Chosen to Choose – Sunday 1st September- Lay led – Paul Ridley
“The Pharisees and some of the teachers of the law who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus and saw some of his disciples eating food with hands that were defiled, that is, unwashed. (The Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they give their hands a ceremonial washing, holding to the tradition of the elders. When they come from the marketplace they do not eat unless they wash. 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?’
He replied, ‘Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written: “These people honour me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.” You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.’
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.’
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.”
Journey Invitation:
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Today’s text speaks of being dirty in the eyes of God. The Pharisees bring it up and Jesus takes it a whole lot further.
So, “Am I clean or unclean?”
“What makes me clean or unclean?”
- The Rituals and Traditions of the Elders
The passage begins with the Pharisees and some teachers of the law criticizing Jesus’ disciples for not following the ceremonial washing traditions. These rituals were deeply ingrained in Jewish culture and were seen as necessary for maintaining purity. Washing hands before eating, cleansing cups, jugs and kettles were all part of a complex system designed to keep people ritually clean and therefore right with God.
What rituals and traditions do we have today that we think will put us right with God? Maybe things like; attending church services, generous giving, saying grace before meals, learning the catechism by heart, participating in sacraments and adhering to specific codes of conduct. Don’t get me wrong, these practices are important and can be meaningful expressions of faith.
However, the danger lies in allowing them to become the things that mark us as Christian in themselves, rather than ways to a deeper relationship with God.
Jesus’ response to the Pharisees is a stark reminder that activities on the outside alone is not what it is all about. Quoting Isaiah, He says,
“These people honour me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.”
Jesus condemns the emptiness of ritual without heart engagement.
What about our own religious practices?
Do they truly reflect an inward devotion to God?
- The Challenge of Heart Transformation
Jesus then shifts the focus from external practices to the internal state of the heart. He calls the crowd to listen and understand that
“nothing outside a person can defile them by going into them. Rather, it is what comes out of a person that defiles them.”
This radical statement challenges the common religious practices of His time and calls for a deeper, more genuine internal spirituality.
The heart, in biblical terms, represents the middle of our being — the centre of our thoughts, emotions and will. Jesus identifies the heart as the source of evil thoughts and actions, listing a litany of sins: sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance, and folly. These sins are not merely external actions but come out of corrupted sinful hearts.
It’s easier to follow rituals and maintain outward appearances than to confront the inner darkness that Jesus is describing. Rituals can give us a sense of control and predictability. They can make us feel righteous and accepted within our church community. Heart transformation is messy and unpredictable. It requires vulnerability, honesty, and a willingness to let God reveal and heal the deepest parts of our being.
- Contemporary Reflections on Ritual vs. Heart Transformation
In contemporary society, we can see the tension between external conformity and internal transformation in various aspects of life.
Consider the modern phenomenon of social media. Many people curate their online profiles to project an image of success, happiness, and moral health. This can be likened to the Pharisees’ emphasis on external cleanliness. However, beneath the surface, many struggle with insecurity, jealousy, and discontent — echoes of the inner dirt that Jesus points to.
We see this tension in our church life too. It’s often more comfortable for us to focus on our outward religious practices (that everyone else can see) than to deal with the difficult stuff of our secret sins; yeah, you know those things no one ekse knows about. Yet, Jesus’ teaching calls us to examine our priorities and to seek a faith that is lived from the inside out; the challenging work of inner change.
In our churches, we might diligently follow liturgical practices, participate in church activities, and uphold traditions. These are good and valuable aspects of communal faith life. Yet, if they become substitutes for a genuine relationship with God, they lose their true purpose. We need to ask ourselves:
Are we more concerned with appearing spiritual than with being transformed by the Spirit?
- The Path to Heart Transformation
So, how do we move from mere ritual observance to true heart transformation? The journey begins with real humility and a willingness to admit our need for God’s grace. In Psalm 51, David models a heart of repentance when he prays,
“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me.”
This prayer acknowledges both the problem of an unclean heart and the genuine need for divine intervention.
We need to grow a regular practice of real self-examination and confession. This involves regularly bringing our thoughts, attitudes, and actions before God and asking Him to show us our sin. Confession is not a mere prayer formality but a heartfelt acknowledgment of our shortcomings and a plea for God’s cleansing and His Holy Spirit change.
It is also important that we immerse ourselves in scripture. God’s Word is a powerful tool for heart transformation.
Hebrews 4:12 describes it as,
“living and active, sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”
As we read and meditate on Scripture, the Holy Spirit uses it to convict, correct, and guide us.
Further to these, seek guidance and accountability in a faith community. A Christian life is not a solitary journey. We need the support and encouragement of fellow believers to help us grow in faith and character. Small groups, bible studies, and one-on-one mentoring relationships can provide a safe space for honest sharing and mutual accountability.
Most importantly, we need to engage in regular prayer, not just as a ritual (although that can help) but as a sincere conversation with God. Prayer is where we lay our hearts bare before our Creator, express our deepest desires and fears, and listen for His voice. It is in this intimate communion with God that our hearts are gradually transformed.
- The Role of the Holy Spirit in Transformation
To be clear, our heart transformation is ultimately the work of the Holy Spirit. Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would guide us into all truth, convict us of sin, and empower us to live holy lives. This means that heart transformation is not something we achieve through our own efforts, but it comes through the Spirit’s work within us.
The Holy Spirit reveals the depth of our sin and our need for God’s grace. He helps us to understand Scripture and applies it to our lives. He gives us the strength to resist temptation and to choose righteousness. He produces the fruit of the Spirit in us,
… love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).
- The Sacraments: Baptism and Communion
In our Lutheran tradition, we have been given precious means of grace — His word, which we can both read in our bibles and hear preached in our sermons, and the sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion. These sacraments are not mere rituals but profound encounters with God’s transforming grace.
Baptism is not just a ceremonial washing but a sacrament where we are united with Christ in His death and resurrection. Through Baptism, we are cleansed from sin, reborn as children of God, and sealed by the Holy Spirit. It marks the beginning of our journey of faith and transformation.
In Romans 6:4, Paul writes,
“We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.”
Holy Communion is another vital means of grace. In Communion, we receive the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, given and shed for the forgiveness of our sins. This sacrament nourishes our faith, strengthens our union with Christ, and empowers us for holy living.
In John 6:56, Jesus says,
“Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them.”
Communion is a profound mystery where we experience the presence and grace of Christ in a real and tangible way.
Through Baptism and Communion, we receive God’s grace in a direct and personal way and are also reminded of His promises. These sacraments are not mere rituals to be performed but powerful means through which the Holy Spirit works to transform our hearts and lives.
Conclusion:
So, “Am I clean or unclean?” In God’s eyes it’s not about external observance. It involves the transformation of our hearts by the Holy Spirit through the means of grace — the word, Baptism and Communion. Let’s not settle for mere ritual but seek the deep, transformative work of God in our lives.
May we, like David, pray for a pure heart and a new and right spirit. May we engage in self-examination, immerse ourselves in Scripture, participate in authentic community with one another, and cultivate a sincere prayer life. And above all, may we rely on the Holy Spirit to transform us from the inside out.
Let us pray:
Heavenly Father, we come before You with humble hearts, acknowledging our need for Your grace. Create in us clean hearts, O God, and renew a right spirit within us. Help us to move beyond mere ritual observance and to seek true transformation by the power of Your Holy Spirit. May our lives reflect Your love and grace, bringing glory to Your name.
In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
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