The Cancer of Hypocrisy in the Body of Christ is Killing It

1. The Cancer of Hypocrisy in the Body of Christ is Killing It Mark 7:1-9

2. Disputes over Tradition • I. The Issue of Washing Hands (1-8) • II. The Issue of Corban (9-13) • III. The Issue of Kosher Food (14-23) Outline

3. Then came together unto him [Jesus] the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, which came from Jerusalem. Mark7:1

4. Pharisees Members of a Jewish sect of the intertestamental period noted for strict observance of rites and ceremonies of the written law and for insistence on the validity of their own oral traditions concerning the law.

5. Scribes A class of scholars who taught, copied, and interpreted the Jewish law for the people. Luke describes scribes as lawyers.

6. And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, • they found fault. Mark 7:2 Look at these 3 words

7. For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, • holding the tradition of the elders. Mark 7:3

8. tradition an inherited, established, or customary pattern of thought, action, or behavior (as a religious practice or a social custom)

9. Each Jewish community had its council of elders, who had general administrative oversight and represented the community in relations with Roman authorities. Their primary duty was judicial. They were custodians of the law and its traditional interpretations (see Mt 15:2), and they were charged with both its enforcement and the punishment of offenders. The most important of these councils of elders was the Sanhedrin in Jerusalem, a group of 71 men who acted as the final court for the entire nation.

10. And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. • And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brasen vessels, and of tables. Mark 7:4

11. Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands? Mark 7:5

12. Let’s Look @ Christ’s Response

13. He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias [Isaiah] prophesied of you hypocrites, Mark 7:6 Isaiah spoke these words 800 years before Christ quoted from Isaiah 29.

14. The word hypocrisy comes from a time when actors would play multiple parts by changing their masks. The Art of professing CHRISTIAN beliefs, feelings, or virtues that one does not really hold or possess. unknown

15. Hypocrisy Hypocrisy must be viewed as a cancer that has to be cut out of the body of Christ as soon as it is identified.

16. Let’s Talk about Cancer Surgery in the Body of Christ

17. 1 John 1:9 • If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Cancer Surgery

18. James 5:16 • Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. • The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Advanced Cancer Surgery

19. He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias [Isaiah] prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. Mark 7:6 Isaiah 29:13 LXX

20. Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men: Isaiah 29:13

21. Without a good explanation, this could be perceived as hypocrisy—going to the movie theater is wrong, but watching the same movie at home is ok. Baptist Hypocrisy

22. Overeating could be perceived as hypocrisy. • Dipping snuff is sin that God hates, but God is “ok” with my overeating habits. Baptist Hypocrisy

23. Great potential exists for Baptists to be perceived as hypocrites when a big deal is made of the sin of homosexuality but fornication in the body of Christ is ignored or, worse yet, swept under the rug. Baptist Hypocrisy

24. Howbeit (conjunction) [And] • in vain do they worship me, Mark 7:7 What a statement!

25. teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. Mark 7:7 Do Baptist churches do this today?

26. something held as an established opinion; especially: a definite authoritative tenet • Merriam-Webster Doctrine is Dogma

27. The KJB issue is nowhere to be found in the Bible and was not an issue for 1900 years yet it has become exceptionally divisive in the last 50 years. Is this a tradition? It is a commandment of men? KJB

28. Sunday School, Sunday morning, Sunday evening, and Wednesday evening services • Organized Visitation on a particular night • Separate altar call with music playing • Southern Gospel is “ok” but that other music is… Commandments of Men

29. Question If these things are commandments of men—why do we do them?

30. Sunday School, Sunday morning, Sunday evening, and Wednesday evening services • Organized Visitation on a particular night • Separate altar call with music playing • Southern Gospel is “ok” but that other music is… Commandments of Men

31. For laying aside the commandment of God, • ye hold the tradition of men, • as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. Mark 7:8

32. Traditions of Men Are Scribal Interpretations

33. Deuteronomy 22:5 • The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman’s garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God. Tradition is often formed as someone attempts to interpret this commandment. The more people accept the interpretation, the more ingrained the tradition becomes in a particular community. Illustration

34. I am not going to interpret the gray areas for you. People are going to come down differently on different issues and we are going to need to respect our soul liberty in the body of Christ to keep the traditions of men from becoming superior to the Word of God. Warning

35. Matthew 7:5 • Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; • and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye. Jesus Said

36. Critical Self-Examination Is the key to avoiding the cancer of hypocrisy! Early detection is crucial for survivor.

37. Acts 17:10–11 • And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. • These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. Our Church Name—Berean

38. Traditions in the church should be like traditions for holidays in your home. Do you have Turkey or Ham for Christmas Dinner?

39. Look Back at V. 2 When I find fault with others because of my tradition there is a problem

40. When does the tradition become a problem in God’s eyes?

41. And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, • that ye may keep your own tradition. Mark 7:9 Why

42. Question What is “the commandment of God?”

43. Turn to Mark 12:28ff For the Answer

44. And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all? • And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

45. You know you have a problem when you love your rules more than your relationship with God.

46. If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: • for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? 1 John 4:20

47. You know you have a problem when you love your tradition more than you love those that God loves.

48. Conclusion Matthew 23 13, 14, 15, 23, 25, 27, 28, 29

49. And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Matthew 24:51