Dear Explorer,
Read Matthew 15:10-20
Explain in your own words what Jesus is saying in Matthew 15:11.
Matthew 15:13 refers back to the story of the wheat and the tares (or weeds). Jesus is saying that the Pharisees are the weeds in the field of wheat. That was NOT the way they thought of themselves. And Jesus was warning the people not to follow them.
Read Mark 7:14-23
Now, some followers of Jesus take these verses and say that going to see an X-rated movie (or reading filthy books or…) will not hurt a follower because it is external.
What do you think?
Actually, you'll find it very hard to draw a straight line between what is good and what is evil. There's some good in almost everything and there's some bad in almost everything. So, instead of trying to decide whether something is good or bad, you need to go to the Father and ask for His guidance. One of the questions I try to ask is this: Will doing this (reading a book, watching a movie, going to this party, etc.) move me in a direction of holiness – or move me in a direction of unholiness? Will it make my walk with Jesus cleaner – or muddier? Is this a direction toward sexual purity or away from it? As you seek God's direction, He will guide you.
I believe that Jesus is teaching about our inner core and saying that what is in there is more important than anything our SELF or BODY does or doesn't do. But I don't believe He is saying that it has no effect upon our lives!
In His service, dale
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