Clean Heart Over Hands Jesus Says

The Pharisees and scribe are out looking for reasons to confront Jesus. Today it is about washing your hands. “I’ll take clean hearts over clean hands” Jesus says.

Jesus and His disciples are under scrutiny all the time. They can’t make a move without someone seeing it and either taking offense, or asking for their portion. We saw the men who had eaten of the bread and fish come and ask for more. They also asked for a sign. THAT blows my mind! What do they think Him feeding all those people with next to nothing was? But I’m getting off track.

Today, the Pharisees are watching Jesus and His disciples sit down to a meal. A time when you think you could ‘let your guard down’. They even have scribes who have come all the way from Jerusalem to check in on this ‘problem’. And of course, they find something to criticize. Let’s rejoin Jesus and His disciples in the region of Capernaum.

Holy Spirit, lead this journey again today. Show me Jesus’ heart and how He silenced those who misled the people. Silence all the voices inside me that cry out against me; especially the critic who is always pointing out failures.

♥ ♦ ♥

Jesus continues on His mission to bring the words of the Father into action. He moves from village to village, preaching the word and ministering to those in need; physically and spiritually.

Today is like any other day. People approach Jesus for healing, relief from demons, and to see what kinds of miracles He might perform today. They are always willing to listen to His teaching too. They don’t always understand, but being in His presence is intoxicating.

In the crowd today is a group of Pharisees and scribes. Absolutely nothing unusual about this. But these scribes have traveled from Jerusalem to find fault with Jesus. Again, nothing unusual.

The day is filled with Jesus ministering to the people. It is exhausting work for Jesus and His disciples. Simon stands guard, ready to respond to any threat against Jesus. Several other disciples organize the people as they approach. Others stand ready to take on any task Jesus points out, including guiding people back so that others may approach Jesus.

With a pause in their work load, some of Jesus’ disciples walk over to where the basket of food is waiting. They are hungry.

“Do you think it would be alright to eat something now” asks James.

“A lot of the people are eating of their own provisions. I suppose it would be alright” replies Matthew.

Those nearby reach into the basket and pull portions for themselves. They begin quietly eating.

“Did you see that” one of the scribes exclaims.

“If you mean that they didn’t do the washing ceremony, then YES, I did see it!”

“They are defiling themselves! How can they possibly claim to be doing the work of the Lord and not following the cleansing practices.”

“We have then now” says the head of the group as he leads them over to where Jesus stands.

Planting his feet and pointing directly at the group of disciples, the leader of the group says; “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat” (Matthew 15:2). His face shows the scorn he holds for these men.

Jesus looks over at His disciples and they begin to squirm. They weren’t even thinking about the traditions when they started eating. They were hungry. All of them stop eating, waiting to hear how Jesus will respond.

Jesus knows the hearts of ALL those around Him. He extends His hand out towards His disciples. He pats the air, in an ‘it’s all right’ fashion as He turns to face their accusers.

Jesus’ face shows disappointment. Not in His disciples, but in their accusers. After a moment, His face turns stern. He does not dignify their accusation with a response. Instead, He questions them.

“And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? ⁴ For God commanded, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’…” Jesus shakes His finger at the group.

“… But you say, ‘If anyone tells his father or his mother, “What you would have gained from me is given to God,” he need not honor his father.’…” Jesus shakes His head in disgust.

“…So for the sake of your tradition you have made void the word of God. You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said: ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men’” (Matthew 15:3-9).

The Pharisees and scribes stand there, glaring daggers at Him. None of them say a word. They know exactly what Jesus is talking about, even though they refuse to admit it.

Jesus looks out at the crowd. “Come closer, all of you. There is something I want you to hear.”

The crowd shifts and the people wait eagerly for Jesus’ words.

“Hear and understand: it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person” (Matthew 15:10-11).

Many of the people heard the Pharisees’ comment and understand that Jesus is speaking to their accusation. Most don’t understand the implication, though none challenge Him or ask Him to explain.

The Pharisees and scribes turn and make their way out of the crowd. As they go, they talk among themselves.

“How dare He say that! Who does He think He is anyway?”

“I would NEVER break God’s Laws. He doesn’t know what He is talking about.”

