Commandments of men or God

Matt 15: 7 Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,

 8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.

 9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

The first reason that the worship of these men was rejected – was because of their hypocrisy . . . as they only pretended (or acted) like Christians.

The second reason that the worship of these men was rejected was because they had replaced “the teachings of God” – with the teachings of man.

In vain “do they worship me” is defined as worship that is totally worthless . . . worship that has NO VALUE to God at all . . .

To draw nigh unto God with our mouth – to honor God with our lips . . . does not mean that we have chosen to honor God in our heart.

Ro 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

We can talk about relieving hunger in third world countries . . . we can give speeches – and we can start fund raisers . . . but if we never fall in love the those who are hungry so that we feed a starving 

child with our own hands – then we are all talk “but no action”.  We can say this because we know HOW to feed the poor – we tell others that

THEY should feed the poor . . . but if we never enter into the slums of this country to do it ourselves . . . and if we then justify our “lack of

action” and our unwillingness to provide DIRECT help where it is needed with a number of different excuses . . . that all sound really important and

that give the outward appearance of being important enough to relieve us of this responsibility . . . Then we are guilty of saying that we love the

starving children – but our actions prove that we DO NOT love them enough to meet them on their own ground and to make the necessary sacrifices in our lives to literally put food into their mouths ourselves.

We can talk about serving God – we can talk about doing good things . . . if we never actually “do the things” ourselves that we encourage others to do – then in terms of Christianity - what have we really done besides “talk” a good story?

The good Samaritan did not send “someone else” to help man that was wounded – he did it HIMSELF.

James 2: 14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?

15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,

16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?

17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

As a hypocrite {In order to act like a Christian} we have talked about how we must first KNOW how a Christian is supposed to act . . . this is the meaning of drawing nigh unto God with our mouth – and honoring Him 

with our lips – but “withholding” (or keeping) our hearts from Him . . . God says “it is in vain” that people like this worship me . . . because just 

like hypocrisy taints a person’s personal behavior – it also changes what those people teach in their churches.  The personal life of a

hypocrite is only an act . . . likewise the “church-life” of a hypocrite is ALSO an act.

“Teaching for doctrines the commandments of men” . . . Replacing the doctrines of God with the commandments of men . . . will spoil the worship of ANY church.

The “commandments of men” refer to the restrictions or to the bans that men place on their respective “religion” . . . for instance I once heard

of a church in Arizona who loosened the restriction of the TEN COMMANDMENTS requiring their members to “obey” only seven out of ten . . .

It is more common for churches to remove “the restrictions” of Christianity rather than to add new restrictions . . .

The purpose of “removing restrictions” is to make going to church “easier” so that it will appeal to a greater number of people . . . for instance

In order to “get more members” to join churches - it is common for a church to broaden the definition of baptism to basically include anyone that has gotten wet in a religious setting.

Matt 28: 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

This scripture is directed to the local NTC “in Jerusalem” that Jesus personally established about three years before His death on the cross.

Jesus did not give the command "to baptize" to those who practiced religion by teaching the “commandments of men” . . notice the next verse

20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

The idea here is this . . . if “our church” wants to obey Jesus’ commandment to baptize THEN our church ALSO needs to obey Jesus’ commandment to teach WHAT HE TAUGHT – not what men teach

Another example is how many churches do not restrict the Lord’s Supper to members of their own local congregation as they “ease up” on the

doctrines (teachings – instruction) that Jesus taught to the church before He died on the cross.  It is in this manner that we can become guilty of

“spoiling our worship” as we teach for doctrines the commandments of men (by literally replacing) what Jesus taught in the first church - with what

man teaches in order to make worship more convenient so that it will appeal to more people and result in a LARGER following – which gives the religious leaders more POWER.

Are you pretending?

Now in past few lessons we have been discussing the concept of worship as opposed to religion.

We understand that we PRACTICE (or we DO) religion but we OFFER (GIVE) worship . . . therefore we must concede that “by definition”

religion must be associated with WORKS that can easily be SEEN among men . . . while worship must be associated with FAITH which can only be “seen by God”.

Matt 15: 7 Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,

8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.

 9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

The point here - is to teach us that it really does matter what we do “as a church” in terms of worship . . . it really does matter what we do

individually regarding what we define as worship . . . 

The men being addressed here in Matthew were among the most religious men who lived at this point in history.

But Jesus clearly indicates here that “trying real hard” or “being sincere in our efforts” will not excuse us from what He expects of us in terms of worship. 

“Acceptable worship” is something that only occurs when the attitude of our heart is consistent with “our behavior”.  

Our behavior is a thing that can be seen by everyone – but the attitude of our heart can only be seen by God.

