The Gospel of Matthew: Guard Your Heart

Scripture References: Matthew 15:1-20; Proverbs 4:23; Isaiah 29:13; Colossians 2-3

Intro: Welcome to this sermon exploring Matthew 15:1-20. Like blind spots while driving, we can easily miss spiritual dangers. Jesus confronts the Pharisees' major blind spot: focusing on external religious traditions while neglecting the heart, which Proverbs 4:23 calls the wellspring of life.

Key Points:

1. The Danger of Hypocrisy: Jesus warns strongly against religious hypocrisy – looking good outwardly while the heart remains distant from God. This is insidious because it can appear righteous and often attacks from within the church, substituting rules for relationship.
2. Tradition vs. God's Command (vv. 1-9): Jesus challenges the Pharisees for elevating their human tradition (ritual handwashing) above God's direct command (honoring parents, which their Corban rule undermined). He applies Isaiah 29:13: honoring God with lips while hearts are far away is empty worship.
3. The Heart: Source of Defilement (vv. 10-20): Jesus teaches that true defilement isn't external (like eating with unwashed hands – that passes through). It originates within the heart. Evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, slander—these flow from an unclean heart and pollute a person's life.
4. Guarding the Heart (Insights from Colossians 2-3): How do we avoid hypocrisy and maintain a pure heart? Paul advises: Continue walking in Christ by grace (Col 2:6); Stay rooted in Him, avoiding deceptive human traditions (Col 2:7-8); Find sufficiency and fullness in Christ (Col 2:9-10); Remember Christ has disarmed evil powers (Col 2:15); Critically, set your mind on things above, not earthly rules (Col 3:1-4).

Conclusion: Authentic faith is an inside-out reality. While actions matter, they must stem from a heart genuinely connected to Jesus. Prioritize nurturing your inner life with God over merely managing external appearances. Staying close to Jesus protects us from the trap of hypocrisy.

Call to Action: Invite the Holy Spirit to gently reveal any spiritual blind spots or areas where external actions don't match your heart's condition. Renounce hypocrisy. Recommit to seeking fullness in Christ alone. Meditate on Colossians 2-3 this week, setting your mind on things above. Come to communion remembering your life source is union with Christ.

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The Gospel of Matthew: Guard Your Heart (Matthew 15:1-20)
with Mike Young