Issues Of The Heart
Or
Hear And Understand
Sept. 6, 2020
Scripture To Consider:
“When Jesus had called the multitude to Himself, He said to them, ‘Hear and understand: not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.’ Then His disciples came and said to Him, ‘Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?’ But He answered and said, ‘Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch.’”
“Then Peter answered and said to Him, ‘Explain this parable to us.’ So Jesus said, ‘Are you also still without understanding? Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated? But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man.’” Matthew 15.10-20
Something To Consider:
Jesus rebuked the religious appearing leaders for their emphasis on the outward observance of the traditions of men. To the multitude who chose to still follow Him, He admonished them by stating; “Hear and understand: not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.”
In other words, the real problem remains to be our living lives with unwashed hearts and allowing the entrance of evil into our hearts. For according to Jesus, “For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts.” Therefore, what is it that we are allowing into our hearts through the eye and or ear gate?
Moses, in Deuteronomy 32.28-29, wrote on behalf of God, speaking of the rebellious nation of Israel, declared; “For they are a nation void of counsel, nor is there any understanding in them. Oh, that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end [final outcome].”
God called the nation of Israel to hear and to understand! He so desired them to consider the end of their continued refusal to hear and to understand. He desired them to hear and to heed or obey the commands of God. God’s desire for this 21st century generation of followers to hear and to understand is as was toward the nation of Israel. Therefore, are we too guilty of hearing but not truly understanding?
Something Else To Consider:
But the disciples were concerned about the Pharisees being offended by what Jesus had said. For Jesus had called them hypocrites in the previous Scripture to consider. He had used their Old Testament sacred Scriptures to point a convicting and convincing finger squarely in their direction. And this concerned the disciples. Does the offending of religious appearing leaders when they have strayed from the Word of God, concern us?
Therefore, Jesus assured them of who was in control by saying; “Every plant [religious system and or leader] which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind.” In other words, leave them to their outward religious traditions of hand washing. We are to concentrate on the spiritual benefit of washing the heart and the mind with the life generating water of the Word of God.
In the book of Job, in chapter 28, Job asks in verse 20; “From where then does wisdom come? And where is the place of understanding?” He answers his own question in verse 28, by stating; “Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to depart from evil is understanding.” Solomon revealed in Proverbs 8.13; “The fear of the Lord is to hate evil.” Therefore, do we fear or respect the Lord and do we hate evil? Are we departing from evil on a daily basis or are we flirting with the evil that so pervades our society.
Again, Solomon proclaimed in Proverbs 13.21, “Evil pursues sinners, but to the righteous, good shall be repaid.” In other words, we reap what we sow! Are the issues of our heart filled with evil? If so, we will reap the abundance of evil! Are our hearts filled with the righteousness of the Word of God? If so, we reap the righteous rewards of God’s goodness both here and now upon planet earth, and throughout all eternity!
Something More To Consider:
Therefore, let us not be concerned with what goes into the mouth, but rather those things that go into the heart. For according to Jesus, “But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man [woman or young person].” As future leaders and leaders in training, we are to be aware of those who place an over emphasis on outward appearances, and place little to no value on the spiritual condition of the heart.
Also according to Jesus, we are to stay focused on the issues of the heart that we may be able to, “Hear and understand!” For according to the apostle Paul, “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” Therefore, if you are reading this lesson of a lifetime, you are hearing that which will enrich you spiritually and help you to understand further, what the will of God is for you. Therefore, the will of God is that we hear the Word of God and understand!
By our studying the Word of God to show ourselves approved unto God, we are looking to the end result and establishing what we will reap in the latter days. Are we prepared spiritually, physically, and mentally for the coming of end time events? And if not, what is it that is hindering us?
Much of the New Testament and portions of the Old Testament have been written that we might be warned and properly prepared. Are we hearing and are we understanding what the Holy Spirit is saying to the true church of the living God? If we are hearing but still not understanding, we must seek God’s free gift of discernment!
A Few Final Words:
David wrote in Psalm 33.8; “Let all the earth fear the LORD. Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.” David, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit continued his divine thought by proclaiming in verse 18; “Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him, on those who hope in His mercy, to deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.”
There is a famine of the Word of God in the earth today! There is a famine of hearing and understanding the Word of God. There is a great famine of proclaiming the truth of the Word of God, even within the so-called church in this 21st century generation. Therefore, we must open our hearts and allow the hearing and the understanding of the Word of God to fill all the issues of our hearts, minds, and homes before it is too late.
That which is allowed to enter a person’s heart, good, bad, or indifferent, is exactly what is being sanctioned to exit at a later date. For according to Jesus, “For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.” Let us be found allowing the understanding of the Word of God to be flowing forth from our hearts!
Prayer:
Our Father in heaven, open our spiritual eyes and ears that we may see, hear, and truly understand the importance of inward holiness as we abide in Christ and His words abide in us. In Him Always, Amen!
According to Jesus 