The disciples nearest the group of accusers overhear them. They begin to worry about Jesus’ safety. Making their way back through the crowd, Andrew and Matthew approach Jesus.

“Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?” (Matthew 15:12)

Jesus shrugs a shoulder. He turns His eyes towards the retreating group. “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up. Let them alone; they are blind guides. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit” (Matthew 15:13-14).

Returning His attention to the people, Jesus continues to minister to them. Simon ponders what Jesus told the people. He plans to ask Him about it, when they are alone.

Evening comes and Jesus dismisses the crowd. “Please, return to your homes. We all need a rest. It has been a long day.”

Once everyone leaves, Jesus and His disciples make their way to the home of James and John’s parents. Their ima is a wonderful cook and she loves to have Jesus and ‘the boys’ over for dinner.

Everyone settles into their places. As the water is passed for the ceremonial hand washing, Simon is reminded of Jesus’ words to the Pharisees. And he has questions. He looks at Jesus with a searching heart. “Explain the parable to us” (Matthew 15:15).

Jesus wags His head. “Are you also still without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is expelled? 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” (Matthew 15:16-20).

Simon nods and then looks down at his hands. He is holding the basin and cup for the ceremonial cleansing. He looks at Jesus who is in the middle of the ritual. “Then why are You washing Your hands now?”

“It is to honor our hosts. It is not a sin to wash or not wash. This ritual washing is not a commandment of God, but of man.”

Zebedee and his wife are listening in. He lays the cup aside. “We are grateful for the honor You have shown us Jesus. And, as of now, that custom is no longer required, or welcome, in our home.”

Smiles light the faces of everyone at the table. Jesus knows that some of His disciples may struggle with this. He looks at Zebedee with a smile. “Would you allow those who are uncomfortable with skipping the tradition to continue performing it; even in your home?”

“I suppose so. But I will be joining those who abstain from following legalistic traditions of man.”

“Well said, Zebedee. And, thank you for your understanding and grace.”

James and John burst into laughter as their abba bows his head toward Jesus.

After everyone is finished with their meal, Jesus leads His disciples out into the garden. “I’m weary of dealing with the Pharisees condemning eye. For a change of pace, we are going to set out for the region of Tyre and Sidon tomorrow. That will give us a break for a little while.”

“Are we going to stay there? What about the people here?”

“We will be back, and we will continue to minister to the people of Israel. But, for now, I will speak to the Gentiles.”

No more is said for the night. There will be plenty of time to talk about what lies ahead in the morning.

(to be continued)

My sister was one to be perpetually washing her hands when we were growing up. I think she still does, at least to some extent. We called her the ‘germ inspector’. One time my dad got really frustrated with her. He and my mom had come home and brought treats for us kids. My older sister was holding a shovel when they came and offered us our candy bars. My sister said she had to go wash her hands first because she was touching a shovel that had been used to bury a dead mouse.

“Were you touching the part that touched the mouse?”

“No. I was touching the handle.”

“Then you don’t need to worry about it.”

“I still have to go and wash my hands though.”

“I’m going to rub this candy bar in the dog’s ear and make you eat it if you don’t stop this.”

Needless to say, she took the candy without washing her hands. I don’t know for sure if she ate it though. She may have felt it was contaminated and secretly tossed it in the trash.

Jesus was NOT telling His disciples that washing your hands when they are dirty wasn’t important, but that the ritual required by the Pharisees was. The ritual did NOTHING to enhance a person’s righteousness or standing with God. The heart is where that relationship comes from. God wants relationship over religion or ritual.

Father God, thank You for allowing me to come with ‘dirty hands’ at times. Thank You for building our relationship. I have been struggling to carve out time and mental focus for us lately. NOT because I have ‘lost interest’ or don’t care. But so much has taken my focus that I haven’t been faithful to sit down every day and listen to Your stories. Today, You just showed me that I was turning our time into ‘ritual’ and requirements.

“Our relationship isn’t going to crumble just because you miss a day. Listen to me in other ways, for I AM speaking to your heart.”

Thank You Lord for giving me that grace. Thank You for filling my heart with songs of praise and prayers as I struggle with finding my footing with the changes in my husband’s needs. Help me to be sensitive to his needs and patient with the demands placed on me.

Help his body adjust to the changes and heal. Keep his spark burning.