 00:28:56.480 God's word 00:28:56.480 --> 00:28:57.079 you can sense 00:28:57.079 --> 00:28:58.179 now something 00:28:58.179 --> 00:28:58.779 of Jesus' 00:28:59.139 --> 00:28:59.919 ire at them. 00:28:59.920 --> 00:29:03.920 And the 00:29:03.920 --> 00:29:04.400 third thing 00:29:04.400 --> 00:29:05.019 is that they 00:29:05.019 --> 00:29:05.600 wouldn't accept 00:29:05.600 --> 00:29:06.160 their need 00:29:06.160 --> 00:29:06.900 for what 00:29:06.900 --> 00:29:07.420 Jesus was 00:29:07.420 --> 00:29:07.740 offering. 00:29:08.420 --> 00:29:09.519 Verse 19 00:29:09.519 --> 00:29:10.580 Jesus gives 00:29:10.580 --> 00:29:11.279 a catalogue 00:29:11.279 --> 00:29:11.920 of the heart 00:29:11.920 --> 00:29:12.920 for out of 00:29:12.920 --> 00:29:13.460 the heart 00:29:13.460 --> 00:29:15.680 come evil 00:29:15.680 --> 00:29:16.279 thoughts 00:29:16.279 --> 00:29:17.960 murder 00:29:17.960 --> 00:29:19.240 adultery 00:29:19.240 --> 00:29:20.279 sexual 00:29:20.279 --> 00:29:20.860 immorality 00:29:20.860 --> 00:29:21.400 theft 00:29:21.400 --> 00:29:22.539 false witness 00:29:22.539 --> 00:29:23.080 slander 00:29:23.080 --> 00:29:24.560 these are 00:29:24.560 --> 00:29:25.180 what defile 00:29:25.180 --> 00:29:25.700 a person 00:29:25.700 --> 00:29:27.279 but to eat 00:29:27.279 --> 00:29:28.160 with unwashed 00:29:28.160 --> 00:29:28.539 hand 00:29:28.539 --> 00:29:30.220 that doesn't 00:29:30.220 --> 00:29:30.960 defile anybody. 00:29:36.420 --> 00:29:37.440 Jesus gives 00:29:37.440 --> 00:29:38.039 a description 00:29:38.039 --> 00:29:38.940 of what's 00:29:38.940 --> 00:29:39.779 inside each 00:29:39.779 --> 00:29:40.319 one of us 00:29:40.319 --> 00:29:40.680 and that's 00:29:40.680 --> 00:29:40.960 not a 00:29:40.960 --> 00:29:41.339 comprehensive 00:29:41.339 --> 00:29:41.759 that's just 00:29:41.759 --> 00:29:42.859 an illustrator 00:29:42.859 --> 00:29:43.319 of the list. 00:29:46.839 --> 00:29:48.139 All of us 00:29:48.139 --> 00:29:48.720 in our 00:29:48.720 --> 00:29:49.779 nature born 00:29:49.779 --> 00:29:50.359 state 00:29:50.359 --> 00:29:51.399 have the 00:29:51.399 --> 00:29:51.859 same 00:29:51.859 --> 00:29:52.879 bad heart 00:29:52.879 --> 00:29:54.519 and are 00:29:54.519 --> 00:29:55.039 capable of 00:29:55.039 --> 00:29:55.619 the same 00:29:55.619 --> 00:29:56.599 terrible thoughts 00:29:56.599 --> 00:29:57.779 and attitudes 00:29:57.779 --> 00:29:58.500 and actions. 00:29:58.539 --> 00:30:02.879 we can't 00:30:02.879 --> 00:30:03.279 explain it 00:30:03.279 --> 00:30:03.579 away. 00:30:04.539 --> 00:30:05.339 Our society 00:30:05.339 --> 00:30:05.740 wants to 00:30:05.740 --> 00:30:06.099 explain it 00:30:06.099 --> 00:30:06.220 away. 00:30:06.359 --> 00:30:06.579 Well 00:30:06.579 --> 00:30:08.240 it's only 00:30:08.240 --> 00:30:08.559 looked at 00:30:08.559 --> 00:30:09.119 because of 00:30:09.119 --> 00:30:09.879 unemployment 00:30:09.879 --> 00:30:11.379 or because 00:30:11.379 --> 00:30:12.079 our youngsters 00:30:12.079 --> 00:30:13.159 have bad 00:30:13.159 --> 00:30:13.779 role models 00:30:13.779 --> 00:30:14.960 or because 00:30:14.960 --> 00:30:16.019 there's so much 00:30:16.019 --> 00:30:17.119 violence online 00:30:17.119 --> 00:30:17.759 and in gaming 00:30:17.759 --> 00:30:18.259 videos 00:30:18.259 --> 00:30:20.000 or because 00:30:20.000 --> 00:30:20.440 they get into 00:30:20.440 --> 00:30:21.139 bad company. 00:30:21.140 --> 00:30:23.300 we don't 00:30:23.300 --> 00:30:24.480 need circumstances 00:30:24.480 --> 00:30:25.080 to prompt 00:30:25.080 --> 00:30:25.840 us to 00:30:25.840 --> 00:30:26.500 these sorts 00:30:26.500 --> 00:30:27.000 of things. 