Day 3
Reading: Mark 7:1–30
SOAP: Mark 7:21–23
“For from within, out of the human heart, come evil ideas, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, evil, deceit, debauchery, envy, slander, pride, and folly. All these evils come from within and defile a person.”
Despite their attempts to trap Jesus, He still outsmarted the Pharisees and experts of the law. Though these men were considered experts in the details of the law, Jesus showed them how their hearts were far from right. The Old Testament law included the Ten Commandments and 613 specific case laws that explained to the people of Israel how they were to live as God’s chosen people. In order to ensure these laws were kept, the religious leaders created thousands more laws. They expected everyone to adhere to their strict, human-made rules.
When Jesus explained the law He revealed the evil condition of their hearts. The law had been set up by God to set His people apart and allow them to worship Him, not to oppress them with rules. Jesus showed His authority by turning their attention back to the intention of the law: to reveal the inner condition of the heart. Though they kept the law, the hearts of the religious leaders were far from God.
As we examine our own hearts, we can find security in only the work of Christ. Our own works do not save us. Through His death on the cross Jesus fulfilled the law and granted us freedom from sin in Him.
Lord Jesus, thank You for completing the law. Thank You for doing the impossible, by keeping God’s law and dying in my place. Help me to live in freedom, not in legalism. Amen.