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. Matthew 15:8-9

 

 

            Once again Jesus is quoting scripture, this time the prophet Isaiah as found in Isaiah 29:13.  He has told the scribes and Pharisees that Isaiah was prophesying about them. They replaced God’s commands with their own teaching. That’s what the last part of verse 9 means. But let’s look at the consequence to “this people.”

        “They worship in vain.”  Their worship means nothing because it is not from the heart. These were learned, educated people. I bet they had some great words to use in their worship. It didn’t matter: their worship came from the mind and not the heart. They probably read the scriptures. I wonder if they ever wondered if Isaiah was talking about them. Just in case they missed it, Jesus pointed it out.

      Though it says Isaiah was prophesying about the scribes and Pharisees I think it would be beneficial for us to pay attention. Our worship too is in danger of being heard as empty flattery and in vain. We too can go through the motions without the emotion. We too can be “this people.”

       So how do we avoid it: by having a heart in tune with His. We need to check our motives, cleanse ourselves of unrighteousness, and love Him with all our heart. He doesn’t want just part of our heart. We can’t invite Him into part of our heart, expecting to hide the clutter of sin in a closet somewhere. He wants and has an all-access pass. 

      Lord help us to worship out of repentant hearts. Let us not to become “this people.”