How to Recognize Spiritual Blind Spots | Matthew 15:1-20
Series: All!
Scripture: Matthew 15:1-20
Title: “How to recognize spiritual blind spots” (Darien Gabriel)
Heavily relied on Sean O’Donnell’s commentary on Matthew for outline and key thoughts
Bottom line: Recognizing the blind spots in others not only keeps us from foolishly following others who have them but it helps us reflect on our own blind spots and deal with them effectively (at the heart level).
Discussion questions for group and personal study.
Reflect and Discuss
1. What sources of authority and traditions compete with God's Word in the context in which you live?
2. If not everyone who quotes Scripture speaks the truth, then how can you prepare yourself to discern truth from error?
3. Answer the following question: "The Bible was written by men, so how can it be true in everything it says?" What passages might you appeal to in your answer?
4. What contemporary trends are putting pressure on believers to compromise faithfulness to God? How can our response involve courage and humility?
5. What is the danger of emphasizing emotions in our corporate worship without being driven by God's Word? What kind of spiritual affections should our corporate worship encourage?
6. In your own words, explain the difference between superficial religion and supernatural regeneration.
7. Jesus teaches that holiness proceeds from the heart. Practically, then, how do you cultivate such holiness?
8. How do you identify false teachers? Is it unloving to reject their teaching? If not, why not?
Final Questions (optional or in place of above)
What is God saying to you right now?
What are you going to do about it?
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Q. What do I want you to know?
A. The damning effects of spiritual blindness.
Q. Why?
A. So that we’ll see the truth in others and our selves:
Recognizing blind guides/false teachers/wolves in sheep’s clothing and not follow
Recognizing our own blind spots so we don’t become a blind guide
Q. What do I want you to do?
A. 3 things:
Ask the right religious questions,
Trust scriptures over traditions not based on scripture, and
See and pursue purity as a matter of the heart (inside-out).
Q. Why?
A. To help us recognize and deal with our spiritual blind spots and thus have a right heart towards God and people.
INTRO
Nicky Gumbel tells the story of…
Rich in Mercy
A man was having his portrait painted by a successful artist. When the portrait was finished it was unveiled. The man was most unhappy with the result. When asked whether he liked it, he replied, ‘I don’t think it does me justice.’ To which the artist replied, ‘Sir, it is not justice you need, but mercy!’ https://www.bible.com/reading-plans/17704/day/59?segment=0
I think it’s safe to say that this man had some blindspots as it relates to his look. And, if we’re honest, we all have some blindspots in our perceptions of self. Some of those are physical. Some of those are more subtle…like our spiritual maturity. All are impacted by our humility (or lack thereof).
Today we’re going to see what it looks like to have blindspots that are so big that you might call them blind altogether. In fact, Matthew and I are going to show you 3 big blind spots people have and the damning effects of those blindspots. We’re also going to show you how to recognize them so that you can better deal with those who have them—others and yourself.
CONTEXT
Jesus and his disciples leave Israeli territory and go to the decapolis (a region east of Judea made up of 10 gentile cities). This marks the last time Jesus will do ministry in the Galilean region as his remaining ministry will happen in Judea and especially in Jerusalem.
The religious leaders make a trip to where Jesus and his disciples are ministering to continue to confront him with the hopes of exposing him and condemning him.
Notice that this is in the wake of some pretty amazing miracles and teachings. He’s feed over 5,000 men plus women and children with a happy meal. He’s walked on water across the Sea of Galilee. He continues to heal all who come to him including just by walking by them and they reaching out to touch his cloak. He’s gaining immense popularity as a result. He’s being seen as a Messiah if not THE Messiah by the populace. As a result, the religious leaders are getting desperate. A leader like this will disrupt the status quo with Rome. And this means the loss of influence and affluence for the religious leaders of Israel. Not acceptable. Thus we’re already seeing some blind spots in these leaders. But it’s not just them who have them, remember.
3 Big Blind Spots and what they look like.
Those with blind spots…
I. Ask the wrong religious questions.
Sean O’Donnell wrote that the Pharisees asking Jesus this question after all he’d just done is like asking a firefighter who’s just rescued a baby from a house fire if it’s true his brother eats meat on Fridays during Lent.
II. Trust un-scriptural traditions even more than the scriptures themselves.
Corbin = the practice of pledging money (like willing it) to the temple to be paid upon one’s death.
