Saturday, February 2, 2019

New Testament Bible Meditation- February 1 - Text & Audio

Matthew 15:1-20   

Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem, saying,
"Why do your disciples disobey the tradition of the elders? For they don't wash their hands when they eat bread." He answered them, "Why do you also disobey the commandment of God because of your tradition?
For God commanded, 'Honor your father and your mother,' and, 'He who speaks evil of father or mother, let him be put to death.'
But you say, 'Whoever may tell his father or his mother, "Whatever help you might otherwise have gotten from me is a gift devoted to God," he shall not honor his father or mother.' You have made the commandment of God void because of your tradition. You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying,
'These people draw near to me with their mouth, And honor me with their lips; But their heart is far from me.
And in vain do they worship me, Teaching as doctrine rules made by men.'"
He summoned the multitude, and said to them, "Hear, and understand.
That which enters into the mouth doesn't defile the man; but that which proceeds out of the mouth, this defiles the man."
Then the disciples came, and said to him, "Do you know that the Pharisees were offended, when they heard this saying?"
But he answered, "Every plant which my heavenly Father didn't plant will be uprooted.
Leave them alone. They are blind guides of the blind. If the blind guide the blind, both will fall into a pit."
Peter answered him, "Explain the parable to us."
So Jesus said, "Do you also still not understand?
Don't you understand that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the belly, and then out of the body? But the things which proceed out of the mouth come out of the heart, and they defile the man.
For out of the heart come forth evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, sexual sins, thefts, false testimony, and blasphemies.
These are the things which defile the man; but to eat with unwashed hands doesn't defile the man."

Insight- Jesus knew that the Pharisees and scribes did not have a real relationship with God; they were religious but their hearts were far from God. Jesus emphasized that what a person ate did not defile him/her as much as that which came out of the mouth, because that which came out of the mouth came out of the heart and there were many evils there.

Question- Are there good things stored up in your heart or evil things as the Pharisees and scribes had?
Think about it.


Prayer- Dear Father in heaven, grant me grace to worship you in truth; let my heart be filled with good things and not evil. In Jesus name. Amen.

Listen/Download Audios- Male & Female Voices



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