00:30:27.880 --> 00:30:28.780 We don't 00:30:28.780 --> 00:30:29.280 need others 00:30:29.280 --> 00:30:29.880 to teach 00:30:29.880 --> 00:30:31.160 us these 00:30:31.160 --> 00:30:31.560 sorts of 00:30:31.560 --> 00:30:31.860 things. 00:30:31.940 --> 00:30:32.520 Just hang 00:30:32.520 --> 00:30:33.020 around a 00:30:33.020 --> 00:30:33.580 two-year-old 00:30:33.580 --> 00:30:34.200 for half an 00:30:34.200 --> 00:30:34.380 hour. 00:30:36.120 --> 00:30:36.940 We don't 00:30:36.940 --> 00:30:37.500 need Satan 00:30:37.500 --> 00:30:38.380 to tempt us 00:30:38.380 --> 00:30:39.060 into these 00:30:39.060 --> 00:30:39.259 things. 00:30:39.340 --> 00:30:39.660 We can't 00:30:39.660 --> 00:30:40.180 blame it on 00:30:40.180 --> 00:30:40.700 him either. 00:30:41.420 --> 00:30:41.640 Not 00:30:41.640 --> 00:30:42.060 ultimately 00:30:42.060 --> 00:30:44.160 or not 00:30:44.160 --> 00:30:44.480 immediately. 00:30:44.480 --> 00:30:48.500 sin 00:30:48.500 --> 00:30:49.079 naturally 00:30:49.079 --> 00:30:49.660 arises 00:30:49.660 --> 00:30:50.120 in our 00:30:50.120 --> 00:30:50.299 own 00:30:50.299 --> 00:30:50.799 hearts 00:30:50.799 --> 00:30:51.500 and 00:30:51.500 --> 00:30:52.140 overflows 00:30:52.140 --> 00:30:52.559 out of 00:30:52.559 --> 00:30:52.860 us. 00:30:55.940 --> 00:30:56.799 What a 00:30:56.799 --> 00:30:57.980 tragedy 00:30:57.980 --> 00:30:59.920 that these 00:30:59.920 --> 00:31:00.900 religious leaders 00:31:00.900 --> 00:31:01.700 for all 00:31:01.700 --> 00:31:02.279 their knowledge 00:31:02.279 --> 00:31:02.799 of God, 00:31:02.900 --> 00:31:03.299 for all 00:31:03.299 --> 00:31:03.759 their knowledge 00:31:03.759 --> 00:31:04.319 of the Old 00:31:04.319 --> 00:31:04.660 Testament, 00:31:04.799 --> 00:31:05.319 for all 00:31:05.319 --> 00:31:05.860 their years 00:31:05.860 --> 00:31:06.440 of study 00:31:06.440 --> 00:31:09.559 did not 00:31:09.559 --> 00:31:11.180 see what 00:31:11.180 --> 00:31:12.500 is on 00:31:12.500 --> 00:31:13.380 almost every 00:31:13.380 --> 00:31:13.960 page of the 00:31:13.960 --> 00:31:14.079 Old 00:31:14.079 --> 00:31:14.460 Testament. 00:31:14.480 --> 00:31:18.259 that God 00:31:18.259 --> 00:31:19.640 measures the 00:31:19.640 --> 00:31:20.039 state of 00:31:20.039 --> 00:31:20.640 our hearts 00:31:20.640 --> 00:31:22.099 against his 00:31:22.099 --> 00:31:22.440 word. 00:31:27.920 --> 00:31:28.680 And that 00:31:28.680 --> 00:31:29.120 leaves us 00:31:29.120 --> 00:31:29.660 undone. 00:31:34.380 --> 00:31:35.079 But the 00:31:35.079 --> 00:31:35.620 tragedy is 00:31:35.620 --> 00:31:36.259 even worse 00:31:36.259 --> 00:31:38.539 because these 00:31:38.539 --> 00:31:39.259 guys, because 00:31:39.259 --> 00:31:40.000 they were so 00:31:40.000 --> 00:31:40.700 committed to 00:31:40.700 --> 00:31:41.240 their actual 00:31:41.240 --> 00:31:42.720 thinking and 00:31:42.720 --> 00:31:43.720 so dull to 00:31:43.720 --> 00:31:44.160 what Jesus 00:31:44.160 --> 00:31:44.519 was saying 00:31:44.519 --> 00:31:44.700 to them, 00:31:45.080 --> 00:31:45.640 they couldn't 00:31:45.640 --> 00:31:46.240 even see 00:31:46.240 --> 00:31:46.540 that they 00:31:46.540 --> 00:31:47.100 were actually 00:31:47.100 --> 00:31:48.680 talking to 00:31:48.680 --> 00:31:49.360 the heart 00:31:49.360 --> 00:31:49.980 specialist. 00:31:50.180 --> 00:31:50.740 As people 00:31:50.740 --> 00:31:51.440 who had bad 00:31:51.440 --> 00:31:52.560 hearts desperately 00:31:52.560 --> 00:31:53.100 needing them 00:31:53.100 --> 00:31:53.400 renewed, 00:31:53.720 --> 00:31:53.980 they were 00:31:53.980 --> 00:31:54.680 actually talking 00:31:54.680 --> 00:31:55.019 to the 00:31:55.019 --> 00:31:55.220 heart 00:31:55.220 --> 00:31:55.860 specialist. 