People Who Worship God from the Mouth; but With a Heart Far From God

The scribes and Pharisees of Jerusalem seem to always be trying to find fault in Jesus and his disciples, not seem to be, rather they did this continually.

Don’t you think we have scribes and Pharisees today that do the same thing? I know so.

This time they went to Jesus and told him his disciples sinned against the tradition of the elders?

Traditions are something I am well acquainted with. It seems every religious denomination has their own set of traditions that are passed down through time from the elders of that particular sect of people. The traditions I know about are almost never backed up by the book of instruction. An elder from way back when decides this is how it should be and teaches the younger under them, who then teach the younger under them. I have learned the true elect of God must forsake the traditions and doctrines of men and women and seek out the true plan of God in their secret chambers of prayer.

There is no better place to learn about God than personally down on bended knee with prayers and supplications sent to Jesus. When the Holy Ghost comes, it is the Great Teacher that will lead and guide a man or woman into all the truth and will show you things to come.

Jesus pointed out to this particular group of scribes and Pharisees that they also transgress the commandment of God by their traditions, and called them hypocrites. Rings true here about trying to take out a mote from someone else’s eye with beams in their own eyes.

Jesus said these people draw nigh to him with their mouth and honored him with their lips, but their heart was far from him. They taught doctrines in their worship circles that amounted to nothing at all. Their doctrines did not actually get them closer to God, or give them favor with God or any kind of power with God.

What about the people today who demand everyone in the crowd wear a long dress with long sleeves and forbid wearing sleeveless dresses or anything other than a dress or skirt? This is a doctrine taught by the elders of these specific tribes of people, which gets them absolutely nowhere with God, except on the ground floor! It is hard to learn the deep things of God if you teach and hold onto traditions and doctrines of man.

On the outside, they put on a particular type of uniform, which they call “the only holy garment available to Christian women.” In the market and in the streets when they meet each other, they look to see if those from their tribe of people are wearing the uniform and if so, this is suppose to be a statement to each other that they are behaving appropriately and are indeed the children of God. However, the majority of these are hypocrites, drawing nigh to Jesus or God with their mouth, putting the required uniform on the outer part of the body to prove to their peers they are conforming to the rules, but inside their hearts are far from God. Where do they get these rules? Not from the book of instruction and not from the Holy Ghost. They receive these particular traditions and rules from their elders, and just accept this as the true gospel.

Jesus called the multitude near him and said now listen to what I am going to tell you about the type of people who only show an outwardly worship of me. What goes in the mouth is not what defiles a man or a woman, but what comes out of the mouth is what defiles a man or a woman. This holds true also for those who walk around with these specific types of tribal uniforms on in the streets and at the markets as a showing to each other an adherence to their faith. It is not what is put on the outside which shines forth a light of Christianity to anyone and before God, but it is what actually comes forth from the heart. Are there deceits within the heart? If so, those deceits will come forth at some point in time. Is there jealousy in the heart? If so, that jealousy is going to manifest itself as an outward behavior that the uniform cannot hide. God knows them that worship him from the heart. Your immediate church members may not see this when it occurs, but when it does, you can bank on it that Jesus saw it and knew of it even before it was apparent to the outside world of what was truly inside your heart.

Of course the Pharisees were offended after this saying of Jesus, as many people today are offended when you jerk their outer cover off and reveal the true heart that is inside them.

Jesus also said to them that every plant which the heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up. Therefore, just ignore them because they had blind leaders, (most likely the elders of some sect or tribe of people) and if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch at some point or another.

I believe this to mean also for us who see others following after traditions and the doctrines of man rather than the actual instruction book to just ignore them. There will be a separating point somewhere in which all those who are truly not the elect of God will be rooted up and all that will remain will be God’s chosen and proven elect.

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© 2007 Connie Limon. All Rights Reserved