"The Condemnation of False Prophets" 

JESUS AND THE JEWISH LEADERS - TRUTH VS TRADITION 15:1-20

1. Their accusation (1-2) -- These religious leaders were constantly looking for some charge to bring against Christ. They accused Christ's disciples of violating the traditions of the Jewish elders by not going through the ceremonial washing when they ate. Keep in mind that the Jews honored their traditions above the written Word of God.
2. Christ's reply (3-9) -- Notice how Christ always uses the Word to silence the accuser. He points out their own disobediences (Ex. 20:12 and Ex. 21: 17). By "dedicating" their possessions to God, the Pharisees released themselves of any obligation to care for their parents. How many "religious" people there are even today who carefully keep traditions, yet openly disobey the Word of God ! Christ quoted Isa. 29:13 to show that their religion was not of the heart, but was merely external actions. They missed the main lesson of the Sermon on the Mount: true righteousness comes from the within.
3. Christ's announcement (10-11) -- Christ addresses the entire multitude and openly declares the Pharisees' traditions null and void. Previously He had referred to Scripture; now He uses plain logic to show their errors. How can foods defile a man when they do not go into the heart? The Pharisees saw in this a declaration of war....
4. Christ's explanation (12-20) -- Even the disciples were astounded! Peter even called His plain teaching "a parable." How hard is it for men to break away from men's traditions and believe God' simple truth. Holiness, Christ explains is a matter of what comes OUT OF THE HEART. Men often blame the Devil for the sins listed here, but Christ blames the wickedness of the human heart. This is why MEN MUST BE BORN AGAIN AND GET A NEW HEART !!! The world today is bound and gagged by religious traditions, and it is important that we get out God' Word, the inspired truth. I want you to look at the contrast between God's truth and man's traditions:
   

We must constantly remind ourselves that true religion comes from the heart. We BELIEVE with the heart (Rom. 10:9-10); LOVE from the heart (Matt. 22: 37); SING from the heart (Col 3: 16); OBEY from the heart (Rom 6: 17); GIVE from the heart (2 Cor. 9:7); and PRAY from the heart (Psalm 51:10, 17).


JESUS AND THE GENTILES -- 15:21-39


It is significant that Jesus now departs for Gentile territory. This woman's spiritual condition is pictured in Ephesians 2:11-12. It is very interesting to notice that the two cases of Gentile healing were both AT A DISTANCE (here and Matt. 8:5-13), because the Gentiles were "afar off" spiritually speaking. That Christ would go to the Gentiles was not secret; see (Matt. 12:17-21). Christ responded to this woman's plea in four different ways:


First, He was silent; then He refused; then He seemed to rebuke her; and finally He rewarded her faith. Why did He not answer her plea immediately? One reason is that she, a Gentile, approached Him ON JEWISH TERMS, calling Him " Son of David." Gentiles are not saved first by becoming Jews. NOTICE when she called Him "Lord" He answered her plea. (Rom. 10:12-13). His delay also tested her faith. She knew that the Gentiles were saved THROUGH the Jewish nation and was willing to take even the crumbs from their table. What an indictment against the Jews that the two people Christ commended for their great faith were both Gentiles. (Matt. 8:10, Matt. 15:28). The multitude in 32-39 were predominately Gentile. Because of Christ's ministry they glorified the God of Israel.


Do not confuse the feeding of the 4000 with the previous miracle of feeding the 5000.

How slow were the disciples to understand His power. Their unbelief in vs 33 shows that they had not learned the lesson from the previous miracle of feeding 5000. It may be that they thought He would not feed the Gentiles, and this was another lesson for them in Christ's changing ministry.

1. God's Word is more important than man's tradition. When Paul mentions "tradition" in his epistle, he is referring to the ORAL TEACHINGS OF THE APOSTLES, and not to man's traditions.
2. It is dangerous to add to the Word of God, or to make the Word powerless because of tradition. To add tradition to the Word of God is to add wrath to your soul.
3. How slow and hard it is to get people to break away from tradition! How easy it is for men to believe other men, yet doubt God! If we want God to bless our lives and our church, we MUST obey His Word ALONE, regardless of the cost.