Aligning Our Priorities with God's Word
Summary
Summary:
Today, we explored the importance of priorities in our lives, especially in our walk with God. We often make decisions based on what we consider most important, influenced by our upbringing, experiences, and past decisions. However, when it comes to following God, our priorities should be shaped by His Word and not by human traditions. In Matthew 15, Jesus challenges the Pharisees for prioritizing their traditions over God's commandments. He highlights the danger of valuing human traditions as equal to God's Word, which can lead to worshiping in vain. Jesus emphasizes that true worship and obedience come from a heart aligned with God's Word, not merely outward actions.
The Pharisees had elevated their oral traditions to the same level as the written law, leading to practices that contradicted God's commandments, such as honoring one's parents. Jesus calls out this hypocrisy, reminding us that honoring God involves more than lip service; it requires actions that reflect a heart devoted to Him. The passage also underscores the significance of a clean heart over clean hands. Jesus teaches that what defiles a person is not external but what comes from the heart, revealing the true state of one's relationship with God.
As followers of Christ, we are called to prioritize God's Word above all else, ensuring that our lives reflect His teachings rather than human traditions. This requires discernment and a commitment to understanding and applying Scripture in our daily lives. Ultimately, God offers us a new heart through Jesus Christ, enabling us to live in alignment with His will and experience the transformative power of His grace.
Key Takeaways:
1. Prioritizing God's Word Over Traditions: Our spiritual priorities should be shaped by God's Word, not human traditions. Jesus challenges the Pharisees for valuing traditions over God's commandments, reminding us that true worship comes from a heart aligned with His Word. [18:31]
2. The Danger of Lip Service: Honoring God involves more than outward actions or lip service. It requires a heart devoted to Him, reflected in our actions and attitudes. Jesus calls out the Pharisees' hypocrisy, emphasizing the need for genuine devotion. [26:24]
3. The Importance of a Clean Heart: Jesus teaches that what defiles a person is not external but what comes from the heart. Our actions and words reveal the true state of our relationship with God, highlighting the need for a heart transformed by His grace. [38:46]
4. Discernment in Following Leaders: We must discern whether spiritual leaders are teaching God's Word or human traditions. Like the Bereans, we should compare teachings with Scripture to ensure they align with God's truth. [42:35]
5. Receiving a New Heart Through Christ: God offers us a new heart through Jesus Christ, enabling us to live in alignment with His will. This transformation allows us to experience His grace and live a life that reflects His goodness. [49:47]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[02:30] - Community Support and Prayer
[05:03] - Setting Priorities
[08:43] - Fun "Would You Rather" Questions
[10:51] - Shaping Priorities in Following God
[12:10] - Series on the Gospel of Matthew
[14:25] - Parables and Their Lessons
[17:35] - Jesus' Teachings on the Kingdom
[18:31] - Confrontation with the Pharisees
[20:11] - Traditions vs. Commandments
[22:32] - Jesus' Response to the Pharisees
[25:25] - The Authority of God's Word
[26:24] - True Honor and Action
[28:27] - Hypocrisy and Heart Condition
[30:52] - Worshiping in Vain
[32:03] - The Written Word as Authority
[35:08] - Following God's Word
[37:50] - Clean Hands vs. Clean Heart
[39:45] - Offending the Pharisees
[42:35] - Discernment in Leadership
[46:16] - The Condition of the Heart
[49:47] - God's Offer of a New Heart
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Matthew 15:1-20
- Isaiah 29:13
- Ezekiel 11:19-20
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Observation Questions:
1. What specific tradition did the Pharisees accuse Jesus' disciples of breaking, and how did Jesus respond to their accusation? [18:31]
2. According to the sermon, what was the Pharisees' understanding of the oral and written laws, and how did this affect their priorities? [21:12]
3. How does Jesus use the prophecy from Isaiah to address the Pharisees' behavior, and what does He accuse them of doing in vain? [30:52]
4. What does Jesus teach about what truly defiles a person, and how does this contrast with the Pharisees' focus on external cleanliness? [38:46]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does Jesus' confrontation with the Pharisees in Matthew 15 challenge the way we prioritize traditions versus God's commandments in our own lives? [18:31]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that honoring God involves more than just outward actions or lip service? How can this be applied to modern-day worship? [26:24]
3. What does the sermon imply about the role of spiritual leaders and the importance of discernment in following their teachings? [42:35]
4. How does the concept of receiving a new heart through Christ, as mentioned in the sermon, relate to the transformative power of God's grace in our lives? [49:47]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own life: Are there traditions or practices you follow that might be overshadowing the true teachings of God's Word? How can you realign your priorities to focus more on Scripture? [18:31]
