The Pharisees at the time of Christ, with all their traditions, rules and customs often missed the mark of God’s intentions. For example, they criticized Christ’s followers for not “washing” their hands before eating.
We read in Mark 7:1-9:
“Then the Pharisees and some of the scribes came together to Him, having come from Jerusalem. Now when they saw some of His disciples eat bread with defiled, that is, with unwashed hands, they found fault. For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands in a special way, holding the tradition of the elders. When they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other things which they have received and hold, like the washing of cups, pitchers, copper vessels, and couches. Then the Pharisees and scribes asked Him, ‘Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed hands?’ He answered and said to them, ‘Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: “THIS PEOPLE HONORS ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR FROM ME. AND IN VAIN THEY WORSHIP ME, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE COMMANDMENTS OF MEN.” For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men—the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do.’” He said to them, ‘All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition.’”
And furthermore, note Mark 7:10-13: “‘For Moses said, “HONOR YOUR FATHER AND YOUR MOTHER”; and, “HE WHO CURSES FATHER OR MOTHER, LET HIM BE PUT TO DEATH.” But you say, ‘If a man says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me is Corban”—‘ (that is, a gift to God), then you no longer let him do anything for his father or his mother, making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do.’”
While they were not defiling themselves by not washing their hands, they were worshipping God in vain; and rather than taking care of their parents in need, they were giving the money as a gift to God.
Today, people by their misguided ways, are breaking the commandment to honor their parents—the first commandment showing us how to love our neighbour. But this commandment is broken by children who allow their parents to be euthanized, put in places where they are neglected and even abused. And for what purpose? So the parents can die and stop being a nuisance to the children’s way of life, so that they can collect their inheritance.
While giving more money to the church to look good and totally neglecting the responsibility of taking care of aging parents, they also callously dispose of them because they are cramping their lifestyle.
This terrible conduct is explained in Matthew 15:10-12:
“When He had called the multitude to Himself, He said to them, ‘Hear and understand: Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.’ Then His disciples came and said to Him, ‘Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?’”
Christ explained that the body is designed to clean up food eaten and dispose of the rest. What really defiles a man is what comes out of his mouth: his cursing, his using God’s name in vain, no matter how flowery it appears, like “my goodness,” which sounds so innocent but is a defilement of a person’s mouth.
In addition, people seem to think that they can choose when and how to worship God and for them that is OK with God.
God’s commandment is to “REMEMBER” the Sabbath day, but man soon forgets and substitutes a day of worship more to their liking, such as Sunday, Friday or any day of the week. There is no issue with praying to God any day of the week but formal worship services are designated by God, not man. God has sanctified the Sabbath; to do that is totally within His rights and authority as the Most High God. Anything else is a defilement of His Word. Christ is LORD of the Sabbath, not Sunday. He doesn’t say that about any other day, and those who keep another day are defiling themselves and worshipping the god of this world, Satan the devil. The Sabbath points to the one true God; any other day of worship points to the wrong god.
The traditions of man are more important to the carnal mind than God’s Word in regard to keeping the Sabbath. Replacing the Sabbath with Sunday, Easter, and a host of other pagan and satanic worldly-kept celebrations distracts from the true God and is an idolatrous practice.
James puts the two aspects of what we have discussed in this Q&A neatly together. We read in James 1:27: “Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.”
How much of this do people do? God has mercy on orphans and widows because a husband is crucial for a family; both for support to the wife and for the good example to children. Equally as important is not to be unspotted or defiled by the world.
A little leaven, as a symbol of sin, is just too much. A small compromise or sin not dealt with will eventually destroy you. It could cause you to lose out on salvation if not dealt with.
Why do you think in the model prayer to God given by Christ does He admonish us to ask for forgiveness of our sins committed either by neglect, omission or commission the previous day? It is because in our best efforts we fail in some ways, even if not conscious of it, and He wants us to start the day off with a clean plate, like when you came out of the water at baptism—not with a plate with a little dirt on it which will still be there tomorrow. A little leaven leavens the whole lump. A little defilement will eventually destroy you if not dealt with. If you sweep something under the rug, in six months it will still be there.
God wants us to be pure in every aspect of our lives and also undefiled in every aspect of our lives. God wants us to take the time to work towards that goal of being clean and undefiled, prior to His return, so we can be worthy of entering the Kingdom.
What is the admonition?
Matthew 6:31-33 tells us: “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”
We are to seek first (not last or second or third) God’s Kingdom and His righteousness by eliminating defilement and impurities from our lives, and all these things you really need (not necessarily want) will be added to you, plus as an added feature, eternal life in the Kingdom of God.
Lead Writer: Rene Messier