What Jesus Did! 'Spiritually Unclean!' — Mark 7:5-8

We try to be nice in today's politically correct environment. However, some truth — God's truth — is just simply the real truth. The Jewish leaders accused Jesus' disciples of being ritually unclean, but Jesus' reply was that they were spiritually unclean. They were hypocrites who followed their traditions rather than God's law. When people fake their religious devotion or when they bend God's word to justify the way they want to live, then it is hypocrisy no matter who they are. Jesus hates hypocrisy. When folks sink into hypocrisy, Jesus will not pretend with them that they are righteous. So what do we do with these harsh words from Jesus? First, we need to ask ourselves if we are guilty of the sin Jesus condemns! After all, in one way of viewing things, aren't we the religious ones today like the people questioning Jesus were then? If we are guilty, then let's change and put our lives where our mouths are! Second, we need not to be so bashful with each other when hypocrisy creeps into our lives. Lovingly and humbly, we need to help each other identify and correct any hypocrisy. Hypocrisy destroys our hearts and ruins the influence of Jesus' people on the world!