Amen. It is very clear as to the lesson given in today's reading. God is not pleased with those who speak things not true, pointedly regarding Bible truth. Yet, how many truly understand that we have a part to play. Many, so very many with good intentions, not only believe, but teach that we are not to be involved in correcting serious error being taught by leaders in the church. "Let the tares grow with the wheat." "Don't condemn the false teacher." "Just share the truth." Of course there is much truth in these teachings. But, Christ is our example. So, learn the lesson in regards to our responsibility, for we have a responsibility to deal with false doctrines that ensnare so very many to the point when the Messiah comes, He is hung from a tree by those He came to save. How did John the Baptist and Peter not know the Son of God came to suffer and die, not to sit on an Earthly throne. So it is today. The Laodicean has been led astray and believe they are rich and increased with goods, not knowing they are wretched, miserable, poor and blind and naked. They were taught a false gospel. Listen to Jesus:
"Ye hypocrites," He said, addressing the wily spies, "well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto Me with their mouth, and honoreth Me with their lips; but their heart is far from Me. But in vain they do worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." The words of Christ were an arraignment of the whole system of Pharisaism. He declared that by placing their requirements above the divine precepts the rabbis were setting themselves above God.
The deputies from Jerusalem were filled with rage. They could not accuse Christ as a violator of the law given from Sinai, for He spoke as its defender against their traditions. The great precepts of the law, which He had presented, appeared in striking contrast to the petty rules that men had devised.
To the multitude, and afterward more fully to His disciples, Jesus explained that defilement comes not from without, but from within. Purity and impurity pertain to the soul. It is the evil deed, the evil word, the evil thought, the transgression of the law of God, not the neglect of external, man-made ceremonies, that defiles a man.
The disciples noted the rage of the spies as their false teaching was exposed. They saw the angry looks, and heard the half-muttered words of dissatisfaction and revenge. Forgetting how often Christ had given evidence that He read the heart as an open book, they told Him of the effect of His words. Hoping that He might conciliate the enraged officials, they said to Jesus, "Knowest Thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying?"
He answered, "Every plant, which My heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up." The customs and traditions so highly valued by the rabbis were of this world, not from heaven. However great their authority with the people, they could not endure the testing of God. Every human invention that has been substituted for the commandments of God will be found worthless in that day when "God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil." Ecclesiastes 12:14.
Jesus knew what He chose to say would cause the Pharisees to be greatly offended. Like many today, the disciples reproved Jesus for having caused their anger. They wanted Jesus to conciliate the false teachers who had supplanted the commandments of God. Take great care when tempted to do the same as the disciples did when the truth is presented in such a manner it exposes the false teachers. Just maybe the Spirit of God has inspired the reproof. I am not encouraging anyone to use the phrase "Ye hypocrites!" Do you love the offender as did Jesus?
