Title: A Contrast in Hearts
Text: Matthew 15: 1-28
Date: September 26, 2010
Place: Grace Fellowship Church, East Greenville, PA
In the two accounts we find between the Phrarisees and this woman we see a contrast in the natural religious heart of men and the pure heart of faith which is the creation and gift of God. The Pharisees and scribes were the religious establishment of the day. In our day they might be compared to the conservative, fundamental, evangelicals who profess to believe Christ. The Sadducees were the liberal, free-thinkers much like those who are the more bold free-will worshippers of the day. Why is it that two groups like this who normally opposed each other, received one another and became one in the crucifixion of Jesus Christ the Prince of Life?
Why is that people who claim in their creeds to believe in the sovereign free grace of God will take sides with will-worshippers, compromising the very essential truth that Christ obtained the redemption of a particular people at Calvary making his work a total success and triumph which shall not fail to call out whom he will and pass by whom he will? How is it that those who claim in creed to be one with us would sooner embrace those who claim Christ died for all men and merely made salvation possible rather than stand with us whose gospel gives all the glory to God and none to man?
The Pharisee's claimed to be worshipping God, just as Paul and Peter and James and the other disciples. But one side had their hearts and minds set on Christ while the other side had their hearts and minds set on carnal, outward, things of the earth. So the Pharisee's and scribes came--not bowing and rejoicing--but questioning him over things that had no importance whatsoever--traditions and commandments of men. They had a creed written by some council of elders centuries before which they had always followed. Now when the Gospel Incarnate came to them rather than bowing to the Word himself they chose their tradition and commandments of men.
Matthew 15:2: Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.
I get so sick of men who come off as being so sincere and concerned for the glory of God who after they have listened to the triune God exalted in the messages, then visited and heard Christ is the one message we preach, and heard numerous messages where ruined by the fall, redemption by the blood, regeneration by the Spirit is preach consistently, after hearing throughout the messages these works of grace taught which are only in spirit by Christ Jesus--then they want to ask and debate and question why we do not adhere to some silly tradition they read out of a book or that some other church follows. Would to God you could see that there is just as much nonsense and ignorance in such trifling as there was for these Pharisees to argue with the Word who is God, over some silly tradition with whom they probably could not even tell you the origination or why it was even practiced one time in the beginning.
Men will grab on to whatever looks impressive to the eye and over generations they will hold to that tradition as if God commanded and have no idea that it has nothing whatsoever to do with true salvation.
So to these Pharisees who had their minds set on carnal things--who thought they were keeping the law of God and expected to be accepted in the law--the Lord shows them that not only can no man come to God that way, but those who attempt to do so change the law and mingle it with their traditions so as to only appear outwardly to be keeping the law.
Matthew 15:3: But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? 4: For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death. 5: But ye say, Whosoever shall say to [his] father or [his] mother, [It is] a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; 6: 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.
Why is it that men will argue over every insignificant thing they can think of instead of hearing and rejoicing and join with the saints when they hear this gospel of God's free salvation accomplished according to God's eternal purpose, in Christ Jesus, through the Spirit of God? Why will they not rejoice when they hear that salvation is from beginning to end the work of God because sinners are too destitute and bankrupt to ever even know how to help themselves, must less have any ability to? Why do men not rejoice to hear God saves worms such as we are?
Matthew 15:7: [Ye] hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, 8: This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with [their] lips; but their heart is far from me. 9: But in vain they do worship me, teaching [for] doctrines the commandments of men.
It is a heart problem. Outwardly, they draw near. Outwardly, they are moral. Outwardly, they claim to believe God. But the Lord Jesus Christ says their heart is far from me. Not only this, but the Lord says that their worship is "in vain." They are teaching man-made doctrines as if they are the commandments of God.
Matthew 15:10: And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand: 11: Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.
If you don't wash your hands it doesn't defile you. If you drink a glass of wine, that doesn't defile you? If you eat pork, that doesn't defile you? It is what comes out that defiles you. It is not what you touch or do not touch, what you do or do not do, whether you observe this day or that or no day at all--we are not worshipping things or days or our hands--the believer worships in spirit and in truth and our all is Christ Jesus the Lord.
The words that came out of the mouths of these Pharisees as they opposed Christ and defended their traditions, these things defiled them in the sense that they came from a defiled heart of corruption.
Matthew 12:34: O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
Drop down to verse 19--the defilement that came from those men came from the heart--here is what all their duty, all their traditions, all their religion really was:
Matthew 15: 19: For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: 20: These are [the things] which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.
That is what the natural heart is. The law is against it. But when the Lord creates a new heart, "the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law" (Galatians 5:22-23). The new heart, the new man, created after the image of God is made up of spirit and this is the Spirit of our God. Those who are made one with him are filled with this fruit and there is no law against the fruit of the Spirit. If ye be led of the Spirit you are not under the law but under grace (Galatians 5: 18.)
Does that offend you? You might find what company you are in if you read the next verse:
Matthew 15:12: Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying?
Should we be overly concerned or run after them when fine, moral, well-respected religious men like this argue and debate and are offended at the truth of the gospel? What does the Master teach us to do and why?
