“The one thing I ask of the Lord - the thing I seek most - is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, delighting in the Lord’s perfections and meditating in his temple.” Psalm 27:4 DELIGHTING in the LORD BIBLE STUDY SERIES DAY 1: The Pharisees Challenge Jesus’ Disciples Matthew 15: The King Discredits Oral Tradition and Ministers to the Gentiles This week will find Jesus ministering to the Jews, however as Israel continues to reject Him (and the truth He teaches) He expands His ministry to include the Gentiles. Tyre and Sidon were considered a mostly Gentile region and Jesus heads there after His encounter with the Pharisees in the beginning of the chapter. Jesus knew where He was going; He was not an aimless wanderer! He knew He would encounter a Gentile woman who was distraught over the mental health of her daughter. He had compassion upon this woman’s need and then ministered to many Gentiles! He even performed a major miracle by feeding over 4,000 people with seven loaves of bread and a few fish. Jesus came to save everyone, first the Jew and then the Gentile but this week we begin to see that coming to fruition. Even though a lot happens in 39 verses, there are only four days of work this week, so let’s get started as we follow along on this journey with Christ. Have you ever had a tradition that you did year after year but really couldn’t explain? I have a tradition, which happens every Easter. I put a jelly bean trail on the floor outside my children’s bedrooms early on Easter morning. This trail leads them to clues which tell the story of Jesus’ resur- rection. I am not sure how I got started on the jelly bean trial, but somehow it stuck and the next thing I knew, 10 years have passed and I am still doing it! I give you this example, in the hope that perhaps you can see how certain traditions became “law” for the scribes and Pharisees. They were so accustomed to doing certain things (which were not given in the Law of Moses) that when Jesus pointed out the folly of their ways, they were “offended”. Today we will see Jesus rebuke meaningless tradition that missed the heart of God. Unfortunately, the rebuke was over one of their core traditions so Jesus’ words were not well received. Join me as we take a look at the full story. R RECEIVING God’s Word Open in Prayer Read Matthew 15:1-39 Today’s Scripture Focus: Matthew 15:1-9 The Scribes and Pharisees came all the way from Jerusalem to Galilee to put their questions to Jesus. See the map in the beginning of the study to see just how far this was! © Calvary Chapel Chester Springs Matthew • Chapter 15 • Day 1 DELIGHTING in the LORD BIBLE STUDY SERIES E EXPERIENCING God’s Word 1. In order to better understand why the Pharisees were challenging the disciples behavior, first read Mark 7:1-5 then explain why they were upset. 2. What is the “tradition of the elders” in verse 2? Read Mark 7:8, what does Jesus point out in this verse? 3. In your own words, explain the commandment that the Pharisees were breaking. “Whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to God: The Jewish people of Jesus’ day had a way to get around the command to honor your father and mother. If they declared that all their possessions or savings were a gift to God, specially dedicated to Him, they could then say that their resources were unavailable to help their parents.” (Guzik) 4. Basically the Jews found a way to get around helping to provide for their parents. If they said that all their possessions belonged to God, how did this make them appear “super- spiritual”? How was this actually hypocrisy? © Calvary Chapel Chester Springs Matthew • Chapter 15 • Day 1 DELIGHTING in the LORD BIBLE STUDY SERIES 5. In verse 8 we see a very important word “these”. Jesus calls the Pharisees “these people”. Read 2 Chronicles 7:14. How are the people described in this verse (fill in the blank) “_________ people” Who do they belong to? What does this say about Pharisees? 6. In verses 8-9 we see Isaiah 29:13 quoted. What was prophesied about “these people”? How are they fulfilling this prophecy? 7. Once again, Jesus drives home the message of the heart. What does Jesus point out about their heart condition? Why is their worship in vain and their teachings worthless? What are they missing? A ACTING on God’s Word 1. Have you ever had a season in your walk with God where your honored God with your lips but your heart was far from Him? Briefly describe what was happening. © Calvary Chapel Chester Springs Matthew • Chapter 15 • Day 1 DELIGHTING in the LORD BIBLE STUDY SERIES 2. When did things turn around? What caused the turn around? 3. Why does it grieve God so much when we just honor him with lip service rather than our heart? 4. What can you do to guard against falling into a time like the one you described in question #1 D DELIGHTING in God’s Word Hebrews 13:15 says “Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise – the fruit of lips that confess his name.” As you close in prayer ask the Lord to connect your heart and your lips! May our hearts not wander far from him while our lips are giving Him praise. May they ever be super glued together! Close in prayer © Calvary Chapel Chester Springs Matthew • Chapter 15• Day 1 This week will find Jesus ministering to the Jews, however as Israel continues to reject Him (and the truth He teaches) He expands His ministry to include the Gentiles. Tyre and Sidon were considered a mostly Gentile region and Jesus heads there after His encounter with the Pharisees in the beginning of the chapter. Jesus knew where He was going; He was not an aimless wanderer! He knew He would encounter a Gentile woman who was distraught over the mental health of her daughter. He had compassion upon this woman’s need and then ministered to many Gentiles! He even performed a major miracle by feeding over 4,000 people with seven loaves of bread and a few fish. Jesus came to save everyone, first the Jew and then the Gentile but this week we begin to see that coming to fruition. Even though a lot happens in 39 verses, there are only four days of work this week, so let’s get started as we follow along on this journey with Christ. Have you ever had a tradition that you did year after year but really couldn’t explain? I have a tradition, which happens every Easter. I put a jelly bean trail on the floor outside my children’s bedrooms early on Easter morning. This trail leads them to clues which tell the story of Jesus’ resur- rection. I am not sure how I got started on the jelly bean trial, but somehow it stuck and the next thing I knew, 10 years have passed and I am still doing it! I give you this example, in the hope that perhaps you can see how certain traditions became “law” for the scribes and Pharisees. They were so accustomed to doing certain things (which were not given in the Law of Moses) that when Jesus pointed out the folly of their ways, they were “offended”. Today we will see Jesus rebuke meaningless tradition that missed the heart of God. Unfortunately, the rebuke was over one of their core traditions so Jesus’ words were not well received. Join me as we take a look at the full story. RECEIVING God’s Word Open in Prayer Read Matthew 15:1-39 Today’s Scripture Focus: Matthew 15:1-9 The Scribes and Pharisees came all the way from Jerusalem to Galilee to put their questions to Jesus. See the map in the beginning of the study to see just how far this was! “The one thing I ask of the Lord - the thing I seek most - is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, delighting in the Lord’s perfections and meditating in his temple.” Psalm 27:4 DELIGHTING in the LORD BIBLE STUDY SERIES DAY 2: Uncleanliness Matthew 15: The King Discredits Oral Tradition and Ministers to the Gentiles So before you go and decide the disciples were a bunch of men with unwashed hands who ate with those same dirty hands, let’s define the word unclean as it meant in this passage today. The word unclean means to be ceremonially impure so that one cannot approach and worship God. It does not have anything to do with hygiene. Jesus wants the crowd to know the true meaning of unclean to Him and its affect on the whole body and ultimately service to God. Let’s take a look at what that is from His perspective. R RECEIVING God’s Word Open in Prayer Read Matthew 15:1-39 Today’s Scripture Focus: Matthew 15:10-20 E EXPERIENCING God’s Word 1. In verse 10, what is Jesus doing and what does he say as He begins teaching? 2. According to verse 11, what makes a person unclean? What does this tell you about Jesus and what is important to Him? 3.