00:31:55.859 --> 00:32:00.379 the one who 00:32:00.379 --> 00:32:01.079 knows the 00:32:01.079 --> 00:32:01.799 nature and 00:32:01.799 --> 00:32:02.740 extent of sin 00:32:02.740 --> 00:32:02.979 in the 00:32:02.979 --> 00:32:03.259 heart. 00:32:03.599 --> 00:32:04.199 The one who 00:32:04.199 --> 00:32:05.179 knows precisely 00:32:05.179 --> 00:32:05.559 how to 00:32:05.559 --> 00:32:05.939 treat it, 00:32:05.979 --> 00:32:06.240 how to 00:32:06.240 --> 00:32:06.799 undo its 00:32:06.799 --> 00:32:07.259 effects. 00:32:07.799 --> 00:32:08.179 The one 00:32:08.179 --> 00:32:08.740 who's shown 00:32:08.740 --> 00:32:09.719 himself in 00:32:09.719 --> 00:32:11.199 preceding 00:32:11.199 --> 00:32:12.299 incidents to 00:32:12.299 --> 00:32:13.159 be the one 00:32:13.159 --> 00:32:14.279 who comes with 00:32:14.279 --> 00:32:15.299 compassion to 00:32:15.299 --> 00:32:15.819 those who are 00:32:15.819 --> 00:32:16.519 lost and 00:32:16.519 --> 00:32:17.839 destroyed by 00:32:17.839 --> 00:32:19.399 sin with a 00:32:19.399 --> 00:32:20.000 willingness to 00:32:20.000 --> 00:32:20.399 heal and 00:32:20.399 --> 00:32:21.039 restore and 00:32:21.039 --> 00:32:21.459 renew. 00:32:21.460 --> 00:32:25.600 the people 00:32:25.600 --> 00:32:26.120 at Gennesaret, 00:32:26.319 --> 00:32:27.000 they just 00:32:27.000 --> 00:32:27.500 came to 00:32:27.500 --> 00:32:28.460 Jesus and 00:32:28.460 --> 00:32:29.759 Jesus willingly, 00:32:30.000 --> 00:32:31.740 gladly dispensed 00:32:31.740 --> 00:32:32.420 grace and 00:32:32.420 --> 00:32:32.900 healing to 00:32:32.900 --> 00:32:34.500 them at the 00:32:34.500 --> 00:32:35.440 very moment of 00:32:35.440 --> 00:32:36.559 their most 00:32:36.559 --> 00:32:37.600 being aware of 00:32:37.600 --> 00:32:38.360 being caught up 00:32:38.360 --> 00:32:38.920 in the tragedy 00:32:38.920 --> 00:32:39.420 of sin. 00:32:39.420 --> 00:32:45.140 And that's 00:32:45.140 --> 00:32:46.759 why the 00:32:46.759 --> 00:32:47.920 Jesus people 00:32:47.920 --> 00:32:49.400 met in 00:32:49.400 --> 00:32:50.180 this public 00:32:50.180 --> 00:32:51.320 confrontation 00:32:51.320 --> 00:32:52.980 hates religion 00:32:52.980 --> 00:32:53.660 and religious 00:32:53.660 --> 00:32:54.039 people. 00:32:56.420 --> 00:32:57.440 And as I've 00:32:57.440 --> 00:32:57.980 already said, 00:32:58.720 --> 00:32:59.860 this incident 00:32:59.860 --> 00:33:00.620 is in such 00:33:00.620 --> 00:33:02.200 sharp contrast 00:33:02.200 --> 00:33:04.980 with Jesus 00:33:04.980 --> 00:33:05.759 reaching out 00:33:05.759 --> 00:33:06.019 as the 00:33:06.019 --> 00:33:06.800 compassionate 00:33:06.800 --> 00:33:07.680 saviour to 00:33:07.680 --> 00:33:08.320 those who 00:33:08.320 --> 00:33:08.940 knew they 00:33:08.940 --> 00:33:09.100 were 00:33:09.099 --> 00:33:09.879 caught up 00:33:09.879 --> 00:33:10.159 in the 00:33:10.159 --> 00:33:10.819 power and 00:33:10.819 --> 00:33:11.299 the effects 00:33:11.299 --> 00:33:11.759 of sin 00:33:11.759 --> 00:33:12.959 and came 00:33:12.959 --> 00:33:13.639 to Jesus 00:33:13.639 --> 00:33:14.579 in their 00:33:14.579 --> 00:33:15.299 sinful, 00:33:15.599 --> 00:33:16.579 hopeless state 00:33:16.579 --> 00:33:17.639 for healing. 00:33:18.679 --> 00:33:19.539 As opposed 00:33:19.539 --> 00:33:20.059 to these 00:33:20.059 --> 00:33:21.539 guys who 00:33:21.539 --> 00:33:22.039 came to 00:33:22.039 --> 00:33:22.699 Jesus wanting 00:33:22.699 --> 00:33:23.019 to take 00:33:23.019 --> 00:33:23.619 him down 00:33:23.619 --> 00:33:24.559 because they 00:33:24.559 --> 00:33:25.019 didn't need 00:33:25.019 --> 00:33:25.339 healing. 