“In vain they do worship me” . . . tells us that God does not accept every man’s type of worship. 

The problem here with the worship that is offered by this group is described for us a being bad (or vain) for two reasons . . . 1) hypocrisy and 2) false doctrine.

One reason that the worship of these men was rejected is because of the attitude of their heart. 

It is not possible to be a hypocrite without knowing how we “should act” (or what is really expected of us) . . . 

these men knew what God expected – so they put on an outward performance that was very convincing (this is why Jesus called them HYPOCRITES) they were “pretending” to be something that they were NOT – 

the fact that they were acting like Christians – indicates clearly that they KNEW how a Christian was SUPPOSED to act . . . but in their heart – they did not really have a desire to actually BE what God wanted them to be

John 8: 31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;

 32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

After learning God’s Word – if we then choose to continue in God’s Word it is only then that we will stop pretending . . . the reason that we

pretend (or play the part) is so that we can be accepted by others as a Christian – we want our families to think that we are a Christian . . . and “we also” want to believe that we are Christian . . . but in reality we are 

not what God really wants us to be - because we do not want to make the "inner sacrifices" that are required to have a Christians heart . . . So we learn

to give a performance that is convincing - but because God can see past our actions into the motives of our heart – He will reject our worship – just like He rejected the worship of these men we read of in Matt 15:7 . . .

We might ask the question – if you do “the right thing” then what difference does “the motive of our heart” make . . .
  
1Sa 16:7 But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD “looketh on the heart”.

Let me put this on a personal level that we can all understand . . . Suppose that your husband/wife could not be criticized at all for their “actions”.

But suppose that you found out that your spouse was not “being nice” and behaving properly just because they loved you – but that their behavior

was being motivated by “their hope” of outliving you so they could collect your life insurance and then be able to really enjoy their life after you died.

Now if you could read their heart – and if this was what you saw . . . are you telling me that this would not be a “game changer” in respect to the relationship that you had with them?

If you could not fault them for anything “they actually did” – but if “as a mind reader” you could fault them for the selfish motives which were

actually “responsible” for what they did – then you would reject their behavior – no matter “how correct” it appeared to be.

Pr 23: 6 Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, neither desire thou his dainty meats:

7 For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.

8 The morsel which thou hast eaten shalt thou vomit up, and lose thy sweet words.

The key phrase in this passage is “for as he thinketh in his heart – so is he.”

The point to this in regard to worship that is offered with a selfish heart – or to a life that we commit to another because we are motivated by greed . . .

Is simply that the way that we think in our heart “over shadows” anything that we can possibly do with our hands/life/worship.

If we put ourselves in the position of the man offering bread to another in Pr 23 . . . the act of offering the bread is covered up and hidden behind the mans’ EVIL HEART so that his good deed cannot even be seen.  Notice verse #8

The morsel which thou hast eaten shalt thou vomit up, and lose thy sweet words.

What this tells us – is that if we allow this man to beguile us with his offering of bread . . . when we come to realize what he was attempting to  

buy from us with his “supposed kindness” – then what we once saw as an act of genuine kindness – we will learn to look upon with disgust as we vomit it up and lose that “nice warm feeling” that we once had for one who has been exposed as nothing but a HYPOCRITE . . .

Re 3:16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth

Humility

In Exodus chapter 20 – we see where God more or less sets the standard for what we will call “the attitude of worship”

Ex 20: 1 And God spake all these words, saying,

2 I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

God says . . . I am the one who set you free . . . I am the one who did “what you were unable to do” for yourselves . . . I am the ONLY ONE that you should worship.

The idea here “of humility” takes us to the central concept of not only salvation – but also of worship after we have experienced salvation.

The purpose of Ex 20: 1 -2 is to put God’s people in remembrance of who He is and who we are.  When we consider salvation – we can look at the two extremes which exist within our heart as we read  from Luke 18:

10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.

11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.

12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.

14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

One of these men lived a good life – a life that was filled with RELIGION . . . there is no doubt that he was a good man – but his pride would not 

allow him to see (that just like the publican) he was in bondage to sin - and because Satan had taken him captive – he was in need of deliverance . . .

When the religious man heard the words of Ex 20:2 which were in effect “I am the Lord thy God, which has paid the price for your sins . . . I am the 

God which desires to bring you out of the house of bondage called sin” When the Pharisee heard these words - he looked at the publican and said in his heart – this man

here beside me – he needs to be delivered more than I do . . . he is more of a captive than I am – so he needs God more than I do.

