Here we receive very important teaching from Jesus regarding holiness. Holiness is not a matter of carrying out certain religious duties, especially those made up by man (v1-13). A person can be outwardly very moral and religious yet inwardly be far from God (v6-7). Man looks on the outside, God looks at the heart.

The great opponent of holiness is the state of the human heart (v15, 20-23). For us to be holy, the heart needs to be changed by the grace of Christ. One of our greatest problems is failing to realise just how sinful and twisted our hearts naturally are. People only see the need of grace when they begin to see the seriousness of their sin within. Look at the list of sin that is within the human heart (v21-22) and confess to God what lies within your heart. Then plead for saving and transforming grace.

Jesus doesn’t want people who go through religious ceremony for show. He wants people who become like Him with inward love and purity which is then shown in how we live. The Jews here had a bit of religion but not a life of obedience to God (v9-13). This life of obedience can only come through a real living relationship with Christ.

How healthy has your relationship been with Christ over this past week? Is it real? Is it honest? Is it growing? Pray about this!