Matthew 15:13: But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. 14: Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch
LET THEM ALONE! If God has planted a man then he will love this gospel but if not he will have no root in him. We have no business trying to root up anyone. Preach the word. Give men time to hear what our gospel declares. Our enemies will say so themselves that their god is not as our God.
Deuteronomy 32:31: For their rock [is] not as our Rock, even our enemies themselves [being] judges.
Spiritually blind men will follow spiritually blind leaders. If they do they both will turn from Christ from the HighWay, from the Church of God, from the nearest place where the truth of Christ is preached and they will fall into those ditches where man is preached under the cloak of grace and love for God. If God had planted them they would not. Christ Jesus the Lord says, "Leave them alone!"
NOW NOTICE THIS. The apostles had some misunderstanding with what the Lord was teaching them. Can't you imagine that Peter was troubled a bit when he saw fellow Jews, fellow men who appeared religious, and yet the Lord Jesus says there problem is the heart, leave them alone?
Matthew 15:15: Then answered Peter and said unto him, Declare unto us this parable. 16: And Jesus said, Are ye also yet without understanding? 17: Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught? 18: But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. 19: For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: 20: These are [the things] which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.
BUT THIS IS THE LORD JESUS CHRIST WHO IS GOD. HE CAN WORK ALL THINGS TOGETHER FOR THESE DISCIPLES HE HAS CALLED AND LOVES AND TEACH THEM IN THE HEART. EVERYTHING THE LORD DOES NEXT, HE IS DOING TO CONTINUE TEACHING HIS DISCIPLES THIS MESSAGE CONCERNING THE HEART. HE IS ABOUT TO SHOW US AND THEM THE CONTRAST BETWEEN THE HEART IN THOSE PHARISESS AND THE HEART IN ONE WHOM HE HAS GIVEN A PURE HEART OF FAITH. SO HE TAKES THEM TO MEET A CERTAIN WOMAN TO SHOW THEM WHAT HE JUST TAUGHT THEM--THE CONTRAST BETWEEN A HEART OF A PHARISEE AND THE HEART OF ONE OF HIS REGENERATED CHILDREN.
Matthew 15:21: Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon. 22: And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, [thou] Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.
Notice the contrast naturally speaking between this woman and those Pharisees and scribes. She is a woman, not a man. She is a Canaanite, not a Jew. She is a Syro-Phonecian by nation, not of Israel. The Lord is using someone totally different--naturally speaking--from what those pious Pharisees were naturally to teach us that is not you--not your upbringing, not your religious affiliation, not your gender, your race, your station in life--but only God's grace that makes the distinguishing factor between who God saves and who God passes by. He passed those men by and came to this woman. She was a "certain woman"--an elect, chosen, child of God. The Lord came to her (Note. She only came to him after he came to her.) The Lord will come to each of his chosen children when it pleases him and he will give us a dire need like he did this woman so that he sets our hearts to come to him only. That is what makes the difference--God's choice--God's work--God's coming to us in grace--not anything outwardly in us.
The Lord is about to show us what happens when he gives true faith as opposed to that Pharisee, that hypocrite at heart.
I. A PURE HEART OF FAITH COMES TO CHRIST FOR MERCY
Matthew 15: 22: And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.
A. She came to Christ seeking mercy. What is mercy?
· Not coming because you are well--but because you are sick
· Not because you have wisdom--but you need Wisdom
· Not because you are full--but because you are empty
· Mercy beggars come having nothing but believing God is able to give everything.
B. Notice how she addresses him--"O Lord, thou Son of David."
She confesses Jesus to be Emmanuel, God with us. God in human flesh. The Christ of God--mercy personified. She is acknowledging that he alone can show mercy.
II. A PURE HEART--TRUE FAITH--WILL BE TRIED OF THE LORD BUT STAYS ON JEHOVAH!
Matthew 15: 23: But he answered her not a word.
How often have you begged God for mercy in prayer and seems like no answer comes? But a pure heart of faith stays on Jehovah, keeps asking, keeps begging, keeps asking. w long do you think the Pharisees would have kept begging? Fact is, they did not come asking for mercy to begin with they came questioning the Lord's faithfulness and the faithfulness of his people.
A. If we are truly seeking mercy, we don't come commanding, we come falling at Christ's feet, begging him to show us mercy, in his time, not ours. A pure heart shall AND shall continue.
The first lesson of grace is to patiently wait on the Lord--he work in us and our brethren in his time. The Lord has worked everything together from leaving the Pharisee's to coming into the coast to this woman according to his purpose. He is not only teaching her but he is teaching his disciples. She has no idea what he is doing. They have no idea what he is doing. But it is his business and our Lord shall wait to bring his purpose to pass because it is what is best for us. We shall see what he is doing as we go and we will confess in the end that it was the best thing for him not, at this time, to answer her not even a word. Waiting is a trying of our faith. But true faith will patiently endure until the end (James 1: 3, 4, 12.) God will answer when he has fulfilled his purpose.