The Pharisee was lifted up in pride because of all of his religious activities . . . and the pride that he had in himself would not allow him to properly honor God.  The Pharisee believed that the sins of the

publican had taken him really far away from God – while he believed that his own religion was responsible for bringing “his life” much closer to God than most other people experienced . . .

After we have been saved – we must not worry about losing our salvation – but it would do us well to consider that if we follow the path of the

Pharisee instead of following the attitude of the publican – then we can certainly lose our “ability to worship” as we apply the honor that rightfully belongs to God – to our own lives or to our religion.

God tells those of us whom He has set free – He tells us that we are obliged to ONLY serve the GOD that has set us free and to serve no other

Jos 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye WILL serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

The point here – is that once we truly recognize who God is . . . Once we come to a clear understanding of what God has really done for us . . . once we reach this point in our lives - this knowledge is intended to 

motivate us to worship “Him” and to worship “Him” alone . . . Let me ask you a question . . . if knowing that Jesus (not figuratively but) literally took our place in death – if this awareness of what Jesus has done for us 

does not possess the power to bring us to the altar of worship . . . then what do you think does have the power to do this in our lives . . . If the cross is 

not enough to motivate us to seek proper worship in a NTC - then explain to me how programs or entertainment . . . are things which are able to provide what is lacking in the knowledge of how Jesus suffered on our behalf?

Matt 6: 24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

“To be in bondage” is to be under the penalty of our sins (or to be in danger of the sentence being carried out) regarding the eternal penalty for those sins . . . to be set free does not mean that

we are Innocent (because we ARE guilty) . . . to be “set free” means that we have been pardoned of our guilt.  It means that someone has taken our

place.   It means that the sentence of our guilt has been carried out – it is just that the sentence was applied to someone else - someone who was innocent . . .

You see we all have a choice – we can serve “the god” (Satan) that has taken us captive in sin (and as a result leave our first love) . . . or we can 

serve THE GOD that has offered us a pardon – but it is simply IMPOSSIBLE to serve BOTH.  The church at Ephesus was told to repent 

– she was told to return to what she had left . . . she was told to make a choice – Jesus reminded her that she could not be true (or faithful) – to more than ONE MASTER.

If she chose to stay on her present course – then Jesus (because He is a jealous God) meaning that he will not allow his people to share commitment

between the God of heaven and the god of this world – He will not allow us to “split our devotion” and give Him a percentage while we also give Satan a percentage . . .

God wants our complete and total love – God is not willing to share us in this respect . . . so you see – if a church “dries up on the vine” it is not 

because Satan has over powered God . . . this "drying up" can only occur when you and I chose to leave our first love – which will result in God MOVING OUT and removing the candlestick . . .

So as we look here at II Thessalonians 1:1 where Paul, Silas and Timothy wrote a letter to a local church in the city of Thessalonica . . . can we see

that there is a connection today between us and this same letter as it applies as equally to our local NTC as it applied to the church of the Thessalonians?

Consider our attitude about religion – and our attitude about worship . . . Is the purpose of the Lord’s NTC – to lift up man – or is the purpose of the church to honor GOD?

God tells us in John 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

So if we define our worship as a list of religious activities – then our worship is not spiritual – and if our worship is not spiritual – then it 

cannot be focused upon a SPIRITUAL GOD and if it is not focused upon a spiritual God - then it cannot honor a spiritual God . . . which means it must then be focused only upon CARNAL and sinful MEN

No man can serve TWO masters . . . no man can actually “worship” in religion . . . no man can truly define himself as “a Christian” by listing all of the “good things” that he does in his life.

Pr 6: 16 These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: 17 A proud look . . . 

Do we view ourselves as Christians because of WE have done - or do we view ourselves as Christians because of what JESUS CHRIST has done for us?

The way that we answer this question is the difference between "a proud look" which God hates - and an "humble heart" which God loves.

The Open Door

The world defines religion for us as basically doing good things – helping the community – trying to do what is right . . . but religion never takes “THE HEART” of man into account . . .

Romans 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

What this verse means – is that when God looks at our lives – He skips over “our behavior” or what WE DO in life – and the FIRST thing that God 

looks at concerning our lives “BEFORE” He looks at our conduct – is the attitude (or the condition) of OUR HEART . . . “For with THE HEART” man believeth unto righteousness” means {that how we THINK} is actually a better indication of what kind of person we are – than what WE DO or how we behave. 

In other words if our heart is not right – then we can do “the right thing” for the wrong reason.  And what we learn from the scriptures – is that God

judges our lives – not necessarily based upon our actions . . . but God also takes into account how we think in OUR HEART.

Matthew 23: 25 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.

