Sunday: Confronting Man’s Traditions — Matthew 15:1-11; Mark 7:1-16
The scribes and Pharisees came all the way from Jerusalem and united together to accuse Jesus’s disciples of breaking religious tradition showing the seriousness of their purpose. Accusations about handwashing weren’t referring to cleanliness but with religious ceremonial washings. They believed Jesus and His men were “unclean” because they mingled with the common people and with outcasts. If Jesus rejected these sacred traditions, then He must be a heretic! Jesus quoted Isaiah 29:13, countering that they were hypocrites by breaking God’s commandments to follow their manmade traditions.
Monday: Blind Leading the Blind — Matthew 15:12-14
Jesus warned His disciples about the poor moral guidance of the Pharisees who taught the traditions of men and called it doctrine. The disciples were concerned that Jesus had offended the religious leaders. They obviously wondered why He hadn’t been “politically correct” in answering the Pharisees’ accusation. Jesus points out that they needn’t worry about the politics involved—it is more important to recognize that blindly following the traditions of men will end up destroying both the person teaching that tradition and the one following it. Unfortunately, the spirit of Phariseeism is still alive and still focuses primarily on the “externals” of religion.
Tuesday: Teaching Simon Peter — Matthew 15:15-20; Mark. 7:17-23
Jesus explained these things in more depth to Peter, who seemed to be struggling with their core meaning. The Lord was simply saying that foods don’t touch the heart and therefore can’t possibly defile the “person.” But what comes from the mouth began in the heart, and these are the things that defile the man. The real danger is the wicked heart which is the inspiration of evil speaking and evil deeds. This is the important issue that moves us past the external trappings of shallow religion to the internal realities of true spiritual life.
Wednesday: Freeing a Demonized Daughter — Matthew 15:21-28; Mark 7:24-30
Tyre and Sidon were located near the Mediterranean coast. It was a Gentile region. When Jesus came to the area, He was hoping not to attract a crowd, but a woman heard that He was there and came to Him desiring to have her daughter healed of demons. Not only was the woman a Gentile but she was Canaanite—to the Jews, the lowest of the low. The disciples wanted to send her away. Jesus listened to her request but didn’t immediately answer it. But she’s not offended by that. She’s willing to take whatever Jesus is willing to give her knowing that she isn’t at all worthy. She saw herself as what she was: a sinful woman in a desperate situation. She saw Jesus for who He was: a kind, compassionate Savior who had the power to deliver her daughter if He so chose.
Thursday: Healing the Multitudes — Matthew 15:29-31
Matthew lists a variety of maladies that Jesus healed after He left the Tyre and Sidon region. These miracles show that the work Jesus had done among the Jews was also available to the Gentiles. They also show that Jesus had the ability to heal all manner of diseases, and the miracles were proof that He was the Messiah.
Friday: Healing a Deaf Man — Mark 7:31-37
The healing of a deaf man is a specific example from the “healing of the multitudes” that Matthew 15:29-31 refers to. The people were impressed with this miracle. Jesus exhorted them not to tell anyone about it, but they were so enthralled with what He had done that they broadcast it throughout the land.
Saturday: Feeding Four Thousand — Matthew 15:32-39; Mark 8:1-9
Once again, our Lord used the disciples to meet the needs of this crowd. He blessed the bread and the fish and gave it to the disciples who distributed it to the crowd. The provision was more than sufficient. This time seven baskets of leftovers were collected.