00:33:25.699 --> 00:33:26.019 They were 00:33:26.019 --> 00:33:26.559 the ones who 00:33:26.559 --> 00:33:26.959 were telling 00:33:26.959 --> 00:33:27.599 Jesus what 00:33:27.599 --> 00:33:28.019 was right. 00:33:29.599 --> 00:33:30.419 The contrast 00:33:30.419 --> 00:33:30.839 couldn't be 00:33:30.839 --> 00:33:31.139 clear. 00:33:31.740 --> 00:33:32.139 And next 00:33:32.139 --> 00:33:32.740 week when we 00:33:32.740 --> 00:33:33.419 jump into it, 00:33:33.619 --> 00:33:33.959 the next 00:33:33.959 --> 00:33:34.679 incident is the 00:33:34.679 --> 00:33:35.199 faith of a 00:33:35.199 --> 00:33:35.879 Canaanite woman. 00:33:36.779 --> 00:33:38.000 And I can't 00:33:38.000 --> 00:33:38.779 help but just 00:33:38.779 --> 00:33:39.680 dip into it 00:33:39.680 --> 00:33:39.940 for a minute. 00:33:40.299 --> 00:33:40.660 Here was 00:33:40.660 --> 00:33:41.059 this woman. 00:33:41.440 --> 00:33:41.879 She wasn't 00:33:41.879 --> 00:33:42.339 a Jew. 00:33:42.579 --> 00:33:42.899 She wasn't 00:33:42.899 --> 00:33:43.460 even a Jew. 00:33:43.559 --> 00:33:43.779 So she 00:33:43.779 --> 00:33:44.059 didn't have 00:33:44.059 --> 00:33:44.680 any lineage, 00:33:44.799 --> 00:33:45.420 any pedigree. 00:33:45.879 --> 00:33:46.639 She was a 00:33:46.639 --> 00:33:47.000 woman in 00:33:47.000 --> 00:33:47.539 those days, 00:33:47.740 --> 00:33:48.279 a Canaanite 00:33:48.279 --> 00:33:48.480 woman. 00:33:48.700 --> 00:33:49.420 She had no 00:33:49.420 --> 00:33:50.519 power influence. 00:33:51.920 --> 00:33:52.660 She had no 00:33:52.660 --> 00:33:53.879 access to the 00:33:53.879 --> 00:33:54.559 Jewish temple. 00:33:54.559 --> 00:34:00.579 all she had 00:34:00.579 --> 00:34:03.700 was her words 00:34:03.700 --> 00:34:04.599 to plead with 00:34:04.599 --> 00:34:05.220 Jesus to 00:34:05.220 --> 00:34:05.539 heal her 00:34:05.539 --> 00:34:05.799 daughter. 00:34:08.400 --> 00:34:08.739 And the 00:34:08.739 --> 00:34:10.219 contrast, he 00:34:10.219 --> 00:34:12.679 condemns these 00:34:12.679 --> 00:34:13.840 religious leaders, 00:34:14.619 --> 00:34:15.340 these guys who 00:34:15.340 --> 00:34:15.980 know their 00:34:15.980 --> 00:34:16.539 Bible back 00:34:16.539 --> 00:34:17.900 to front, and 00:34:17.900 --> 00:34:18.699 he commands 00:34:18.699 --> 00:34:20.579 this woman. 00:34:20.579 --> 00:34:24.000 contrast is 00:34:24.000 --> 00:34:24.860 just phenomenal. 00:34:25.099 --> 00:34:25.739 Big picture, 00:34:26.559 --> 00:34:27.259 contrast is 00:34:27.259 --> 00:34:27.619 phenomenal. 00:34:28.840 --> 00:34:29.599 So friends, let 00:34:29.599 --> 00:34:30.599 me just wind up 00:34:30.599 --> 00:34:31.019 here now. 00:34:34.519 --> 00:34:35.519 Please don't 00:34:35.519 --> 00:34:36.739 settle for 00:34:36.739 --> 00:34:37.440 religious 00:34:37.440 --> 00:34:38.380 appearance 00:34:38.380 --> 00:34:40.519 without gospel 00:34:40.519 --> 00:34:41.099 reality. 00:34:41.099 --> 00:34:47.839 It's so 00:34:47.839 --> 00:34:48.299 easy to 00:34:48.299 --> 00:34:48.500 do. 00:34:50.699 --> 00:34:51.480 So easy 00:34:51.480 --> 00:34:51.839 to do. 00:34:55.339 --> 00:34:55.819 Jesus' 00:34:56.239 --> 00:34:57.139 gospel message, 00:34:57.380 --> 00:34:57.699 the very 00:34:57.699 --> 00:34:58.279 reason Jesus 00:34:58.279 --> 00:34:58.900 came into 00:34:58.900 --> 00:34:59.380 the world, 00:35:01.039 --> 00:35:01.839 is to tell 00:35:01.839 --> 00:35:02.619 people that he 00:35:02.619 --> 00:35:03.099 is the 00:35:03.099 --> 00:35:03.659 