Matthew 15

So thankful you have been reading through the New Testament with us. We are officially over half way through the book of Matthew! Way to go!

Isn't it amazing that we have to explain to our children the idea behind why we did certain things when we were kids? They don't know how to use a rotary phone, most of them would have no idea what an 8-track is, or that there was a time when seat belts weren't mandatory to wear. Those are just a few examples, but think about the slang you used or one liners from movies that don't make sense unless you've seen the movie. I write those things, because that's how it is when we are reading the Bible sometimes. Things that were recorded in the Bible would have to be explained to us, because the ideas were from 2,000 years ago in a Jewish culture. So we are at somewhat of a disadvantage with some of the things Jesus said, like why would he call the Canaanite woman a dog? 

Yet there are other things that Jesus says that you cannot mistake his meaning. "These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules." Jesus desires that we follow him whole-heartedly. Relationship not religion.



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