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Things that Matter
Character Matters
Matthew 15; Proverbs 4, 6 and Romans 5


Matthew 15:1-10 (Monday)
“Then some Pharisees and teachers of the law came to Jesus from Jerusalem and asked, "Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They don't wash their hands before they eat!" Jesus replied, "And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition? For God said, `Honor your father and mother' and `Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.' But you say that if a man says to his father or mother, `Whatever help you might otherwise have received from me is a gift devoted to God,' he is not to `honor his father ' with it. Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition. You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you: "`These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.' "Jesus called the crowd to him and said, "Listen and understand.” (NIV)
1) Can you think of some “traditions, requirements” or, “rules taught by men” that some people consider essential to their faith?
2) Is it possible for Christians to “honor God with your lips, but have their hearts be far from Him?” Have you ever been in this situation in your walk with Christ? What brought you to this realization? How did you respond when you realized your actions and/or motives? Share, if you feel comfortable.
3) Is the adherence to “traditions”, “rules” and “regulations” God’s way of reaching out to man, or always man’s way of trying to reach up to God?
4) Why is adherence to rules useless, in fact, impossible in forming a relationship with God?
5) Jesus always has a way of getting to the “heart” of our actions, motives and thoughts! How would you respond if Jesus turned to you and asked, “And why do YOU?”
6) The Pharisees and teachers of the law put on a good “show” of being religious, but their hearts were as cold as stone. Man’s form of religion has always been an outward expression that exalts one’s own effort, or one’s own supposed goodness. Self-effort is as old as Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:7-10), Cain and Abel (Genesis 4:3-5), the Tower of Babel (11:1-9), etc., etc.. Didn’t work then, won’t work now! Why is our own effort(s) unacceptable to God? Why is it never enough ( Romans 1:17; Romans 3:21-26 and Romans 10:1-3)?
7) During this time in Biblical history, giving monetary gifts to the synagogue instead of taking care of your family would have probably resulted in a person being highly elevated in the eyes of the religious rulers. After all, the rulers of the synagogue would have highly profited from it! In all likely hood this, in turn, would have given an individual a certain amount of respectability in the community. This just won’t hold water with God! Why is it hypocritical to meet the needs of your church or any other type of ministry and/or charity and not care properly for your family (Exodus 22:22; Deuteronomy 14:28-29; Job 22:5-22; Malachi 3:5 and 1 Timothy 5:8)?
8) Was Jesus saying you don’t have a responsibility to give to your church and/or other charities?
9) What does James 1:27 say is God’s idea of true and pure religion?
Matthew 15:12-20 (Tuesday)
“Then the disciples came to him and asked, "Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this?" He replied, "Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots. Leave them; they are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit." Peter said, "Explain the parable to us." "Are you still so dull?" Jesus asked them. "Don't you see that whatever of enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man `unclean.' For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. These are what make a man `unclean'; but eating with unwashed hands does not make him `unclean.'"” (NIV)
1) Why were the Pharisees offended? Why did this seem to surprise the disciples?
2) What does Jesus mean by “blind guides?”
3) Israel was commanded to have God’s commandments “upon” their hearts (Deuteronomy 6:6.) In the passages for Monday and Tuesday, we see find that this did not result in love of God or building Godly character. Why not?
4) Last week we touched on what it must have felt like to be thought of as “unclean” by society. Here, Jesus tells us what truly makes us “unclean—our hearts!” The heart—always, always God’s bull’s eye target spot! Ouch! Why (Genesis 6:5; 8:21; ?
5) Read Matthew 12:33-6; Mark 7:20-23.
6) What can we do about our hearts?
7) Why did Jesus speak in parables to the disciples and why were they too “dull” to understand what Jesus meant by them (Matthew 13:13-16?)
8) You can tell a good tree by it’s fruit (Luke 6:43-45; Luke 8:15!) What does the fruit of the spirit have to do with having good character?
9) We need new hearts (Psalms 51:10 and Ezekiel 11:19!) Surprise! How is this possible 2 Corinthians 5:14-19—new creation, new heart!!