III. A PURE HEART OF FAITH RECEIVES THE GOSPEL, BELIEVES AND SUBMITS TO THE WORD OF GOD'S GRACE CONCERNING WHO CHRIST IS AND WHAT HE HAS FINISHED.
Matthew 15: 23: And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.
When she got no answer from the Lord she went to the disciples. They then went to the Lord and asked him to send her away. She is a Cannanite--of the cursed people. They probably imagine that she is worse than the Pharisee's which the Lord just departed from and warned them to flee from.
Now get that--the Lord told his disciples concerning the Pharisees--LEAVE THEM ALONE! But the Lord tells his disciples to go declare the gospel to this wretched woman--not leave her alone but to go declare the gospel to them. And the word the Lord gives his disciples to preach to this woman is a message that sounds to the natural ear like the Lord has no interest in this woman. That is how the gospel always sounds to the natural ear.
Matthew 15: 24: But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
This may sound like he is running her away--but he is showing his disciples a lesson--those who have a heart for Christ hear his Voice, his gospel and they follow him. Some have commented that they think this word would have made her sad and ran her off, but the gospel does not do that it brings the believer joy and brings those with a pure heart of faith to Christ. He is truly telling them to "comfort ye, comfort ye my people." If she has a pure heart of faith this word will be great comfort to her and in no way a discouragement. Consider the gospel is what he told them to tell her.
I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
A. The Lord declares he was "sent" for a particular purpose
1. Christ is the Son of God come to do the will of God who sent him. The God of heaven and earth sent Christ for a particular purpose.
John 4:34: Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.
John 6:38: For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.
B. The Lord declares he was not sent to save everyone, but he was sent to save a particular people--I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
1. His Israel were lost.
2. His Israel are sheep.
3. They have no way of being found unless he finds them--it is his job to find the lost sheep of his elect Israel and bring them all home.
4. But some might ask, "Israel means national Israel?" This woman was not of national Israel and those Phariseess were--but this woman is one of his elect chosen spiritual Israel. He saves her and passes by those scribes and Pharisees where were merely national Israelites. Read the scriptures:
John 17: 2: As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.
John 10:14: I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. 15: As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16: And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: {not only from among national Israel but from among Gentles} them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
Isaiah 61:3: To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.
3. Christ laid down his life for a particular people given him from before the world began, he redeemed them and they must be called out and shall be called and kept and brought to glory with him--he tells this very gospel to this woman--I am not sent to every one--but I am sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel (Read Ephesians 1) How do you respond to the gospel? Do you respond like the Pharisees?
C. What was her response when she heard that God sent Christ to save a particular people who were lost unless he perform this work? Was this gospel a comfort to her? Was she a chosen child of God with a God given heart of faith?
Matthew 15: 25: Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me.
D. Her response to the gospel was altogether different than the Pharisees who looked willing on the outside. Christ Jesus declared why their response was the way it was.
John 10: 25: Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me. 26: But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. 27: My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28: And I give unto them eternal life;
Application: This gospel is the discerner of who Christ's sheep are. Those who are not his sheep, hear it and reject it. Those who are his sheep, hear it and come and worship. When the Spirit of God has made Christ All to you, the word of God's sovereign grace is the gospel by which we are made willing--made the more earnest--to come to Christ and worship him, saying, "Lord, help me." She is saying, "Lord, if you are sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, then I fit the bill, Lord, help me."
IV. A PURE HEART OF FAITH CONFESSES THERE IS NO GOOD IN THE SINNER.
Now she has come back to him, he says this directly to her.
Matthew 15: 26: But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs.
Every child of God confesses that it was not because of anything in me that made me a child of God.
· Not my will
· Not any forseen merit in me
· Not by works of righteousness which we have done
· True faith makes a sinner honest about what we are in ourselves.
He calls her a dog rather than a child of God. But she does not defend herself. She does not say, "But I have done many wonderful works." She does not even make a boast of her faith.
Matthew 15: 27: And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.
Again, she bowed to the truth of God. She declared herself a dog. But she declared Christ to be her Master, and that she was totally dependent upon him to feed her, even if it be but a crumb from his table. She really was seeking, not a debt she felt he owed her, but pure mercy!
Note: Do you see what a great contrast there is between this woman in whom God had given a pure heart and those Pharisee's who disputed with the Lord over his word? He said of them, "They be blind leaders of the blind!" He said, what they have spoken came forth out of a defiled, hypocritical heart. He said, they draw near with the mouth but their heart is far from me--hypocrites!" But what does he say of this Caananite, Syrophencian woman?
Matthew 15: 28: Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith:
Here is what we have seen about a true heart of faith:
1. Great faith comes to Christ seeking mercy owning him to be God with us.
2. Great faith waits on Christ and can not be driven away
3. Great faith bows to the gospel of Christ as he is revealed in his word
4. Great faith repents from any pretended goodness in us and takes our place as dogs at the Master's table (now there is one more thing I want you to see about a true heart)
V. A PURE HEART OF FAITH ALWAYS GETS WHAT IT ASKS FOR
Matthew 15: 28:…be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour!
Amen!