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Audio
Tablet Twenty-Four
Chapter 15
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"Then came to
Esa
scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying,"
"Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of
the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread."
(Matthew 15:1-2) |
<1>The scribes and Pharisees who were
supposed to be the spiritual leaders for others by setting an
example, instead had exploited others and created a wealthy
distinguished class as superiors. <2>It was because they had
great wealth, were not worried about anything and had time, that
they would keep themselves very clean and would wash their hands
often. This distinguished them from the common people. That is why
they criticized
Christ
for his disciples who were not as physically clean as they were.
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"But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye
also transgress the commandment of
God by your tradition?"
"For God
commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that
curseth father or mother, let him die the death."
"But ye say, Whosoever shall say to
his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest
be profited by me;"
"And honour not his father or his mother, he
shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of
God of none effect by your tradition." (Matthew 15:3-6)
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<3>So
Christ
answered them that they break the Laws of the Lord and His
Commandments by their false tradition. Then they complained about
his disciples who had broken a law of man (tradition)! <4>Which
one is more important for a true spiritual person, the Laws and
Commandments of the Lord or the traditions of men?
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"Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,"
"This people draweth nigh unto me with their
mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from
me." (Matthew 15:7-8)
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<5>The words are worth nothing, it is the
heart which should become spiritualized. Many people talk about
love, devotion,
surrendering,
sacrifice,
universalism, etc,
<6>but unless the person becomes love, devotion,
surrendering, etc,
what he says are just words.
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"But in vain they do worship me, teaching for
doctrines the commandments of men." (Matthew 15:9)
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<7>Unless you become
God's Laws, only the
repetition of words or talking about Him is all in vain. Those who
stay in this illusion that they can follow the laws of men instead
of
God have no choice but to
become hypocrites and teach the doctrines and commandments of men
instead of
God. <8>That is why
it is necessary for the human to direct all his attention toward
God
and have no fear of men nor long for any approval but His.
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"And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and
understand:"
"Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a
man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man."
(Matthew 15:10-11)
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<9>Whatever comes out of the mouth comes from
the heart. So he who defiles the Laws of
God by his teachings not only defiles his own Soul but causes
society to go astray also.
<10>A person with soiled hands might damage himself
physically, but a leader with an impure heart will bring great
suffering to others.
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"Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the
Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying?"
"But he answered and said, Every plant, which my
heavenly
Father hath not planted,
shall be rooted up."
"Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the
blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the
ditch." (Matthew 15:12-14)
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<11>His disciples told him that the Pharisees
were offended. <12>However,
Christ was not here to please men, but to say the truth. <13>If
the truth offends someone, it is not the fault of the Prophet but it
is the filthiness of that person which will cause him to be
offended. That is why
Christ
referred to them as the blind leaders that only the blind
(spiritually) would follow. Then both would fall together into the
grip of the illusion of this world, "into the ditch."
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"Then answered Peter and said unto him, Declare unto us this
parable."
"And Esa
said, Are ye also yet without understanding?" (Matthew 15:15-16)
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<14>Esa
became surprised that after all this time and effort he had put on
his disciples, they still did not understand such a simple parable
and teaching.
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"Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth
goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught?"
"But those things which proceed out
of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man."
"For out of the heart proceed
evil thoughts, murders,
adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:"
"These are the things which defile a man: but to
eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man." (Matthew 15:17-20)
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<15>A person who has purified his
spirit will not do
sin (bad actions) and will
not transgress the Laws of the Lord. To eat with unwashed hands is
not a
sin
but evil thoughts,
murders, adulteries, fornications, etc, are
sins which are done because of dirty hearts (spirits).
<16>However, to have a clean
spirit and also to wash
the hands is the best.
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