2. Consider your daily actions and words. Do they reflect a heart devoted to God, or are they more about outward appearances? What changes can you make to ensure your worship is genuine? [26:24]
3. Think about the spiritual leaders you follow. How do you discern whether their teachings align with God's Word? What steps can you take to ensure you are not blindly following human traditions? [42:35]
4. Jesus emphasizes the importance of a clean heart over clean hands. What steps can you take this week to examine and purify your heart before God? [38:46]
5. The sermon mentions the transformative power of receiving a new heart through Christ. How have you experienced this transformation in your own life, and how can you continue to grow in alignment with God's will? [49:47]
6. Reflect on a time when you might have prioritized human traditions over God's commandments. How did that impact your relationship with God, and what did you learn from that experience? [18:31]
7. Identify one area in your life where you struggle with lip service versus genuine devotion. What practical steps can you take to ensure your actions align with your faith? [26:24]
Devotional
Day 1: Aligning Priorities with God's Word
Our spiritual journey often involves making choices that reflect our deepest values. However, these choices can sometimes be influenced by human traditions rather than divine guidance. In Matthew 15, Jesus confronts the Pharisees for elevating their traditions to the same level as God's commandments. This misalignment led to practices that contradicted God's intentions, such as neglecting the commandment to honor one's parents. Jesus warns against the danger of valuing human traditions as equal to God's Word, as it can lead to worshiping in vain. True worship and obedience stem from a heart aligned with God's Word, not merely outward actions. As followers of Christ, we are called to prioritize God's Word above all else, ensuring that our lives reflect His teachings rather than human traditions. This requires discernment and a commitment to understanding and applying Scripture in our daily lives. [18:31]
"Thus says the Lord: 'Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls.' But they said, 'We will not walk in it.'" (Jeremiah 6:16, ESV)
Reflection: What traditions or habits in your life might be overshadowing the teachings of God's Word? How can you realign your priorities to reflect His truth today?
Day 2: Genuine Devotion Beyond Lip Service
Honoring God involves more than just outward actions or lip service; it requires a heart truly devoted to Him. Jesus calls out the Pharisees' hypocrisy, emphasizing the need for genuine devotion that is reflected in our actions and attitudes. The Pharisees were known for their strict adherence to traditions, yet their hearts were far from God. This serves as a reminder that our relationship with God should not be superficial but deeply rooted in love and obedience. True honor comes from a heart that seeks to please God in all aspects of life, not just in public displays of piety. As believers, we are encouraged to examine our hearts and ensure that our devotion to God is sincere and not just a performance for others. [26:24]
"For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7b, ESV)
Reflection: In what areas of your life might you be offering God lip service rather than genuine devotion? How can you cultivate a heart that truly seeks to honor Him?
Day 3: The Heart's Condition Over Outward Cleanliness
Jesus teaches that what defiles a person is not external but what comes from the heart. Our actions and words reveal the true state of our relationship with God, highlighting the need for a heart transformed by His grace. The Pharisees focused on external cleanliness, but Jesus pointed out that true purity comes from within. This teaching challenges us to examine the condition of our hearts and seek God's transformation. A clean heart is one that is aligned with God's will and reflects His love and grace in all aspects of life. As we pursue a relationship with God, we are reminded that He offers us a new heart through Jesus Christ, enabling us to live in alignment with His will. [38:46]
"Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me." (Psalm 51:10, ESV)
Reflection: What thoughts or attitudes in your heart might be hindering your relationship with God? How can you invite Him to transform your heart today?
Day 4: Discernment in Spiritual Leadership
We must discern whether spiritual leaders are teaching God's Word or human traditions. Like the Bereans, we should compare teachings with Scripture to ensure they align with God's truth. This discernment is crucial in a world where many voices claim to speak for God. By grounding ourselves in Scripture, we can distinguish between true and false teachings and follow leaders who genuinely reflect God's Word. This requires a commitment to studying the Bible and seeking the guidance of the Holy Spirit. As we grow in discernment, we become better equipped to navigate the complexities of faith and remain steadfast in our walk with God. [42:35]
"Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so." (Acts 17:11, ESV)
Reflection: How can you develop a habit of examining teachings against Scripture to ensure they align with God's truth? What steps can you take to grow in discernment today?
