Hitting the Mark with Jesus wk. 37

HITTING THE MARK WITH JESUS wk. 37

February 22, 2026

THE LURES OF WORTHLESS WORSHIP

Mark 7:1-23

 

 

INTRODUCTION:

 

Mark 7:6-7 (NIV) ⁶ He replied, “Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written:

“‘These people honor me with their lips,
    but their hearts are far from me.
⁷ They worship me in vain;
    their teachings are merely human rules.’

((KEEP THIS VERSE UP FOR A WHILE))

 

 

 

 

 

Deuteronomy 6:4-6 (NIV) ‘Hear, O nation, the Lord your God, He is One,‘ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and all your strength.  These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts.”

 

 

 

 

Mark 12:29-30 (NIV)²⁹ “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.  ³⁰ Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. This is the first commandment.’”

 

 

 

 

 

THREE ATTRIBUTES OF WORTHLESS WORSHIP:  (One today)

 

1.  SURPASSES SCRIPTURE

 

 

Mark 7:1 (NIV) The Pharisees and some of the teachers of the law who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus.

 

 

 

 

Mark 7:2 (NIV) The Pharisees… saw some of his disciples eating food with hands that were defiled, that is, unwashed.

 

 

 

 

 

Mark 7:3-4 (NIV)³ The Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they give their hands a ceremonial washing, holding to the tradition of the elders.⁴ When they come from the marketplace they do not eat unless they wash. And they observe many other traditions, such as the washing of cups, pitchers and kettles.

 

 

 

 

 

Mark 7:5-8 (NIV)⁵ So the Pharisees and teachers of the law asked Jesus, “Why don’t your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders instead of eating their food with defiled hands?”

⁶ He replied, “Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written:

“‘These people honor me with their lips,
    but their hearts are far from me.
⁷ They worship me in vain;
    their teachings are merely human rules.’

⁸ You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.”

 

 

 

The problem with tradition–.

 

 

How does a person get to a point where they elevate, and eventually reject scripture so they can hold on to tradition?

 

Jesus shows us in vs. 7, 8, 9, and 13.

 

·         They teach them side-by-side.

 

v. 7 says, Their teachings are merely human rules.

 

 

 

·         They lay aside God’s word.

 

v. 8 …you let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.

 

 

 

·         They reject the word of God altogether.

 

v. 9“You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions!”

 

 

 

·         Then when this happens, it robs the power of God in a person’s life.

 

v. 13Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down.

 

 

 

 

 

John 17:17 (NIV)Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.

 

The major problem with making our own rules and traditions (legalism) is it’s a subtle form of idolatry.

 

 

That is the lure!”I’ve got to have it this way.” It’s a subtle form of idolatry. When I have to have a man-made tradition in any way, I have become an idolater.

 

 

 

 

Mark 12:29-30 (NIV)²⁹ “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.  ³⁰ Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. This is the first commandment.’”

 

 

Are you encountering the Lord when you worship? 

 

 

 

 

 

Close:

Isaiah 6:1-9 (NIV)

 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple.² Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying.³ And they were calling to one another:

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty;
    the whole earth is full of his glory.”

⁴ At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.

⁵ “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.”

⁶ Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar.⁷ With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.”

⁸ Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”

And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”

⁹ He said, “Go and tell this people:

 

 

 

Are you encountering the God of heaven with a “Woe is me, I’m undone!” If not, maybe it’s not the God of heaven.

 

 

 

 

PRAYER:

 

ALTAR:

 

These people honor me with their lips,but their hearts are far from me.  They worship me in vain… 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TEXT ANY COMMENTS ABOUT THIS MESSAGE TO 701-712-6030.