The Gospel Of Matthew Chapter 15 Part 5 We Need A New Heart And God Promises To Give One

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In this chapter of Matthew's gospel, hateful Pharisees attacked Jesus' disciples because they ate food without washing their hands.

This was an illegal act according to the foolish traditions of the elders.

We explained how traditions of elders were held in higher regard than the scriptures that God gave.

Jewish religious leaders falsely claimed Moses received an oral tradition in addition to the stone tablets from God.

This oral tradition was allegedly handed down to each generation. 

Later on, Jewish scholars wrote lengthy and tedious interpretations and commentaries.

It is this man made tradition that Jesus said was burdensome. 

Man made regulations made the people heavy laden like a mule loaded with too much baggage.

One example Jesus gave was a tradition that said an adult child did not have to care for his or her parents when they grew old and needed help.

This tradition directly violated the clear commands of God about caring for elderly parents.

Thus, Jesus strongly rebuked the Pharisees for making the Word of God of none effect by enforcing such traditions (See Matthew 15:1-9).

Jesus' strong rebuke led to the passage we are currently studying about what truly defiles a man or woman or young person.

Words that we speak to each other or post online have defiling potential because they come out of our heart.

Thus, the Pharisees were blind leaders leading a people blinded by their own false teachings.

Jesus' disciples asked for an explanation of this parable.

Matthew 15:15-16  Then answered Peter and said unto him, Declare unto us this parable. 16  And Jesus said, Are ye also yet without understanding? 

It seems strange to hear the disciples asking for the explanation of such a simple parable as this! 

True knowledge of the spirit of the Gospel is more rare among most Christians, even those with theological training.

Jesus' disciples had been with Christ long enough to have heard many of His theological teachings. 

Jesus instructed them publicly and privately, yet they did not understand His plain and simple truths. 

Psalm 78:2  I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old: 

The word “parable" can refer to a dark or obscure saying. 

Jesus effectively used parables to teach heavenly truth by making comparisons with earthly things.

Jesus used this parable to expose the Pharisee's false teaching that it was a sin to eat food without first washing ones hands.

In this section, Jesus said all plants not planted by the Father will be rooted up to describe God's judgment awaiting the Pharisees.

He used the idea of a blind guide leading blind people into a ditch to demonstrate that Pharisees were leading people astray into eternal damnation.

Peter asked Jesus to explain more fully this kingdom doctrine.

Jesus' teaching to us seems to be very plain and easily grasped, but for His disciples who grew up with Judaism, Christ's teaching was new, fresh revelation.

Matthew 15:17  Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught? 

Jesus' point in rebuking the traditions of elders is that food we eat does not affect our mind, and therefore cannot pollute it.

The Pharisee's doctrine teaching that failing to wash hands before eating defiles a person, cannot be true. 

Whether hands were washed or not pertains to the body like food does, and this cannot affect the soul. 

Our soul must be purified by something other than external washing, and it is polluted by things  other than not washing hands. 

The seat of mankind's corruption is within us, passed down to each person from Adam's original sin. 

Our hearts are defiled at birth and if it is corrupt, our whole man is corrupt.

Matthew 15:18  But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. 

What truly defiles us is first conceived and formed in our heart and mind. 

We are defiled by what originates in our heart and by the words that we say or post.

Idle words, foolish talking, filthy jesting, corrupt communication are agents of defilement rooted in our heart.

The root of all sin is naturally in our heart and only God can change it.

Matthew 15:19-20  For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: 20  These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man. 

Jesus proceeded to say what does defile us.

“Evil thoughts”  are the first of all corrupt things because they are the fountain leading to other sins. 

Thought precedes action or words. 

What we think or purpose to do in our mind gives good or bad character to our conduct and words. 

Though we all labor to suppress evil thoughts, yet they defile and pollute us and they will produce evil words or evil actions.

Therefore, evil thoughts from a wicked heart have potential to lead us to commit murder, to steal, to sexual sin, to lying or blaspheming God.

King David is a good example of this. 

He was the sweet Psalmist of Israel and a man after God's own heart, yet he committed adultery with Bathsheba and plotted to have her husband killed.

He was relaxing on the roof of his palace one hot summer evening and saw Bathsheba bathing. 

This look filled him with lust and he had her brought to him.

Jesus' teaching reminds us that this same potential to have evil thoughts that lead to sin lurks in each one of us.