complete 00:35:03.659 --> 00:35:04.400 provision 00:35:04.400 --> 00:35:06.000 for our 00:35:06.000 --> 00:35:06.900 most desperate 00:35:06.900 --> 00:35:07.199 need. 00:35:08.319 --> 00:35:09.239 He is the 00:35:09.239 --> 00:35:10.299 only provision 00:35:10.299 --> 00:35:11.019 for our 00:35:11.019 --> 00:35:11.780 most desperate 00:35:11.780 --> 00:35:12.079 need. 00:35:13.780 --> 00:35:14.059 Jesus' 00:35:14.380 --> 00:35:14.940 mission is 00:35:14.940 --> 00:35:15.599 about telling 00:35:15.599 --> 00:35:17.099 us that he's 00:35:17.099 --> 00:35:18.000 come to people 00:35:18.000 --> 00:35:19.159 who have bad 00:35:19.159 --> 00:35:21.960 hearts, and 00:35:21.960 --> 00:35:22.699 he's come to 00:35:22.699 --> 00:35:23.800 his people with 00:35:23.800 --> 00:35:24.519 bad hearts as 00:35:24.519 --> 00:35:25.059 the one who's 00:35:25.059 --> 00:35:25.900 able to renew 00:35:25.900 --> 00:35:27.360 bad hearts. 00:35:31.199 --> 00:35:32.239 He comes to 00:35:32.239 --> 00:35:32.599 those who have 00:35:32.599 --> 00:35:33.420 a bad track 00:35:33.420 --> 00:35:34.179 record with 00:35:34.179 --> 00:35:35.440 God because of 00:35:35.440 --> 00:35:35.800 sin and 00:35:35.800 --> 00:35:37.380 disobedience, and 00:35:37.380 --> 00:35:37.960 he comes as 00:35:37.960 --> 00:35:38.300 the one who 00:35:38.300 --> 00:35:39.199 will wipe that 00:35:39.199 --> 00:35:39.860 bad track 00:35:39.860 --> 00:35:40.219 record. 00:35:41.019 --> 00:35:46.559 he wiped the 00:35:46.559 --> 00:35:47.099 bad track. 00:35:47.199 --> 00:35:47.940 When he died, 00:35:48.280 --> 00:35:48.679 for his people, 00:35:48.759 --> 00:35:49.360 he wiped the 00:35:49.360 --> 00:35:50.659 bad record of 00:35:50.659 --> 00:35:51.360 unacceptable 00:35:51.360 --> 00:35:52.079 thoughts, 00:35:52.980 --> 00:35:53.360 attitudes, 00:35:53.960 --> 00:35:54.659 and actions, 00:35:55.059 --> 00:35:56.460 and he gave us 00:35:56.460 --> 00:35:57.539 a good record 00:35:57.539 --> 00:35:58.079 instead, 00:35:59.219 --> 00:35:59.840 putting us back 00:35:59.840 --> 00:36:00.320 into good 00:36:00.320 --> 00:36:01.139 relationship with 00:36:01.139 --> 00:36:01.719 God, but not 00:36:01.719 --> 00:36:02.159 done there. 00:36:02.159 --> 00:36:02.940 He gave us 00:36:02.940 --> 00:36:03.659 new hearts, 00:36:03.659 --> 00:36:07.440 changed us from 00:36:07.440 --> 00:36:08.380 the inside out, 00:36:08.519 --> 00:36:09.340 changing us from 00:36:09.340 --> 00:36:10.220 the inside out, 00:36:10.620 --> 00:36:11.380 so we have new 00:36:11.380 --> 00:36:12.780 thoughts, new 00:36:12.780 --> 00:36:13.460 desires, new 00:36:13.460 --> 00:36:14.559 attitudes, which 00:36:14.559 --> 00:36:16.620 prompt us to new 00:36:16.620 --> 00:36:18.019 obedience to love 00:36:18.019 --> 00:36:18.340 God. 00:36:20.640 --> 00:36:21.039 So, friends, 00:36:22.300 --> 00:36:23.140 believers or 00:36:23.140 --> 00:36:24.120 Christians are 00:36:24.120 --> 00:36:25.320 chug and cheese 00:36:25.320 --> 00:36:26.519 with religious 00:36:26.519 --> 00:36:26.920 people. 00:36:28.920 --> 00:36:29.800 Now, we've got to 00:36:29.800 --> 00:36:30.660 nuance that a little 00:36:30.659 --> 00:36:30.859 bit. 00:36:31.759 --> 00:36:32.879 At first glance, 00:36:33.619 --> 00:36:34.619 it might not 00:36:34.619 --> 00:36:35.980 look that much 00:36:35.980 --> 00:36:36.279 different. 00:36:37.119 --> 00:36:38.179 It's hard to see 00:36:38.179 --> 00:36:38.839 sometimes the 00:36:38.839 --> 00:36:39.339 difference between 00:36:39.339 --> 00:36:40.379 a religious person 00:36:40.379 --> 00:36:42.879 and a true 00:36:42.879 --> 00:36:43.319 believer, 00:36:43.859 --> 00:36:46.219 because they do 00:36:46.219 --> 00:36:47.119 the same sorts of 00:36:47.119 --> 00:36:47.460 things. 