Sep9
Matthew 15:12-14..Working
15:12 Then the disciples came to him and asked, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended (Scandalized, tripped-up. The disciples seemed to have some sympathy for the Pharisees. The Pharisees were respected among the people, as they were the leaders of the Jews.-(New) when they heard this (People are always offended when the truth exposes their sin and hypocrisy.-(New) 13 He replied, Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots. (See Matthew 13:24-29)n14 Leave them; (i.e. Forget what you have heard from the Pharisees these many years. They do not know what they are talking about.-(New) they are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit”. (For additional Expository Notes see Book)
Extended Sermon Notes
“Calls for proclaiming the truth and not worry if others are offended. (Will you care less of what people and what the world thinks, to what God things.) ⇒ Hold the line no matter how much intimidated. There’s times to be grace and compassioned filled, and times to tell it like it is, even if it hurts and offends others.
“Even today, we need to reject any teaching that departs from God’s Word, no matter how spiritual or well-intentioned it may be. Or how popular and big a following they may have. If it’s not based on God’s Word or deviates in any degree from that Word, don’t follow it.” ⇒ Let’s be sure we measure teachers and their teachings by the sure standards that God has given us. First, let’s measure them against Christ, and against His command to follow obediently after Him. It’s not wrong to be ministered too by a teacher or a leader who is following Jesus faithfully. Paul himself was able to tell the Corinthians, “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1). And second, let’s be sure we measure what we hear against the faithful teaching of Scripture. Let’s be like the noble Bareans in the Book of Acts; who, we’re told, when they heard the teachings of Paul and Silas, “seared the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things are so.”
More Notes & Applications
Teaches how we must be willing to take the risk that ministry is going to offend someone.
Teaches how sometimes it takes being offended if were going to change. Sometimes we need a little cold water thrown in our face, if may hurt a little but it’s what we need.
Emphasizes an essential truth: If it is not from God, it won’t last! In fact, if something pretends to be from God, but isn’t, it will lead to disaster.
Warns if were not careful in holding to the truth, we can end up giving hypocrites the benefit on doubt. Or we can end up thinking the best of everybody. Don’t be so naive in believing that people are naturally good at heart. Don’t think the best of everybody, but think accurately.
Teaches rather than backpedaling and apologizing stay firm to what you believe to be true. Don’t allow sympathy to sway you or deter you. Don’t accommodate people out of the fear of offending them.
Does not mean that Jesus didn’t know what was in the hearts and minds of the Pharisees. Of course He knew. Jesus doesn’t do anything that’s not intentional and purposeful. Jesus foreseen that the Pharisees would be offended and “caused to stumble”. No doubt. But, the feelings for those who were ruling it over others were really of no consideration to Him. Jesus was, and still is, more concerned with the truth than feelings, and He is more concerned that those who are seeking real guidance get what they seek.
Jesus is not saying we shouldn’t care about truth or be advocates for what the bible says. Nor is He saying that every false teaching & doctrine is going to be uprooted. Or God is going to eliminate every heresy, for heretical teachings have been around since the birth of the Church. But rather there’s going to be times that we have to say we were faithful to the truth, we beared witness to the truth now we have to leave it in God’s hands.
Jesus answers them with an agricultural example followed by a parable. Being an agrarian society, the disciples understood the agricultural parallel to what Jesus was saying. That parallel finds a farmer planting his field, but when the plants grow they are joined by other plants, called weeds, that the farmer did not plant. The plants that the Father did not plant, the weeds, were the Pharisees. They will one day be rooted up and destroyed in hell, but for now they are to be left alone as blind guides. No doubt Jesus’ words may have reminded the disciples of another parable that He had already told them about the “Weeds and the Wheat”.-(Matt. 13:24-43)
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