Matthew 15:8-9 “This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.”
Jesus calls the scribes and Pharisees hypocrites in this text.
He told them what the prophet said in Isaiah 29:13 was right!
These religious Jews were speaking and making it appear to others that they were close to God. But their hearts were far from Him.
God has no time for appearing pious, while remaining rebellious and sinful.
They had another problem common to those who embrace religion, but not God himself. They began teaching their own traditions, as though they came from God.
This put them in charge, instead of God, and put an undue burden on the people they taught.
None of this is Godly, even if it fools a large number of people into believing it is Godly.
We must instead draw near to Him with our hearts, knowing and obeying His word alone.
Our goal must never be to look good. And we must never perform empty religious ritual, forgetting the Lord.
Matthew 15:8-9 “This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.”