Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Evening Sermon Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/ev/ev19960929.htm

MATTHEW: JESUS AS ISRAEL'S MESSIAH AND HIS MESSIANIC KINGDOM
Part X. Christ's Messianic Kingdom Postponed
G. Knowing When And How To Feel Guiltless At Offending Others
(Matthew 15:1-9, 10-14)
  1. Introduction
    1. When we are called of God through Scripture to take theological stands against what is wrong, we can displease others, and even offend them.
    2. Problem: Paul commands us to give no offense to others in making the Gospel as palatable as is possible in 1 Corinthians 10:32f. How or when should we not feel guilty at offending others when taking a stand? Matthew 15:1-14 exemplifies through Christ how this is workable for us today.
  2. Knowing When And How To Feel Guiltless At Offending Others, Matthew 15:1-9, 10-14.
    1. Jesus offended the Pharisees by claiming that what came out of a man's mouth defiled him, not that which went into his mouth contrary to their regulations on pre-meal washings, Mtt. 15:1-9 with 15:10-12.
    2. When the disciples felt tension at the Pharisees' offense, Jesus boldly asserted that the offense would have to stand, Mtt. 15:12-13. Just why and how this was to occur was described by Jesus as follows:
      1. The Pharisees put man's traditions on par with Scripture and even elevated them above it, Mtt. 15:1-9.
        1. They criticized Jesus for letting His disciples disregard the traditions of the elders, Mtt. 15:1-2.
        2. Jesus pointed out that the Pharisees used their traditions to overturn Scripture, Mtt. 15:3-6.
        3. In so doing, they falsely alleged fellowship with God while departing far from Him, Mtt. 15:7-9.
      2. When Jesus exposed this error, instead of repenting, the Pharisees became offended, Mtt. 15:10-12.
        1. Having stated their error, Jesus informed the crowds that the Pharisees were defiled by the doctrine that came out of them though they were not defiled ceremonially through washings, Mtt. 15:10-11.
        2. At this public exposure, the Pharisees were offended instead of repenting, Mtt. 15:12.
      3. At this point, Jesus responded to this offended attitude by drawing a line against fellowship with them:
        1. When Jesus was told by the twelve that this saying offended the Pharisees, Jesus did not back away from his critique, but noted that the Pharisees were to be uprooted by the Father, Mtt. 15:12-13.
        2. In fact, the disciples were to stay away from the Pharisees, Mtt. 15:14a: (a) Since they were spiritually blind and confident in their error so as to be offended, they were leaders of blindness, Mtt. 15:14b; (b) such deeply committed errorists would only lead others into a ditch spiritually, so people had to avoid fellowship with them to stay out of their ditch themselves, 15:14c.
Lesson: We can discern and withdraw from rebellious error by following Christ's lead: (1) Any interpretation that displaces the clear teaching of Scripture with man's errors is wrong, Mtt. 15:1-9. (2) When we reveal or expose this Scripture di splacement to a party holding its error, and the party steadfastly avoids correcting its position, we must separate from it regardless of feelings. The REASONS for doing so are: (a) failure to recant an obvious usurpation of Scripture in one's belief is an act of rebellion; (b) such steadfast rebellion will influence other spiritually weaker people to adopt the error, and to protect themselves innocent from displacing Scripture with error also, others are wise to avoid fellowship with that rebellious part y.

Illustration: We stand against the sign gifts for today even if it offends Charismatics, for the issue goes beyond sign gifts to epistemology: the Charismatic holds experience up above Scripture's description of sign gifts, the same error as the Ph arisees. In refusing to recant, they are blind leaders of the blind who must be avoided, for they mislead people into another AUTHORITY other than SCRIPTURE!

Application: In dealing with those who promote a man's position above Scripture, we must (a) expose their error. (b) If they do not recant, we must withdraw to avoid getting sucked into putting man's ideas above Scripture's assertions, and that regardless of feelings.