Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias  prophesy  of you, saying, "This people draweth neigh unto me with their mouth, and honoreth me with their lips; but their heart is far from it."  But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
                                                                                                     Matthew 15:7-9

The Scribes and the Pharisees came to Jesus and asked this question, "Why do your disciples break the traditions of the elders when eating with unwashed hands?"  It appears the Jewish people had a tradition of washing their hands before they would break bread.  The Pharisees had pride in not only knowing the law, but in keeping the law.  Jesus in return said to the Pharisees, "Why do you break the commandments of God?"  Jesus was quick to respond to criticism with criticism.  Jesus knew that they kept the law no so much to honor God, but to honor man.  That's why He calls them hypocrites.

Why do you break the commandments of God?  Let me say this loud and clear -- we are saved through grace, through faith and not by works.  There is no denying how a person comes into a lasting relationship with Almighty God, but once we enter into a relationship with God, we should have some good works.  If there are no works, there's no faith; if there's no faith, there's no salvation; if there's no salvation there's no eternity with Jesus; if there's no eternity with Jesus, we have missed the boat.  Why do you break the commandments of God? 

It was a tradition to wash hands before eating.  A tradition or custom is something handed down from generation to generation.  By keeping traditions you are breaking the commandments of God.

Jesus said, "People draw nigh unto me with their mouth and honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me."  Traditions are making us change how we look at things today.  If we say we love God, then why don't we act like it.  We watch programs on television that show sex, drugs and alcohol, lying and cheating, and we as a society laugh.  ("Oh, that's so funny.  Those Desperate Housewives -- they crack me up!")  Folks, we are being drawn into a sinful world and we're laughing at it.  If people say they love Jesus and don't keep His commandments, they are lying.  The things that defile man are things that come out of the heart such as evil thoughts, murders, adultery, fornication, false witness, blasphemies; but eating with unwashed had does not defile man.  All these things are thoughts from man that we are supporting today.

It's time to wake up!  The commandments are:

1. Thou shalt have no other gods before me

2. Thou shalt not make any graven image

3. Thou shalt not take the Lord God's name in vain

4. Remember the sabbath and keep it holy.

The first four are mentioned in blasphemy.  Using empty words such as, ” Oh, my____!" is blasphemy.  Don't you use that name lightly.  Those are Holy Words.  Never trifle with His name. 

People's graven images are power, money, and sex -- all idle gods; but where are those gods when you are in trouble?  Those things will not hear you when you cry out for an answer.

Sunday -- this is the Lord's Day, not  “your” day.  Jesus said, “If the ox is in the ditch get it out"; but if it can wait, let it stay there until tomorrow.  You keep His Day holy.

    5.  Honor thy father and mother. 

Breakdown  in the family happens when children don't  respect their parents and parents are not raising their children in a godly way.  Parents,  you have been given those children and that means you are obligated to teach them how to be respectful and to know who Jesus is, how to be productive citizens in the United States of America.  Kids, you owe your parents,  too.  When they get old, you need to tend to their needs.

    6.  Thou shalt not kill.

We kill people on a daily basis and do not realize it. When you use words as darts,  you kill.  Words used in haste kill!

   7.  Thou shalt not commit adultery.

Adultery and fornication are WRONG.  You say, “Oh, Preacher, don't talk about sex in front of the kids."  I promise you, they know more today than I did as a teenager.  Sex outside of marriage is WRONG.  Young girls, keep yourselves pure.  Young man, you show respect to that girl. 

Men will see a nice looking lady in almost no clothes, and -- (come on men,  be honest; you know you look). You say, “Well, I'm not dead, preacher."   Women, I'm not leaving you out; you look, too.  A good looking guy takes off his shirt and flexes his muscles.

In the eyes of man it's all right for married folks to stray, but you better wake up and smell the coffee!  God's commandment says its wrong.  If God says its wrong,  it's wrong!  You say, “Ah, Preacher,  we're okay.  We practice safe sex.”  There is no such thing as “safe sex.” Did you hear me?  There is no such thing as "safe sex."    You know what is safe?  Get married; then practice sex and stay true to your partner.  ” Now, let's move on.”

    8.  Thou shalt not steal. 

Stealing is wrong.  You say, “I never took anything from my neighbor."  Well, have you taken from God?  Did you give God his part--the tithe?  Some say, “It's mine.  I worked for it!"  Well, bless your heart, honey; it already belongs to God.  I hate to “Bust your Bubble" but you don't have ANYTHING!  God can take back what's His anytime He chooses to.  You rob yourself from a blessing when you withhold your offerings.

    9.  Thou shalt not bear false witness.

Don't lie to the preacher.  I know when you are not being honest with me.  (I'll probably get kicked out of the preacher- brotherhood for this)-- “Preacher, I couldn't come to church Sunday because I had a big cramp in my leg, right here.”  Here's how I answer that;  “Bless your heart.”  

You know another way we bear false witness -- You say to one neighbor;  “You know what I saw going into their house late last night?  A man went in and he didn't come back out and the lights went off.”   What are you doing watching your neighbor's house late at night, anyhow?  Did you ever stop to think it could be a family member that entered?  You don't know what the true story is. Besides, you should have better things to do with your time than watch your neighbor.

   10.  Thou shalt not covet.

I have been blessed.  I've worked for most of the things I have.  You may not live in a two story house; You may live in a mobile home and making payments every month, but you are still blessed. If you have food on your table and shoes on your feet, and a fine family, be thankful!

This is the first part of a two-part sermon. 

Bro. Jr Fields........August 13, 2006.

Sermon edited by Mary King

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