Scripture:

5 The Pharisees and the teachers of the law said to Jesus, “Why don’t your followers obey the unwritten laws which have been handed down to us? Why do your followers eat their food with hands that are not clean?” 6 Jesus answered, “Isaiah was right when he spoke about you hypocrites. He wrote, ‘These people show honor to me with words, but their hearts are far from me. 7 Their worship of me is worthless. The things they teach are nothing but human rules.’ 8 You have stopped following the commands of God, and you follow only human teachings.” 9 Then Jesus said to them, “You cleverly ignore the commands of God so you can follow your own teachings. 10 Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and ‘Anyone who says cruel things to his father or mother must be put to death.’ 11 But you say a person can tell his father or mother, ‘I have something I could use to help you, but it is Corban—a gift to God.’ 12 You no longer let that person use that money for his father or his mother. 13 By your own rules, which you teach people, you are rejecting what God said. And you do many things like that.” (Mark 7:5-13 NCV)

Observation:

The Pharisees and religious scholars always put on a good show of the rituals and tried to cover up what they were not doing by saying they were doing things for God. How foolish of them we can say now as we look back. Did they not know that God sees what is in our hearts?

Application:

Fast forward to today and have a look at what we do that might be considered, ‘a big show of saying and doing the right thing, but not having our heart in it’. God really does see and know what is in our hearts; we can’t hide from Him.

Prayer:

Lord, I really don’t want to do things for show. I want a heart that is right with you. My desire is to please you with the things that I do and think. I love you. AMEN

All you nations, praise the Lord. All you people, praise him because the Lord loves us very much and his truth is everlasting. Psalm 117