We must learn to heed God's warnings about guarding our heart and what goes into our mind.

Proverbs 4:23  Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. 

Pro 6:14  Frowardness is in his heart, he deviseth mischief continually; he soweth discord. 

King Solomon warned us about the need to keep or guard our heart. 

An old technology proverb "GIGO" or "garbage in garbage out" holds true for our heart.

If we read or view or listen to things that are vile or ungodly, then we cannot be surprised when evil thoughts pollute the words we say.

Jeremiah 17:9  The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? 

Jeremiah tells us that our heart is deceitful and wicked at its core.

It is clear from Jesus' teaching that we need help from God.

We are born with depraved hearts that lean toward committing sin.

If this is where things ended then we would be in great trouble.

However, you know by now, that Jesus always aims at the hearts of those He speaks to and the gospel is good news that we can be saved.

The gospel of Christ is good news that we can receive a new heart and spirit from God.

Ezekiel 11:19-21  And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh: 20  That they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God. 21  But as for them whose heart walketh after the heart of their detestable things and their abominations, I will recompense their way upon their own heads, saith the Lord GOD. 

God used His prophet Ezekiel to teach us about the gospel.

He promises to all who repent and trust Christ that He will give us a new heart and a new spirit.

He will take away the old, hard heart that wants to sin and give us a new one that is alive and sensitive to the things of God.

His salvation provision enables us to walk in the ways of God and imparts a desire in our heart to obey His commands.

However, all who refuse the gospel of Christ and remain in their sins, will be judged and condemned to spend eternity in Hell.

The gospel of Christ is good news that God invites sinners to repent and be saved.

Ezekiel 18:31-32  Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel? 32  For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye. 

Here is another clear and strong invitation from God to repent and trust Christ. 

Those who exercise repentant faith in Jesus Christ shall be regenerated by the Spirit of God.

Casting away our transgression is the act of repentance for our sins.

Receiving a new heart and new spirit is the regenerating work of the Spirit of God when we trust Christ (See Titus 3:4-6).

God asks why any sinner would choose to die in their sins and suffer eternal condemnation.

Trusting Christ and accepting God's provision of salvation is the logical and sane thing any rational being should desire.

God takes no pleasure nor does He derive any satisfaction when a sinner dies without calling on the Lord for salvation.

Ezekiel 36:26-28  A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. 27  And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. 28  And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God. 

Again, read Ezekiel's Holy Spirit inspired words.

God promises to give a repentant sinner a new heart and a new spirit.

He will give us spiritual life whereas we are born without spiritual life.

He will give us a fresh start in life and a new direction for life. 

Our old sinful ways and bad habits will pass away as we are made a new creation in Christ (See 2 Corinthians 5:17).

Faith in Christ and obedience to His Word is the only path to a blessed, happy, holy and heavenly focused life.

Jesus placed a great emphasis upon our tongue and heart because we must be born again. 

John 3:16-21  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18  He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19  And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20  For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21  But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. 

John 3:16 is said to be the most well known verse in the Bible, however, we must read it in its context.

God loved the world which means all mankind, that in eternity past, He established that Jesus Christ would be born with a human body  in order to live a perfect life.

Jesus would perfectly satisfy the law of God so that we can repent of sins and believe on Him and be born again.

Being born again is repenting and receiving the new heart and new spirit Ezekiel spoke of.

Again, God sent His Son Jesus Christ into the world not to condemn all sinners, but to save all who repent and believe.

There are two types of people in the world today.

Those who repent and believe on Christ are no longer condemned by the law of God, for they are safe in Christ.

Those who reject the gospel remain under condemnation by the law of God and will suffer eternal damnation unless they repent and believe.

Pure light from the gospel has come into the world but most sinners love darkness rather than light.

They do not want their sins exposed just as a thief breaks in at night to steal because he does not want anyone to see his evil deed.

Those who trust Christ have been called from darkness into His marvelous light (See 1 Peter 2:9).

God is light and we are to walk in the light with Him (See 1 John 1:5-7).

I hope the gospel of Christ is clear to all who read this blog.

If you have never repented of sin and trusted Christ to save you, I urge you to do so today.

If you are a believer in Christ, I urge you to share His gospel with others, that they too might be born again.

Let us praise God for giving us a Savior, Jesus Christ.

Let us praise God for giving us a new heart and new spirit so that we might walk in newness of life.

Bob