Day 292—We are in the TENTH month of Bible reading and studying the New Testament Gospels.

    Day 292 – Matthew 15, Mark 7 (traditions VS commands, defilement, woman’s daughter, healings, 4K fed)

In both Matthew 15 and Mark 7, the religious leaders object to Jesus’ disciples breaking “the traditions of the elders” by not washing their hands (in a ceremonial way) before eating and so defiling themselves.

Jesus comes right back with the question, “Why do YOU break GOD’s commandment for the sake of “your traditions?”  He explained that they broke the 5th Commandment about Honoring Parents by stealing the financial support they should be giving them and instead “dedicating it to God.” (And probably getting a tax break?)  HYPOCRITES! Jesus called them.  And Jesus quotes Isaiah 29:13.

          “This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me; in vain do they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.”

Then Jesus calls the larger crowd around him and explains what it is that does defile a person.  It’s what comes out of their mouths. 

He further explains to His disciples that what is in a person’s heart — (evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, coveting, wickedness, deceit, envy, pride, foolishness, false witness, and slander) — when it comes out of the mouth in words, well, THAT is what defiles a person.   “Eating with ceremonially unwashed hands does not defile anyone.”

Jesus and his disciples then withdrew to the districts of Tyre and Sidon (north of Israel) because He wanted some time alone with them.  But a gentile woman came to him and cried out desperately.

“Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon!”

Testing her, Jesus said, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the House of Israel.“  

“Lord, help me!” she said, kneeling before Him.

“It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs,” Jesus said, again testing her.

She boldly answered, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.”

“O woman, great is your faith!”  Jesus said,  “Be it done for you as you desire.”  And the daughter was healed instantly.

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After that, Jesus was totally cheered by the woman’s faith (a gentile at that), and went back to Galilee. There, He healed the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute, and many others.  One man in particular (Luke) was deaf and mute.  Jesus took him aside privately, put his fingers in his ears, and touched his tongue. He looked to heaven, sighed, and said to the man, BE OPENED. The man’s ears were opened, and his tongue was released. 

The people, astonished beyond measure, said, “Glory be to the God of Israel. He has done all things well.”