This week’s reading; Mark 7:1 – 23.

As you read about this event I want you to try and get yourself into the location.

Pharisees and Scribes come (read walk or ride a donkey) from Jerusalem to where Jesus now is.  That would be like us walking to Binghamton or Albany to see Jesus.  When they get there rather than listen, they begin to pick at Jesus disciples.

Don’t misunderstand these people, they are very serious about keeping The Law, much of it is man-made, you won’t find it anywhere in the Bible.  They are trying to be serious disciples, but they seem to have gotten off track.

What example does Jesus use to show them how they have gotten so confused that they are not following God’s Word?

What man-made teachings might we be following at the expense of God’s Word?

Let’s move on to Jesus’ teaching about what actually defiles a person – it is what is on the inside that causes us to defile ourselves – it is what is in our hearts which leads us to think and behave in the wrong way.

Take a moment and look up these verses in your Bible:

Isaiah 29:13

Proverbs 4:23

Proverbs 27:19

Finally think about how you take care of your physical heart - how should you take care of you spiritual heart.

Sermon on this topic