Hints Explained

04.28.13

Matthew 15.18-20 18 But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. 20 These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone.” (ESV)

To an ancient Jew these were very powerful words because to him it meant a change in the Law. To an ancient Jew it was always important what you did, not so much who you were; you were what you did because you followed the rules – and keeping the rules kept one clean. Even converts knew that.

But Jesus stood right there that day and said, “But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone.” (ESV) I can almost hear the gasps today. Jesus said keeping the rules didn't deal with what was in the heart; and what was in the heart was the issue.

Consider what Paul called the believers in the early church: Do you not know that you [collectively] are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? (1 Corinthians 3.16) Jesus never called the Israelites of His day a temple, they wouldn't have understood – they had a Temple. The Jews had Law, the Gentiles have grace. The Jews were held to faithful obedience to God; the Gentiles are held to faithful relationship with God.

We are not held to Jesus’ commands because we are temples of the Holy Spirit: “Or do you not know that your body [singularly] is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” (1 Corinthians 6.19-20 ESV) Our association with God the Father is through Christ the Son. But we are not held to changes in the Law because for us there is no law…but there is fruit of the Holy Spirit (Cf. Galatians 5). What comes out of us may be wrong, inconsiderate, or downright evil, but the believer is a temple where the Holy Spirit dwells and where the Holy Spirit dwells and is honored there is fruit that will last; fruit that will make a difference in the world.

To the Jew then there was the command: I desire mercy, not sacrifice (Matthew 9.13) There was to be heart in the execution of the Law. For the Gentile believer there is to be fruit borne from association with the Spirit Who dwells within.

Jesus hinted at this; Paul explained it. Jesus was sold out to the Father of Mercy; Paul tells us of the Father of grace. For the Jew it is merciful law; for the Gentile it’s faith by grace.

Father, forgive me of my stupidity and ignorance of Who, What, and Where Your Spirit is; help me to better understand Your grace and my relationship to You through Your Son by the presence of Your Holy Spirit… Amen.