Insightful Musings on the Scriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

Good afternoon, dear ones.

And it is indeed a pleasant afternoon here in Molalla. It’s a bit cool, but a nice day. Becki and I did a little walk/jog routine on our own property again this morning when it was just under 40 degrees.

I was able to get my old man nap in before we did our Gospel Sing thing at Pheasant Point. So now it’s a matter of preparing for another heavy week.

Blessings on the rest of your day.

Love, Dad/Ray.

This passage presents another view of the conflict between an authentic HEART AFTER GOD and superficial RELIGION. In other words, it’s a comparison of interior and exterior. Throughout scripture we see this dichotomy of man addressed. We learn that man is composed of both an exterior (the outside, the physical, the outward appearance, the body), and an interior (the inside, the soul and spirit, the center, the heart). Jesus is proclaiming in no uncertain terms that the interior of a man is far far FAR more important in establishing either his righteousness or unrighteousness before God than his exterior. Indeed, a dirty interior is what tends to produce a dirty exterior. What an idea!

Let’s understand that public ceremony is a focus on the exterior. Rightly used, it is to be a true expression of the interior. So then, ceremonial anything is really quite worthless if it does not involve the interior—the heart. A ceremonial wedding is not very healthy or lasting if it does not involve a heart-level love and commitment to each other as a husband and wife. A ceremonial baptism is of no value that does not accompany the heart condition of being “dead to sin, but alive to God” (Rom. 6:11). Ceremonial Holy Communion is of no value if it does not reflect the heart’s hunger for and identification with Christ (Gal. 2:20). Ceremonial conversion of going forward in an altar call and “saying” a prayer is useless if it is not a manifestation of a heart-felt love for Christ and surrender to His Lordship. We are wise to make sure this important truth expounded by Jesus always remains in a prominent place within our understanding.

Listen again to the rebuke Jesus drops on the antagonistic religionists. I’ll insert a few words of my own for clarification. He first quotes Isaiah saying, “Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written: ‘These people honor me with their lips (exterior, religion), but their hearts (interior, heart orientations) are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men (religion).’ You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men” (Mark 7:6-8).

Listen also to the clarification He gives a little later: “What comes out of a man is what makes him 'unclean.' For from within, out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside (interior) and make a man 'unclean'” (Mark 7:20-23). That’s clearly bad stuff!

For an example of “the commands of God” we can point to the first and foremost command according to Jesus—“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37). Do you see the mathematical equation of protection and victory given us here? If we will love God 100%, there will no room for any percentage of defiling “evil thought, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, etc.” And if the interior is full of loving God and living to please Him, there will be no “unclean” displays to reach the exterior.