Matthew 15:1-6 Breaking the Rules
Format for Your Devotions
Instructions: Do not read my example devotion until you have completed your own devotional time in the scriptures. Reading my thoughts first may limit your own understanding. Let the Holy Spirit speak to you alone before looking to see what anyone else has to say, whether it is me, a Bible commentary, or a friend. Let God speak to you before you let another person speak to you. I have provided a format, but modify it to fit your needs. For example, I usually combine my application and prayer together talking to God about the application to my own life. You can go through this devotion process mentally, speaking out loud, or in writing as you wish. Don’t worry if you are not following this process exactly. Sometimes, I add extra information and sometimes I emphasize one part more than others. However, you should always think about what you learn about God from this passage.
Step 1: Pray–Ask for the Holy Spirit’s guidance first of all and that God may reveal the lessons that He wants you to have that day. Request that God protect you from Satan’s distractions (and the devil will try to distract you whether it is pinching the baby or putting you to sleep). Ask to see God more clearly as you read and think about the passage.
Step 2: Read the passage–Read to get an overview of the information first. Then start looking at specific parts after the first reading. You may read a larger or smaller section than I have here because you do not have to follow my organization at all.
Step 3: Understand the passage–You can summarize, ask and answer your own questions about the passage, visualize the story, analyze the characters, and relate this passage to other scriptures and personal experiences.
Step 4: What does this reveal about God?–What do you learn about the Father, Son, and/or Holy Spirit from this passage?
Step 5: Apply this to your own life.
Step 6: Prayer
My Example Devotion: April 15, 2019, Matthew 15:1-6
Note: In the devotion examples, I leave my questions and thought processes in the text because I am trying to demonstrate that a devotional time is a dialogue with God about what you are reading from His word. As such, any questions or ideas that you have should be explored by talking it out with God. These example devotions are not my attempts to teach you what the meaning of a particular scripture is. They are an attempt to teach you the process of devotions, which is a combination of prayer and Bible study where you explore ideas with God as you read His word.
Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat.” He answered them, “And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? For God commanded, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’ 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.’ So for the sake of your tradition you have made void the word of God.
(Understanding the Text) Jesus’ fame had spread so much that Pharisees from Jerusalem had been sent out to watch Him. They did not notice and marvel at the healings or hear and ponder the lessons of wisdom. Instead, they noticed and harshly judged Jesus and His disciples for not following Pharisaical traditions. Jesus was being criticized because He was not of the same mold as the Pharisees. However, it is hard to criticize the man of power who is healing multitudes and has large crowds following him. It is easier instead to criticize the man’s followers.
Jesus’ disciples were common men who had not been raised in the intricacies of being a Pharisee. Maybe, the Pharisees bring this up to try to get the people to think of Jesus as ignorant and from the backwoods. If so, Jesus turns the tables on them by showing knowledge of another tradition of theirs where the tradition conflicts with the law of God from the Pentateuch. Jesus’ knowledge of scripture trumped their knowledge of tradition.
(Revelation of God) Jesus tends to answer questions with questions. In some places in the Bible, this drives me crazy, but here, I can see how this technique is effective. If Jesus had started right away by answering their question, He would have been defined by their values, but in responding with a question, Jesus redefines the conversation. The conversation is no longer about hand washing or breaking tradition. It is now about breaking God’s commands. Jesus was always ten steps ahead of His opponents. He is more intelligent, more perceptive, and more understanding than humans. He did not get sidetracked in pointless discussions because He was focused on one goal: salvation for humanity. I need to remember that He is not limited to my perceptions. When I am abiding in Jesus, He gives me access to His superior intellect and character. I need to trust in His ability to lead me through the intricate traps and past the hungry predators of this world.
(Application / Prayer) What traditions or rituals or customs do I do that go against God’s commands? How often do my culture and politics make void the commandments? I pray that I will follow Your word rather than the rules of men. I pray that Your word will be so engraved in my heart that it is the only rule that I even think of following.