00:36:48.259 --> 00:36:49.399 The critical thing 00:36:49.399 --> 00:36:50.059 here is they do 00:36:50.059 --> 00:36:50.719 the same sort of 00:36:50.719 --> 00:36:51.259 things, but for 00:36:51.259 --> 00:36:52.480 vastly different 00:36:52.480 --> 00:36:53.420 reasons and 00:36:53.420 --> 00:36:53.960 motivation, 00:36:54.619 --> 00:36:56.099 from a vastly 00:36:56.099 --> 00:36:57.059 different perspective. 00:36:57.059 --> 00:37:00.099 religious people 00:37:00.099 --> 00:37:01.340 go to church, 00:37:01.860 --> 00:37:02.500 they give their 00:37:02.500 --> 00:37:03.360 money, they read 00:37:03.360 --> 00:37:04.039 their Bible, they 00:37:04.039 --> 00:37:04.759 try to be good, 00:37:04.920 --> 00:37:06.380 in an attempt to 00:37:06.380 --> 00:37:07.279 make themselves 00:37:07.279 --> 00:37:08.139 acceptable to 00:37:08.139 --> 00:37:11.880 God, to save 00:37:11.880 --> 00:37:12.460 themselves. 00:37:13.719 --> 00:37:15.380 Believers do 00:37:15.380 --> 00:37:16.119 the same thing, 00:37:16.199 --> 00:37:17.699 believers do the 00:37:17.699 --> 00:37:18.639 same things, by 00:37:18.639 --> 00:37:19.840 and large, but 00:37:19.840 --> 00:37:21.219 it's because they've 00:37:21.219 --> 00:37:22.239 already been saved 00:37:22.239 --> 00:37:24.380 by grace, and 00:37:24.380 --> 00:37:24.759 they want to 00:37:24.759 --> 00:37:26.480 respond to that in 00:37:26.480 --> 00:37:27.539 an overflow of 00:37:27.539 --> 00:37:28.059 love and 00:37:28.059 --> 00:37:29.760 thankfulness and 00:37:29.760 --> 00:37:30.360 obedience. 00:37:36.380 --> 00:37:37.340 Because Jesus 00:37:37.340 --> 00:37:38.079 has done for 00:37:38.079 --> 00:37:38.940 them what they 00:37:38.940 --> 00:37:39.619 could never do 00:37:39.619 --> 00:37:40.179 for themselves, 00:37:40.280 --> 00:37:42.380 and that is deal 00:37:42.380 --> 00:37:43.699 with their sin and 00:37:43.699 --> 00:37:44.840 truly make them 00:37:44.840 --> 00:37:45.559 acceptable to 00:37:45.559 --> 00:37:45.820 God. 00:37:48.300 --> 00:37:49.219 So a believer's 00:37:49.219 --> 00:37:50.199 orientation and 00:37:50.199 --> 00:37:51.099 motivation to do 00:37:51.099 --> 00:37:51.880 what is pleasing to 00:37:51.880 --> 00:37:52.460 the Lord is 00:37:52.460 --> 00:37:53.320 heart-driven, 00:37:54.159 --> 00:37:54.960 inside-out 00:37:54.960 --> 00:37:56.159 overflow of joy, 00:37:56.480 --> 00:37:57.179 overflow of 00:37:57.179 --> 00:37:57.760 delight, an 00:37:57.760 --> 00:37:58.280 overflow of 00:37:58.280 --> 00:38:00.179 love in 00:38:00.179 --> 00:38:00.820 response to 00:38:00.820 --> 00:38:01.539 God's grace and 00:38:01.539 --> 00:38:01.820 mercy. 00:38:05.440 --> 00:38:06.420 So I just want to 00:38:06.420 --> 00:38:07.179 wrap up by 00:38:07.179 --> 00:38:08.719 pointing two 00:38:08.719 --> 00:38:09.440 different directions. 00:38:11.579 --> 00:38:13.300 So if you're a 00:38:13.300 --> 00:38:14.059 religious person 00:38:14.059 --> 00:38:14.559 here this morning, 00:38:14.639 --> 00:38:15.699 that is if you 00:38:15.699 --> 00:38:16.880 haven't actually 00:38:16.880 --> 00:38:17.840 encountered Jesus, 00:38:18.019 --> 00:38:18.380 if you haven't 00:38:19.820 --> 00:38:20.900 realized that you 00:38:20.900 --> 00:38:22.880 cannot do it on 00:38:22.880 --> 00:38:23.960 your own strength, 00:38:23.960 --> 00:38:25.659 you cannot earn 00:38:25.659 --> 00:38:26.519 God's favor, 00:38:27.179 --> 00:38:28.940 then I point you 00:38:28.940 --> 00:38:30.320 to verse 10 