Their heart is far from me

Bible Reading: Mark 7

Mark 7:6 He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.

The scribes and Pharisees of Jesus' day were very concerned with religion. They had a whole list of things that religious men were supposed to do or to avoid. They were especially focused on washing their hands and their dishes. If they could not wash properly, they would not eat. This was seen as being very pious and holy.

This is what religion always does. It gives you a set of external standards to do. If you do these, you are accepted. If you do not, you are seen as a compromiser.

Jesus pointed out that they were hypocrites. That word means a 'play actor'. They were pretending to be pious, but in reality, they were sinful at heart. Their outward bodies might be clean, but their inward souls were dirty. They talked about God and religious things, but their hearts did not belong to God.

Don't fall into this trap. A relationship with Jesus is not a set of rules. It is a reality where we understand and confess our sin and receive Jesus into our lives. All the rituals in the world will not save you. Only Jesus can save you. All the washing in the world cannot cleanse your heart. Only the precious blood of Jesus can cleanse from sin.

Jesus wants us to love him with all our heart. Outward religion is not love. It is only ritual. Love is from a pure heart. We need to pray with David:

Psalms 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

He will do! When he comes in, he cleans up the house.

In Christ,
Rody