CLEAN HANDS OR CLEAN HEARTS?

DOC LYNCH·WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2024

What’s the emphasis that pleases God?

Luke 11:38 (AMP) – The Pharisee noticed and was astonished [to see] that Jesus did not first wash before dinner.

Tsk, tsk. Bad table manners for Jesus. Didn’t His mama raise Him right? A severe violation according to the Lawyers which put Jesus into the bracket of being an offender of the Law and therefore not possible to be who He claimed to be.

Don’t forget, the verse says the Pharisee didn’t just notice, but that he was ASTONISHED (shocked, ruffled, dismayed, shorts bunched up).

I get astonished as well. Only in the other direction.

I am astonished by how many believers take on the characteristics of the Legalist rather than the characteristics of Jesus.

I mean, I understand that there are entire religious sects under the banner of Christianity that depend upon works and sacraments to maintain their relationship with God. But I’m speaking about the so called “enlightened” born-again believer.

We can be as bad as the religious Jew was back in Jesus’ day.

How about grace before meals? (Not to say people shouldn’t, but that they should from proper motivation).

If you are living in a vibrant discipleship relationship with Jesus, are we to think that we are supposed to offer up thanks for every morsel of food we put into our mouths? Or is our entire life a testament of thanksgiving to the Lifegiver? And if we are to be brutally honest, how many believers are actually giving thanks, but are doing nothing more but rushing through a mantra so they can get down onto that burger so God doesn’t give them a bellyache for forgetting?

How about sinning and repenting, sinning and repenting, sinning and repenting. It becomes the same repetitious lifestyle as washing hands or saying grace before meals. We start to think that our very salvation hangs in the balance of some sort of ritual. Confessing sin that you can’t even think of whether you did it or not. Cycle of death, not life. IF there is sin confess it. If not, stop hedging your bet.

Clean hands? Or clean heart?

What does Jesus think?

Luke 11:40 (AMP) – “You senseless (foolish, stupid) ones [acting without reflection or intelligence]! Did not He Who made the outside make the inside also?”

The appearance of outside righteousness while the inside rots away. The ritual of the outside doesn’t do a thing for the inside, and the inside is of paramount importance over the outside.

Yet, how many believers would be castigated by their pastor for showing up for church with shorts and a tee shirt? Or without a tie? Or with tattoos showing?

The Lawyer shouts…

Luke 11:45 (AMP) -” “…Teacher, in saying this, You reproach and outrage and affront even us!”

“Even us”. Self righteous experts in the Law. Shot callers. Self proclaimed guides to the throne of heaven itself. Know any “righteous” people like that? If so, I feel for you.

Are they helping? Do they mean well? Are they representing the “other side” of God?

Luke 11:52 (AMP) – “Woe to you, lawyers (experts in the Mosaic Law)! For you have taken away the key to knowledge; you did not go in yourselves, and you hindered and prevented those who were entering.”

Matt. 15:11 – “It is not what enters into the mouth that defiles the man, but what proceeds out of the mouth, this defiles the man.”

Hinderers. Stifling stiffnecks.

Gracekillers.

They are in the Church and are flourishing as they make their way upon the backs of the necks who grovel in front of them for enlightenment.

Lord…help us. Strengthen us who have the courage to rise up against this travesty which is keeping the Church from reaching its highest elevation before the world. Let the voices and the message of freedom be heard as we open ears and eyes to the truth and come against the one who has perpetrated and unleashed a perfect storm of dulling minds and hearts against the pure gospel of Jesus Christ.

In the Mighty Name of Jesus!

Keepin’ it REVIVED,

Pastor Doc Lynch

Share this: