This Church is Not Full of Hypocrites
August 29, 2021
Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23
Now when the Pharisees and some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around him, they noticed that some of his disciples were eating with defiled hands, that is, without washing them. (For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, do not eat unless they thoroughly wash their hands, thus observing the tradition of the elders; and they do not eat anything from the market unless they wash it; and there are also many other traditions that they observe, the washing of cups, pots, and bronze kettles.) So the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, ‘Why do your disciples not live according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?’ He said to them, ‘Isaiah prophesied rightly about you hypocrites, as it is written,
“This people honors me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me;
in vain do they worship me,
teaching human precepts as doctrines.”
You abandon the commandment of God and hold to human tradition.’
Then Jesus called the crowd again and said to them, ‘Listen to me, all of you who have ears to hear, and understand: there is nothing outside a person that can defile by going in, but the things that come out are what defile.’
For it is from within, from the human heart, that evil intentions come: obscenities, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, arrogance, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they are the source of your pollution.’
Mary and Jana Howe says
Thank you so much for all these Sunday services with so much great music all through this pandemic! THe services have been a Godsend literally. Looking forward to the next phase of service at the Congregational Church of Amherst! -Mary and Jana
Ps. Thank you Sue and Michael for a wonderful anthem!
Sally Bowkett says
Thank you once again for the wisdom of the words that come from the heart and the wonderful music that comes from the hands. Blessings to all for another inspirational Sunday.