Proverbs 4:20-27 (Wednesday)
“My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to a man's whole body. Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. Put away perversity from your mouth; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you. Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm. Do not swerve to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.” (NIV)
1) Here we see that we do have some part in allowing God to build character into our lives. What is it?
2) Still think this is self-effort? Read Joshua 3:1-17. This scene is very similar to God parting the waters for the Israelites leaving Egypt, only God did all the work there. But, here in Joshua, we find the children entering their promised land and now God requires more of them. (Keep in mind that Egypt is often a word used for sin and the promised land is our portion and inheritance through Christ Jesus!) So, what part does obedience play in this scene? Who receives the glory?
3) God works the same way today. He does all the work in saving us—Jesus and the cross! Praise His name! Then, as we grow in the gifts and fruits of the Spirit, (1 Corinthians 12:1-19; Galatians 5:22-23) step by step we are able to faith walk in obedience to His commands. Don’t become discourage—this is a process! This is your spiritual sanctification! Remember, you have two natures; your old sin nature and the new life you have in Christ (Ephesians 4:22-32)! Believe me, they are always at war (Romans 7:18-25)! Be patient with yourself and with others, just as Christ is patient with you! Good thing, or we would all be consumed (Hebrews 12:28-29)! Don’t grow weary (Galatians 6:9!) Your fruitful harvest is coming!
4) What does it mean to “guard” our hearts? Ephesians 6:14 tells us to make sure our breastplate is in place! This part of a warrior’s armor was worn over his chest to protect his vital organs—mainly the life-giving heart! According to this verse, what is our “breastplate?” Why is knowing we have the righteousness of God essential to guarding our hearts?
5) What place does "hiding" God's Work in our hearts play in this commandment?
6) Have you ever thought of God’s Word bringing life and health (Psalms 38:1-13; Isaiah 38:12-16; Jeremiah 30:1017?) Does character come into play here (Proverbs 3:5-8?) How so?
7) What are some examples of perverse or corrupt conversation?
8) What is the result of having your eyes “fixed?”
9) How can we keep our “feet” from evil?
10) What part do these two commandments have to do (#5and #6) with building Godly character?
Proverbs 6:16-19 (Thursday)
“There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.” (NIV)
1) I have often heard that sin is sin. If you commit one sin you have broken all the entire law. Thank God, we’re no longer under the Law of death (Romans 8:1-2)! Still, this passage pointedly tells us that some sins are “particularly” detestable to God. What is it about these sins that distinguishes them from other sins?
2) Notice that these sins all have one thing in common—our relationship with one another. Is the church body immune to these sins, or do you think God would speak even more severely to us? Why or why not?
3) The church is certainly not immune to dissension. Many churches have split, or worse, totally dissolved as the result of dissension. What types of things can bring dissension?
4) What message does this send to the lost world around us? Do you think this is one reason it is so repulsive to God (John 13:35; 2 Corinthians 3:18; 5:18-21?)
Romans 5:1-5 (Friday)
“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.” (NIV)
1) Ah, peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ! Those precise words should put an end to all haughtiness, boasting, all striving to make a name and/or claim a position for ourselves and certainly, any ill will toward our brethren (Romans 3:27-28.) Every single one of us needs a Savior—we all need Jesus Christ! Sisters, we are all equal at the cross! If you notice, the sins mention on Thursday all result from a self-centered, a self-seeking heart—yes, back to the heart! More so, a person who treats others in such a manner is indeed heartless! There is no reason for God to mention idolatry (first and second commandments) after stating those sins. Why?
2) We talked about it on Sunday—as Christ followers, we are now all under the same governing law in our lives. What is it (1 Corinthians 13)?
3) If you are Christ’s, then you are going to share in His sufferings—count on it! Have you ever been in a place where you could truly say you rejoiced in your suffering? Share.
4) What role does suffering play in building character?
5) Why is character so important to our having eternal hope?
6) Can you honestly say that your hope has not disappointed you?