Aren't we like Peter...
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Object:
Aren't we like Peter in some ways? We have to have Jesus' parables explained to us. That
is one reason we come to church.
Maybe something in our background, our family traditions make it harder to understand. Just one example might be pork, which Jews aren't supposed to eat. And we might have a rule against putting any wine in our mouth (except for communion) -- even though our Lord drank it at the Last Supper. (I had one pastor tell me that Jesus really drank grape juice.)
This passage is also including, not only food, but also thoughts which could be evil. That could include pornography, which may come through our computers or even Hollywood movies if we don't make sure to turn them off.
One passage that may disturb some parents is Jesus' statement that eating with unwashed hands does not make us unclean. We must remember that he is talking about "ceremonial" washing, which the Jews had to do before they ate. Their ritual did not have to include soap. So don't stop washing your hands with soap before you eat. No need to pray over them.
It is true that we can be lead astray by some who make all things acceptable in this enlightened age. Free speech may be carried to extremes -- as our government sometimes does. It may not be against the law to use the name of the Lord in vain, for example. One artist was rewarded for his work of art when he put a Jesus figure in a bottle of urine. Disgusting but no one shot him for it and most people laughed at it. Muslims go crazy if you burn a Koran.
The next verses talk about a Canaanite woman pleading to the Lord for the healing of her daughter. Jesus seems to be giving her a cold shoulder, so his disciples want to tell her to go away. It appears as though he is testing them all. His testing goes on when he tells her that he was sent only to the Jews. It is like he is following the old Hebrew custom of rejecting anyone who is not of pure Jewish blood. The Pharisees would understand. Even his disciples would agree and would try to get rid of her, but when she won't go away, even when he implies that she is a "dog," she accepts the insult claiming that even the dogs (like Canaanites) get to eat the leftovers. Her determination works. Jesus is touched by her faith and gives her the healing she wants for her daughter.
We learn in our church to get rid of our old prejudices and realize that God loves all his people. So must we.
Maybe something in our background, our family traditions make it harder to understand. Just one example might be pork, which Jews aren't supposed to eat. And we might have a rule against putting any wine in our mouth (except for communion) -- even though our Lord drank it at the Last Supper. (I had one pastor tell me that Jesus really drank grape juice.)
This passage is also including, not only food, but also thoughts which could be evil. That could include pornography, which may come through our computers or even Hollywood movies if we don't make sure to turn them off.
One passage that may disturb some parents is Jesus' statement that eating with unwashed hands does not make us unclean. We must remember that he is talking about "ceremonial" washing, which the Jews had to do before they ate. Their ritual did not have to include soap. So don't stop washing your hands with soap before you eat. No need to pray over them.
It is true that we can be lead astray by some who make all things acceptable in this enlightened age. Free speech may be carried to extremes -- as our government sometimes does. It may not be against the law to use the name of the Lord in vain, for example. One artist was rewarded for his work of art when he put a Jesus figure in a bottle of urine. Disgusting but no one shot him for it and most people laughed at it. Muslims go crazy if you burn a Koran.
The next verses talk about a Canaanite woman pleading to the Lord for the healing of her daughter. Jesus seems to be giving her a cold shoulder, so his disciples want to tell her to go away. It appears as though he is testing them all. His testing goes on when he tells her that he was sent only to the Jews. It is like he is following the old Hebrew custom of rejecting anyone who is not of pure Jewish blood. The Pharisees would understand. Even his disciples would agree and would try to get rid of her, but when she won't go away, even when he implies that she is a "dog," she accepts the insult claiming that even the dogs (like Canaanites) get to eat the leftovers. Her determination works. Jesus is touched by her faith and gives her the healing she wants for her daughter.
We learn in our church to get rid of our old prejudices and realize that God loves all his people. So must we.
