Jesus and the religious leaders of His day often were engaged in discussions, confrontations and/or dialogues concerning how we walk with and serve God.  No one would argue that those leaders were outwardly “religious” – their adherence to the “rules” was way above par. The problem, which Jesus points out, is that God not only looks at what we do – he looks at WHY we do it. God looks at our hearts.
 
 (Mark 7:1-23 NIV)  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 washing, holding to the tradition of the elders. 4 When they come from the marketplace they do not eat unless they wash. And they observe many other traditions, such as the washing of cups, pitchers and kettles.)

5 So the Pharisees and teachers of the law asked Jesus, "Why don't your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders instead of eating their food with 'unclean' hands?" 6 He replied, "Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written: "'These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. 7 They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.' 8 You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men." 9 And he said to them: "You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions! 10 For Moses said, 'Honor your father and your mother,' and, 'Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.' 11 But you say that if a man says to his father or mother: 'Whatever help you might otherwise have received from me is Corban' (that is, a gift devoted to God), 12 then you no longer let him do anything for his father or mother. 13 Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that."

14 Again Jesus called the crowd to him and said, "Listen to me, everyone, and understand this. 15 Nothing outside a man can make him 'unclean' by going into him. Rather, it is what comes out of a man that makes him 'unclean.'" 16  17 After he had left the crowd and entered the house, his disciples asked him about this parable. 18 "Are you so dull?" he asked. "Don't you see that nothing that enters a man from the outside can make him 'unclean'? 19 For it doesn't go into his heart but into his stomach, and then out of his body." (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods "clean.") 20 He went on: "What comes out of a man is what makes him 'unclean.' 21 For from within, out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, 22 greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. 23 All these evils come from inside and make a man 'unclean.'"

(Jeremiah 17:9-10 NIV)  The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? 10 "I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve."

(Matthew 12:33-37 NIV)  "Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. 34 You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. 36 But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. 37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned."

(1 Corinthians 6:9-11 NIV)  Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
 
Digging Deeper

1.  Jesus says that if our hearts are clean, our actions will reflect that  (Mark 7:14; 21-23).  How do you reconcile His statement with the reality that you still struggle with all kinds of sinful behaviors and thoughts?  With this thought in mind, read Revelation 20:11-15.  What is the basis for the judgment at the end of the age (verses 12-13)? How does verse 15 help us understand verses 12 and 13?  Does knowing you will face that judgment scare you?  Why or why not?

2.  Revelation 20:15 speaks of the “book of life.” How do we get our names written in the book of life? (Hint:  see Revelation 13:8 – compare John 1:29) How does Moses’ plea in Exodus 32:30-32 help us understand this? (Hint:  see Jesus’ cry in Luke 23:34)?  How does this truth about the book of life help you answer question 1 about being afraid? Does this give you more comfort or less?
Why?

3.  Jesus condemned elevating tradition above the truth of the scriptures.  Can you think of some “traditions” in our lives or in the way we practice our Christianity?  For example “Christians should never drink” might be one. Or “it’s ok to have sex before marriage as long as we love each other and are planning to get married.”  Or “It’s ok to tell a little white lie if it doesn’t hurt anyone.” How many more can you name? Take some time to examine your heart - perhaps even ask a friend or family member to help you examine yourself -  and answer this question: “What are the “traditions” in my life?”  Ask God to reveal the places where you justify your sin by way of “tradition.” Now ask Him to help you change.

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