and 00:38:30.320 --> 00:38:31.139 verse 16 where 00:38:31.139 --> 00:38:31.820 Jesus says, 00:38:32.820 --> 00:38:34.220 you need to pay 00:38:34.220 --> 00:38:35.300 attention, you 00:38:35.300 --> 00:38:36.500 need to understand, 00:38:37.300 --> 00:38:40.119 because your bad 00:38:40.119 --> 00:38:40.880 heart will actually 00:38:40.880 --> 00:38:42.280 make you dull to 00:38:42.280 --> 00:38:43.460 the basic truths 00:38:43.460 --> 00:38:44.860 about yourself and 00:38:44.860 --> 00:38:45.139 God. 00:38:45.139 --> 00:38:46.839 God's favor of 00:38:46.839 --> 00:38:47.139 God. 00:38:47.139 --> 00:38:50.079 You need to ask for 00:38:50.079 --> 00:38:51.699 understanding these 00:38:51.699 --> 00:38:52.119 key areas. 00:38:52.359 --> 00:38:54.179 Ask for Jesus to 00:38:54.179 --> 00:38:57.139 show you how your 00:38:57.759 --> 00:38:58.739 best efforts will 00:38:58.739 --> 00:38:59.400 never be good 00:38:59.400 --> 00:39:02.119 enough because you 00:39:02.119 --> 00:39:03.219 cannot meet God's 00:39:03.219 --> 00:39:03.719 standard of 00:39:03.719 --> 00:39:04.539 perfection in your 00:39:04.539 --> 00:39:05.139 own strength. 00:39:06.219 --> 00:39:07.079 And that will point 00:39:07.079 --> 00:39:08.599 you to the Lord 00:39:08.599 --> 00:39:09.239 Jesus Christ. 00:39:10.239 --> 00:39:10.819 And as you're doing 00:39:10.819 --> 00:39:11.799 that, remember this, 00:39:11.800 --> 00:39:14.900 that these guys 00:39:14.900 --> 00:39:17.039 here came with 00:39:17.039 --> 00:39:17.760 impeccable 00:39:17.760 --> 00:39:18.300 credentials. 00:39:19.120 --> 00:39:19.980 They had massively 00:39:19.980 --> 00:39:21.440 good reputations. 00:39:21.560 --> 00:39:22.240 They were just good 00:39:22.240 --> 00:39:22.660 people. 00:39:25.539 --> 00:39:26.400 And Jesus 00:39:26.400 --> 00:39:27.180 condemns them. 00:39:29.880 --> 00:39:30.960 Yet in previous 00:39:30.960 --> 00:39:32.640 incidents, he opens 00:39:32.640 --> 00:39:34.260 his arms warmly to 00:39:34.260 --> 00:39:35.680 anybody who comes to 00:39:35.680 --> 00:39:36.640 him with an 00:39:36.640 --> 00:39:37.700 awareness of sin. 00:39:38.680 --> 00:39:39.519 Just saying, 00:39:39.760 --> 00:39:40.780 Jesus, I need your 00:39:40.780 --> 00:39:41.080 help. 00:39:41.800 --> 00:39:43.539 I need you to fix 00:39:43.539 --> 00:39:44.420 me on the inside. 00:39:44.600 --> 00:39:45.380 I need you to 00:39:45.380 --> 00:39:45.940 renew me. 00:39:51.780 --> 00:39:52.500 And if you've 00:39:52.500 --> 00:39:53.320 already been 00:39:53.320 --> 00:39:54.260 changed by Jesus 00:39:54.260 --> 00:39:55.260 and now trust him 00:39:55.260 --> 00:39:56.880 alone to make you 00:39:56.880 --> 00:39:57.780 secure and keep you 00:39:57.780 --> 00:39:59.900 secure, then my 00:39:59.900 --> 00:40:00.620 friend, I don't need 00:40:00.620 --> 00:40:01.240 to tell you, you 00:40:01.240 --> 00:40:02.600 know just how much 00:40:02.600 --> 00:40:03.519 grace you've received 00:40:03.519 --> 00:40:04.160 in your life. 00:40:04.960 --> 00:40:05.740 And you know that 00:40:05.740 --> 00:40:07.440 grace every day in 00:40:07.440 --> 00:40:08.100 face of your 00:40:08.100 --> 00:40:08.700 disobedience. 00:40:08.699 --> 00:40:09.699 grace. 00:40:09.699 --> 00:40:10.699 And you know that 00:40:10.699 --> 00:40:10.759 grace. 00:40:10.759 --> 00:40:12.339 So then surely we'll 00:40:12.339 --> 00:40:13.219 want to guard our 00:40:13.219 --> 00:40:14.319 thoughts, guard our 00:40:14.319 --> 00:40:16.339 hearts so that they 00:40:16.339 --> 00:40:17.599 continue to overflow 00:40:17.599 --> 00:40:18.779 with thankfulness and 00:40:18.779 --> 00:40:21.439 joy because the Lord 00:40:21.439 --> 00:40:22.159 is our treasure. 