What Jesus Really Thinks About Religion!

Mark

Who is This Jesus?

What Jesus Really Thinks About Religion!

Mark 7:1-23

Why Jesus had a problem with the Religious Elite

1. Religion emphasizes Rules

And they observe many other traditions, such as the washing of cups, pitchers and kettles. So the Pharisees and teachers of the law asked Jesus, “Why don’t your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders instead of eating their food with defiled hands?” Vs. 4-5

Christianity Emphasizes Commands

You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.” Vs. 6-8

 2.  Religion Looks for

And he continued, “You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions! For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and mother,’ and, ‘Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.’ But you say that if anyone declares that what might have been used to help their father or mother is Corban (that is, devoted to God)— then you no longer let them do anything for their father or mother. Vs. 9-12

Christianity looks to God’s Word

Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that.” Vs. 13

3. Religion Focuses on the and what

He replied, “Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites Vs. 6

Again Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen to me, everyone, and understand this. Nothing outside a person can defile them by going into them. Rather, it is what comes out of a person that defiles them.” Vs. 14-15

Christianity Focuses on the and what only

“‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.’ Vs. 7

He went on: “What comes out of a person is what defiles them. For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come Vs. 21

Being right with God requires a heart

Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again. John 3:3

If you want to know the condition of your heart, look at your

 For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder,  adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and defile a person.” Vs. 21-23