Day 23

Gen 46:1-47:31; Matt 15:1-28; PS 19:1-14; PR 4:14-19

PS 19:1-3     I love the imagery these verses create.  I'm sitting in my living room and as a read this I couldn't help but stop and look out the window.  God's glory is revealed through His creation. So often we just think about God being revealed through us because we are created in His image but according to this passage God speaks to us through the world around us as well. I love the fact that no matter what language you speak or where you live you can learn about God through the sights and scenes of glorious creation. As you look into the way our universe operates it is impossible not to realize the greatness of God.

PR - The last two days of Proverbs really shows the contrasting effects of good versus evil.  The path of the wise is straight, unobstructed, and safe. The path of the wicked hazardous and dangerous.  One is filled with light and the other with darkness.  Wisdom leads to a promise and wickedness leads to destruction.  I think taking a good honest look at our lives can answer the question for us as to whether we are on the path of wisdom or wickedness.

MT - As usual the Pharisees are trying to corner Jesus into incriminating Himself because He didn't do what their laws instructed.  The problem with the Pharisees is that they built a whole religion based on interpretation of God's commands instead of just following God's commands.  They created a system of traditions thereby demeaning God's commands. That's why He calls them hypocrites, because they were acting so holy and yet they were manipulating the system for their own gain. In this particular case you have to understand the customs of that day based on God's command to "honor your father and mother." It meant not only to respect them but also to take care of them as they had needs.  What people in the church were doing was saying that they had dedicated their finances to the Lord and therefore could not give anything to their parents.  God's command was to take care of our families, not to use the money for our own gain by "saying" it was for God. If it was really for God, you'd use it to obey Him by keeping His command to "honor" your parents. 

That's why He goes on to quote the prophecy of Isaiah where it said that they would teach doctrine or "interpretation" as law or "absolute."  

Vs 10-11   This whole discussion had started because the disciples didn't wash their hands before eating as the law stated they should.  Unsanitary? Yes.  Would it defile your very soul? Uhhh...no.  Jesus made the point, it's not what goes into your mouth that defiles you, but what comes out.  Why? Because that is what exposes what is in your heart. Remember we read a few days ago..."out of the abundance of the heart a man speaketh.

Vs 12-14     I think it's funny how the disciples came to Jesus and asked Him if He realized that He just offended the Pharisees. His response is a great lesson for us as well. We can't worry about offending those that believe differently than us. We also can't get caught up in arguing with them. If their doctrine is not true (not planted by God) then it will be exposed on it's own.  All we can do is preach His gospel, sharing the truth without shame.

Vs 21-28    At first glance some might think Jesus was a little harsh on this woman.  She was a Gentile (non-Jew).  Jesus would always give the Jews the first chance to respond to Him.  They were God's chosen people. The Gentiles weren't looking for a Messiah, that was only in the Jewish teaching. This is why Jesus was so excited by her faith. (did you notice the exclamation mark? NKJV)  She believed in Him even though she had presumably never been taught about who He could be.