This describes a dirty pot or pan . . . the lid is put on the pot – the outside is scrubbed and polished so that it shines like a new penny . . . but when you

take the lid off to use the pot you find out that the inside (the part of the pot that you use) has never been cleaned – it is full of mold and baked on food that has spoiled and began to smell bad . . .

This is what religion does to our lives and to our churches . . . religion makes us clean on the outside – but we don’t use the outside of a cup or platter . . . the important part is the INSIDE.

Likewise God tells us that it is not the outward appearance of our lives (things that we do) which are important . . . but rather it is our HEART that God seeks to “make clean” – and He does this through “faith and repentance”. 

What God tells us in this next verse deals with which part of the pot (our life) that we should clean first.

26 Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is “within the cup and platter” that the outside of them may be clean also.

As men we do not improve our lives by becoming “active” in religion . . . we do not improve our lives by avoiding the “thou shalt nots” of the TEN commandments . . . As men the only way to improve our lives is to “admit” our guilt – to become broken hearted regarding how (through

our sins) we have caused Jesus to suffer.  Faith is what gives us access to God’s promised forgiveness . . . faith is what opens the door.

But an open door serves no purpose – if we refuse to step through it . . . we can believe in God – we can even believe in God’s judgment . . . but if we

never ACT on that faith – if we never walk through the door . . . then we will “go to hell” taking this type of belief in God with us.

Now the parallel that this type of faith has with religion is this . . . When God reminds us that we are sinners in need of savior . . . When God

teaches us that Jesus died on the cross for our sins . . . when God’s Holy Spirit convicts our heart and (through this conviction) we become aware 

of the “BURDEN of guilt” which our sins have brought into our heart – this knowledge is NOT intended to motivate us to try to start living better lives as we become more active in religion . . .

The purpose of the burden which God places upon our heart in this manner – is to remind us of just who we are . . . the burden of guilt that is present

in OUR HEART is to offer proof that we are guilty – it is to offer proof that the blood of Jesus Christ is literally dripping from our hands . . . and the 

fact that we start trying to “do better” will not wash the blood of Jesus off of our hands and take the guilt away from our heart . . . This is what Jesus 

was referring too in Matt 23: 26 when He said cleanse FIRST that which is “within” so that the outside may be clean also.  If we are among those present today – who are trying to live a good life . . . we are trying to do 

this because we have knowledge of God . . . we have faith in The Bible – and we believe in God’s judgment . . . the fact that we have chosen to 

worship God today – is proof that we believe these things . . . BUT – an open door serves no purpose until we step through it . . . the faith that we 

have described which motivates us to “try to do better” in religion falls short in one key point . . . and that is commitment.  Notice the lack of genuine (heart felt) commitment in the lives of these scribes and Pharisees

27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres (well-kept graves) which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.

 A well-kept grave with an expensive head-stone is impressive to look at . . . but inside that grave is a dead body that is being eaten by worms . . .

28 Even so ye also (your lives, they) outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within (your heart where God is able to see) ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

Religion is not proper worship . . . religion is not a substitute for salvation – and religion is certainly not a substitute for Christianity. 

To have a “change of heart” is to repent . . . this is what it means to step through that door which faith has opened for us . . . Faith opens the eyes 

of the lost man to the promise of God’s salvation . . . but sorrow – guilt – regret – a desire to please God are things which will cause “the lost man” 

to step through that doorway.  The same thing is basically true regarding “the journey” which only a few of God’s children make – as they step out of religion and enter into the place of “true worship”.

“Worship of God” is not what saves us – salvation is not found in this church (or any other type of church) salvation is found when a sinner 

makes the choice in HIS HEART to stop seeking God through religion – and to simply “stop trying” and to come to God as you are right now . . . 

and that is - as a sinner with the blood of Jesus still fresh on your hands (not trusting in your religion but) “TRUSTING in Jesus” to save you in spite 

of all of your faults . . . This is a picture of salvation – and to those of us who have already been saved – My point - is that it is “not possible” for 

us to worship properly – it is not possible for us to become a “True Worshiper” without this vision of seeing ourselves as a sinner whose 

hands are still stained with the blood of our savior (instead of looking at ourselves) as a good deed doer that is active in religion.

If we are proud of the lives that we live and what our efforts we mean to our church . . . then we are religious and we are unable to worship until we clean up what is within.

Back in the 70's the promotion of non-stick cookware was a big thing . . . Since the Garden of Eden the "non-stick" heart has been promoted by Satan.  

A heart that is coated with PRIDE - is a heart where God's Word will not be able to stick and bring about a change in that man's life.  Clean that which is WITHIN first - chip off the coating of pride so that God's Word will stick to your heart and change your life.