Matthew 15

In Matthew 15 the Pharisees again question Jesus about breaking the Law. The Pharisees had spent a lot of time interpreting the Old Testament especially the first five books of the Bible. Their problem was that they equated their interpretation with God’s Word. Jesus didn’t play the Pharisees games and did not choose to follow their rules over God’s Word. We have to be careful that we don’t allow our traditions and interpretations to become more important than God’s Word. Jesus warned them by quoting Isaiah 29:13, “These people honor with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.” Jesus makes it clear that He is not interested in Religion but Relationship. Later in the chapter Jesus healed the daughter of a Canaanite woman which He would have never done had He followed the rules of the Pharisees.
“Lord, keep us focused on You. Let us learn and live from You. Remind us when we put tradition over truth. Let us desire to see You more than keeping rules. I pray this in the precious name of Jesus. Amen.