Message Notes

INTERMEDIATE SUNDAY SCHOOL 17 DECEMBER 2023
STUDIES IN THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW
Text: Matthew 15
Subject: “Blind leaders of the Blind”

INTRODUCTION

10 When He had called the multitude to Himself, He said to them, “Hear and understand:
11 Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.”
12 Then His disciples came and said to Him, “Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?”
13 But He answered and said, “Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted.
14 Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch.”
15 Then Peter answered and said to Him, “Explain this parable to us.”
16 So Jesus said, “Are you also still without understanding?
17 Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated?
18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a 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 unwashed hands does not defile a man.”

Matthew 15:10-20

1. What really defiles a person?

a) To the scribes and Pharisees, it is eating with unwashed hands

b) They insist that the ritualistic washing of the hand must be upheld

2. True defilement

a) It is not what goes into a person that defiles

b) It is what comes out from a person that truly defiles

3. The Concern of the Disciples

a) That the Lord Jesus had offended the scribes and Pharisees

b) They were upset and angry with the Lord Jesus

i) He had disagreed with their teachings

ii) He had pointed out their hypocrisy

iii) He had publicly exposed them as poor leaders

4. The response of the Lord Jesus

a) The Disciples must not be bothered by the reaction of the scribes and Pharisees

b) He described them as:

i) Blind leaders

ii) Those who listened to them were blind followers

iii) They will fall into a ditch

c) He also declared the scribes and Pharisees

i) They were not planted by the Father

ii) They will be uprooted

5. The Disciples were surprised by these candid remarks by the Lord Jesus

a) They asked the Lord to explain

b) Most people held a high regard for the scribes and Pharisees

c) They were shocked to hear that they were blind leaders

d) And that they were not planted by the Father

e) And that they would be uprooted!

6. A further word of explanation

a) Whatever is eaten would be excreted

b) Whatever comes out from the mouth, comes from the heart

c) The things that defile a person:

i) Evil thoughts

ii) Murders

iii) Adulteries

iv) Fornications

v) Thefts

vi) False witness

vii) Blasphemies

VITAL LESSONS

1. To guard the heart

2. To guard against defilement

3. To understand that sinful thoughts and deeds defile a person