Location and TimesMatthew 15:8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
They were figuring out ways to justify their behavior regardless of what God had said clearly in His Word. They were substituting commandments of men for the Word of God.
Both of this sins or mistakes seem to be very common today. Today we too have figured out ways around what we know to be clear Bible teaching. The church has lost its power today for this very reason. We have also become more concerned about whatever society says as right and wrong rather than what the Word of God says.
Each of our religious institutions have, like the Pharisees, put up a fence around the law. We know that the Bible doesn’t necessarily say it but we feel like it is important and good. Our young people come to the Bible and can’t see what we say God wants.
They think that if God really says it that they should be able to see it in the Word. They look and it isn’t there. They then rebel not so much against God but against our religious opinion that is often not based on Bible.
We are causing people to do what we have done. We honor Him with our lips but our hearts are far away. I want to love Him. I want it to be from the very center of my being.
I do not want to play spiritual. I want it to be who I am. I do not want to be a hypocrite.
I do not want to preach to others what I do not live myself. I do not want to honor Him with my lips, my words and not my heart.
Has God spoken to you today? Do you see in any way how you are playing religious games? Could it be that you honor Him with your lips but your heart is far from Him?