Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

April 23
Thursday


AGREEING
WITH GOD

READ:
Matthew 15:1-9
_____________________________________________

These people draw
near to Me with their
mouth, and honor Me
with their lips, but their
heart is far from me.
__Matthew 15:8
______________________________________________

The caller to the radio program mentioned religion, so the radio talk show host began to rant about hypocrites. "I can't stand religious hypocrites," he said. "They talk about religion, but they're no better than I am. That's why I don't like all this religious stuff."

This man didn't realize it, but he was agreeing with God. God has made it clear that He can't stand hypocrisy either. It's ironic, though, that something God opposes is used by some people as an excuse not to seek him.

Jesus said this about hypocrisy: "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 they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men" (Matt. 15:8-9).

Notice what Jesus said to perhaps the biggest hypocrites of his day, the Pharisees. In Matthew 23, He called them hypocrites--not once, not twice, but seven times! They were religious people who were putting on a big show, but God knew their hearts. he knew they were far from Him.

Non-Christians who point out hypocrisy in us when they see it are right in doing so. They are agreeing with God, who also despises it. Our task is to make sure our lives honor the One who deserves our total dedication. __Dave Branon
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``````````````````````Hypocrisy is a common sin`````````````````
`````````````````````That grieves the Lord above;````````````````
`````````````````He longs for those who'll worship Him`````````````
``````````````````In faith and truth and love. __Bosh`````````````
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The devil is content to let us profess Christianity
as long as we do not practice it.

***************Today's Bible Reading __ Matthew 15:1-9***********

1 Then the scribes and
Pharisees who were from
Jerusalem came to Jesus,
saying, 2 "Why do Your
disciples transgress the
tradition of the elders? For
they do not wash their
hands when they eat bread."

3 He answered and said to
them, "Why do you also
transgress the
commandment of God
because of your tradition?

4 For God commanded,
saying, 'Honor your father
and your mother': and, 'He
who curses father or
mother, let him be put to
death.' 5 But you say,
'Whoever says to his father
or mother, "Whatever profit
you might have receive
from me is a gift to God"--

6 then he need not honor his
father or mother.' Thus you
have made the
commandment of God of
no effect by your tradition.

7 Hypocrites! Well did
Isaiah prophesy about you,
saying:

8 "'These people draw
near to Me with their
mouth, and honor Me with
their lips, but their heart is
far from Me. 9 And in vain
they worship Me, teaching
as doctrines the
commandments of men.'"

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

The fifth commandment to honor parents (Matt. 15:4; Ex. 20:12)
includes providing financial support and practical care in their old
age (1 Tim. 5:4,8). A Jew could be released from this responsibility
simply by declaring his goods or money to be "Corban...a gift to
God" (Mark 7:11). Since God is greater than parents, this meant he
was freed from caring for his parents. In reality, such a declaration
does not mean it was an actual gift to God. The rabbis had approved
the Corban tradition to supersede the fifth commandment.
__Sim Kay Tee