Day 5: Embracing a New Heart Through Christ
God offers us a new heart through Jesus Christ, enabling us to live in alignment with His will. This transformation allows us to experience His grace and live a life that reflects His goodness. The promise of a new heart is a profound gift that empowers us to overcome sin and live in obedience to God. As we embrace this new heart, we are called to let go of old patterns and embrace the transformative power of God's love. This journey involves daily surrender and a commitment to following Christ wholeheartedly. By relying on His strength, we can experience the fullness of life that God intends for us. [49:47]
"And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh." (Ezekiel 36:26, ESV)
Reflection: What old patterns or habits do you need to let go of to embrace the new heart God offers through Christ? How can you rely on His strength to live in alignment with His will today?
Quotes
"Well, in today's passage, we're going to be in the first half of Matthew chapter 15, and Jesus is going to call out the Pharisees' wrong priorities. He's going to call out the Pharisees' wrong priorities. He's going to challenge them of what actually matters most, and then he's going to turn to his followers, both the crowd and his disciples, and help them shape their priorities. And I think what we're going to see in today's passage is that Jesus is going to challenge each one of us. What is really most important in following him?" [00:10:54] (28 seconds)
"Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they don't wash their hands when they eat. He answered them, and why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? For God commanded, honor your father and your mother, and whoever reviles father and mother must surely die. But you say, if anyone tells his father or his mother what you would have gained from me as given to God, he need not honor his father. For the sake of your tradition, you have made void the word of God. You hypocrites." [00:18:17] (35 seconds)
"Well did Isaiah prophesy of you when he said, this people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. In vain do they worship me. Teaching as doctrines, as the teaching, sorry guys, teaching as doctrines, the commandments of men. Well, we last saw the Pharisees back in chapter 12, where we read these words in verse 14. The Pharisees, after Jesus has healed a man on the Sabbath, we read, went out and conspired against him how to destroy Jesus." [00:18:52] (30 seconds)
"Notice that Jesus argues that the written law of God, the word of God, is the authority, not the oral laws or the traditions that have gotten passed down. What's interesting is that same sort of premise ends up being at the heart of the Reformation in the 14 -1500. By that point, church tradition and oral tradition had become equal with the law of God, the written word of God. And the Reformers said that's not the way it's supposed to be. The written word is the foundation." [00:25:39] (29 seconds)
"Honoring is more than speaking honor. Honor is doing things. To honor others is to care for them in action. Husbands and wives, you honor one another when you spend time together. You honor one another when you give intentional, thoughtful gifts towards each other. You honor one another when you love in action. You honor one another when you give intentional, thoughtful gifts towards each other. Not just in words." [00:26:36] (21 seconds)
"Jesus here is saying, don't be like the Pharisees whose show of righteousness is more about show than it is about inward change of heart. Jesus as a result then calls up Isaiah. You might wonder, as I did this week, why does Isaiah keep coming up in Matthew? Why does he keep coming up in Matthew? A couple of reasons. Isaiah has more passages about the Messiah than any other Old Testament book." [00:29:46] (21 seconds)
"Jesus says, when it comes to doing what you're supposed to do to follow me, you've chosen tradition over the word of God. And he says, what matters most is God's written word. God's written word is the authority for life and godliness. It's the thing to which all of our traditions, our practices, our doctrines must be held account. Nothing supersedes this, even at the time of Christ." [00:31:38] (25 seconds)
"To be like the Bereans who took Paul's teaching. Paul, one of the most respected teachers of their day who came in and preached and taught them. And what did they do? They took all that he taught and they went away and they said, does this line up with God's Word? Because God's Word is the authority." [00:36:50] (16 seconds)
"That our lives are not to be lived to keep our hands clean. Our lives are to be lived out of a clean heart. Something we can't do, something he can do. For the lives we live reveal the revelation of the Lord. And so we need to understand that our lives are not to be lived state of our heart, the condition of our heart, where our heart is, especially in response to Jesus Christ and to God." [00:39:25] (18 seconds)
"Jesus says that these Pharisees were not planted by God. This is a hard word to hear. Throughout the Old Testament, Jesus talks about planting his people, and as we saw back in Matthew 13 in the parable of the weeds, that there are those who are planted as sons of the kingdom and those who are planted as sons of the evil one, and that both will be sorted at the end. And Jesus says, these Pharisees that are leading and teaching and you respect so much were not planted by my Father." [00:40:30] (25 seconds)