00:40:24.439 --> 00:40:25.699 Pray with me. 00:40:25.699 --> 00:40:35.639 Lord, everything in our 00:40:35.639 --> 00:40:37.599 society and indeed in 00:40:37.599 --> 00:40:38.779 so many churches 00:40:38.779 --> 00:40:40.699 around Australia would 00:40:40.699 --> 00:40:41.939 say that religion is 00:40:41.939 --> 00:40:42.199 good. 00:40:44.279 --> 00:40:45.439 And yet your word, 00:40:45.859 --> 00:40:46.699 Lord, shows it's 00:40:46.699 --> 00:40:47.079 condemned. 00:40:47.079 --> 00:40:51.059 I pray, Lord, that 00:40:51.059 --> 00:40:52.119 there might not be 00:40:52.119 --> 00:40:53.139 anybody here this 00:40:53.139 --> 00:40:54.380 morning who 00:40:54.380 --> 00:40:56.719 perseveres in a 00:40:56.719 --> 00:40:57.739 religious way of 00:40:57.739 --> 00:40:58.059 thinking. 00:41:00.519 --> 00:41:01.759 Lord, help us to 00:41:01.759 --> 00:41:03.420 measure ourselves 00:41:03.420 --> 00:41:04.239 against your 00:41:04.239 --> 00:41:04.920 standard of 00:41:04.920 --> 00:41:05.799 perfection and from 00:41:05.799 --> 00:41:06.460 there, Lord, see 00:41:06.460 --> 00:41:07.400 that we're done for 00:41:07.400 --> 00:41:09.779 because we cannot 00:41:09.779 --> 00:41:13.019 consistently do or 00:41:13.019 --> 00:41:13.900 say the things that 00:41:13.900 --> 00:41:14.980 would be acceptable 00:41:14.980 --> 00:41:15.500 to you. 00:41:17.079 --> 00:41:20.679 Lord, help us to 00:41:20.679 --> 00:41:22.900 come to Jesus for 00:41:22.900 --> 00:41:23.860 that first encounter 00:41:23.860 --> 00:41:25.960 and have the freedom 00:41:25.960 --> 00:41:27.719 of knowing that he 00:41:27.719 --> 00:41:30.059 will do for us that 00:41:30.059 --> 00:41:31.019 which we could never 00:41:31.019 --> 00:41:32.099 do even though we 00:41:32.099 --> 00:41:33.239 spend a lifetime of 00:41:33.239 --> 00:41:34.000 effort trying to. 00:41:34.639 --> 00:41:35.500 That is he will make 00:41:35.500 --> 00:41:36.299 us acceptable to 00:41:36.299 --> 00:41:37.059 Jesus by dealing 00:41:37.059 --> 00:41:37.719 with our sins. 00:41:38.239 --> 00:41:39.039 Make us acceptable 00:41:39.039 --> 00:41:39.860 to God by dealing 00:41:39.860 --> 00:41:40.440 with our sins. 00:41:41.920 --> 00:41:42.940 And Lord, help us to 00:41:42.940 --> 00:41:43.920 just throw ourselves 00:41:43.920 --> 00:41:46.319 on Jesus knowing that 00:41:46.319 --> 00:41:47.059 he will never 00:41:47.059 --> 00:41:48.820 reject or condemn 00:41:48.820 --> 00:41:49.940 those who come to 00:41:49.940 --> 00:41:50.880 him with a full 00:41:50.880 --> 00:41:52.099 awareness of sin and 00:41:52.099 --> 00:41:54.360 a full desire for his 00:41:54.360 --> 00:41:54.739 renewal. 00:41:56.559 --> 00:41:57.500 But Lord, help us 00:41:57.500 --> 00:41:58.420 also remember that he 00:41:58.420 --> 00:42:00.420 will condemn those 00:42:00.420 --> 00:42:01.440 who dare to come to 00:42:01.440 --> 00:42:03.360 him on a religious 00:42:03.360 --> 00:42:05.119 basis, pleading their 00:42:05.119 --> 00:42:07.659 own merits as a 00:42:07.659 --> 00:42:08.759 reason for acceptance 00:42:08.759 --> 00:42:10.159 and passage into 00:42:10.159 --> 00:42:10.440 heaven. 00:42:11.460 --> 00:42:11.920 Help us to 00:42:11.920 --> 00:42:12.579 understand these 00:42:12.579 --> 00:42:13.519 profound things in 00:42:13.519 --> 00:42:14.019 Jesus' name. 00:42:14.239 --> 00:42:14.500 Amen. 00:42:14.500 --> 00:42:14.599 Amen. 00:42:14.599 --> 00:42:14.619 Amen. 00:42:17.059 --> 00:42:18.119 Amen. 00:42:28.579 --> 00:42:29.039 Amen. 00:42:36.400 --> 00:42:36.420 Amen.