Matthew the apostle wrote, “Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying, Why do your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. But he answered and said unto them, Why do you also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? For God commanded, saying, Honor your father and mother: and, He that curses father or mother, let him die the death. But you say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever you might be profited by me. And honor not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have you made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. You hypocrites, well did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying,”, and in chapter fifteen and verse eight of his book, Matthew shares how Jesus completed Isaiah's prophesy by saying, “these people draw near unto me with their mouth … but their heart is far from me” where we read:
This people draw near unto me with their mouth,
and honor me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
The verse reads, “This people draw near unto me with their mouth, ...”. Matthew began with the words, “this people” which means “this group of humans who are of the same stock and language” “draw near unto me” or “approach and come near to Jesus Himself” “with their mouth” which means “with the oracle in their faces that make sounds and noises or words”. Matthew shared how Jesus quoted Isaiah when he declared how there were to be people who used words that said they were close to God.
The verse goes on to say, “... and honor me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.” Matthew continued with the words, “and honor me” which means “and reverence, revere, venerate and fix a valuation upon God” “with their lips” which means “by using their lips or speaking mouth to share words”; “but” or “nevertheless, moreover and” “their heart” which means “the people's center of all physical and spiritual being” “is far from me” or “is at a distance from God”. Matthew shared how Isaiah prophesied there would be people who give glory to God with their mouths, but their souls were distant from Him.
When we consider Matthew's words in this verse, we see Jesus referred to Isaiah's prophecy in chapter twenty-nine and verse thirteen of his book, “Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honor me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:”, and Jesus declared the “scribes and Pharisees” as ones who were fulfilling Isaiah's words. God desires to have a relationship with every person through His Son Jesus, and rather than having “mouth service” only toward Him, they are to “rely upon, cling to and trust in” Him. Those who claim to be Christians but live contrary to the ways of Jesus may claim they are righteous, but inwardly are separate and distant from God.
Next time Matthew shares how Jesus calls the Scribes and Pharisees, “in vain they do worship me”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book
“Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the
marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the
Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms
Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County"
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; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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