Jesus’ Teaching on the Law
Matthew
15:1-11, 15-20
International Sunday School Lesson
May 18, 2014
Commentary
By
Jed Greenough
“Are you still so
dull?” Yeah, I guess in many ways we
are! Poor Peter had to be the one to ask
Jesus to, “Explain the parable to us.” Perhaps Jesus reply is a bit more easy to
take when we see that 16 other translations of the Bible put His reply more as,
“Don’t you understand yet?
This is not something that anyone would say to a brand new
disciple or student. Until one has had
the opportunity to learn, ignorance is in fact an excuse. No, this is directed at those who have been
studying and teaching for a good amount of time.
In most cases I think intentions are good or they start that
way. Jesus is telling these here and us
today that the traditions they have put in place have overtaken the purpose of
glorifying God.
None of us are immune.
One group in power who set the rules is always eventually overcome by
another group who sets the new rules.
In Jesus day it was the Pharisees and teachers of the law
from verse 1. Jesus knew that while they looked down upon
His disciples for not keeping their tradition they prevented others from doing
what God would want by prohibiting some from accomplishing things that God
would approve of because they do not approve of the method because of the
traditions they have in place.
In the time of Jesus the rules of worship were so
complicated that one had to be more worried about following these rules then
concentrating on God. Jesus as we know
from His discussions such as with the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4) wanted worship to be in Spirit
and in truth. We see in the early church
this accomplished but in our churches today we see the return to the former.
Churches today think that because you show up in your jeans
and flip flops you’re not being hung up on the formality that once dominated. But the informality which now dominates has,
if we are honest, created a lowering of standards.
We change styles and emphasis and with each change a new
tradition gets in the way of worshiping God who does not change. Review the Bible and ask what the
characteristics of God are. Does the God
of the Bible want to be treated with informality or reverential awe? Does God want to have a series of rules we
create dominate our worship or does He want to put our thanksgiving, our
supplications and love before Him?
If what man wants wins out what results will most likely be
someone seeking control of worship or the easy path that can be followed. I know who that pleases and it isn’t God.
For Discussion:
1. Discuss
why we fail in our attempts to worship God.
2. Discuss
worshipping in Spirit and in truth.
3. Discuss
how we can fail to see the error and what can be done then.
4. Discuss
Jesus’ reply to Peter.
5. Discuss
where you worship.
6. Discuss
the following of “blind guides”.
7. How
can you tell whether those who lead are blind or not?
Upcoming Lessons
5-25-14
The Greatest Commandment, Leviticus 19:18; Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Mark
12:28-34
6-1-14 Obey the Lord, Hagai 1:1-11
6-8-14 Trust God’s Promises, Haggai 1:12-2:9
6-15-14 Live Pure Lives,
Haggai 2:10-19
6-22-14 Hope for a New Day, Haggai 2:20-23 or
Haggai 2:23, Zechariah 4:1-3, 6-14
Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW
INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 Biblica. Used by
permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved
No comments:
Post a Comment