Instead, it’s used to get out of helping needy parents because the $$$ already committed to God. They can use it but not for their parents. This didn’t just break the 5th commandment. This broke the whole law! Love God, love people. No compassion per Jesus.
Jesus calls out the Pharisees for putting their traditions over the Word. Your traditions are un-scriptural.
Isaiah 29:13
III. Think purity or faithfulness is an outside, not inside, reality. They discount the matters of the heart.
Scripture teaches us that the human heart is wicked, unclean and untrustworthy. (Heart = Seat of our emotions, thinking, will, and beliefs) This is why our words defile us.
Spiritual immaturity is seen in our words (and actions). Jesus emphasizes words here.
Jesus uses some of the 10 commandments to make his point:
5th - honor your parents—imposed a divine obligation on families to take care of their elderly parents. —Sproul
However, people attempted to get around this obligation by pledging their estates to the temple. So, while they were alive, they couldn’t spend their money on their parents since pledged to temple when they died. Therefore, really keeping their money for themselves until they die. Jesus said that their traditions permitted violation of God’s word.
There’s no law that says my disciples must wash hands before eating. But there is a law of God that tells you to honor your parents and therefore take care of them as they age.
6th - murder
7th - adultery
8th - theft
9th - lying, slander
Jesus will point these out vividly and call out those with these blindspots as to help the rest recognize and avoid following them.
There’s another caution here to consider: We all have blind spots. Let’s humble ourselves and make sure we see them and deal with them appropriately.
CONCLUSION
Bottom line: Recognizing the blind spots in others not only keeps us from foolishly following others who have them but it helps us reflect on our own blind spots and deal with them effectively (at the heart level).
As we head into this new year, will you courageously, purposefully evaluate your life through this lense?
What is God saying to you? What are you going to do about it?
Pray
Outline Bible
SECTION OUTLINE FOURTEEN (MATTHEW 15)
Jesus confronts the Pharisees, teaches the crowds, and explains his teachings to Peter and the other disciples. He heals a Canaanite woman's daughter and feeds the 4,000.
1. THE MEETINGS (15:1-20)
A. Jesus' meeting with the Pharisees (15:1-9)
1. Their accusation (15:1-2): They accuse Jesus of breaking the
Mosaic law by permitting his disciples to ignore the ceremonial hand washing ritual before eating.
2. His condemnation (15:3-9)
a. Jesus speaks concerning their corruption (15:3-6): The Pharisees twist God's law in such a way that it allows them to ignore their responsibilities concerning their parents!
b. Jesus speaks concerning their character (15:7-9): Jesus calls the Pharisees hypocrites and says they fulfill Isaiah's terrible prophecy concerning them (Isa. 29:13).
B. Jesus' meeting with the people (15:10-11): Jesus tells the crowd that uncleanness is not caused by what goes into a person's mouth (nonkosher food) but rather by what comes out!
C. Jesus' meeting with Peter (15:12-20): He says the same thing to Peter and the disciples.
II. THE MIRACLES (15:21-39)
A. Healing a Canaanite woman's daughter (15:21-28)
1. The brokenhearted mother (15:21-23)
a. The place (15:21): Jesus is in the region of Tyre and Sidon.
b. The plea (15:22-23): A mother in this area begs him to heal her demon-possessed daughter.
2. The kindhearted Messiah (15:24-28)
a. His reminder (15:24-26): He tells her that his key ministry is to the Jews, not the Gentiles.
b. Her response (15:27-28)
(1) The reasoning (15:27): She agrees but asks for some of the crumbs that might fall from Israel's spiritual table.
(2) The reward (15:28): Jesus immediately grants her request.
B. Feeding the 4,000 (15:29-39): Jesus ministers to this group of 4,000 men as he did previously for the 5,000.
1. Meeting the needs of the hurting (15:29-31): Jesus heals the lame, blind, crippled, and the mute.
2. Meeting the needs of the hungry (15:32-39)
a. The amount of food (15:32-34): He has only seven loaves of bread and a few small fishes.
b. The abundance of food (15:35-39): Seven full baskets remain after all have eaten their fill!
References/Bibliography:
“Preaching the Word” Commentary, Douglas Sean O’Donnell, Edited by Kent Hughes
“Matthew” by RC Sproul
“CSB Christ Chronological,” Holman
“The Bible Knowledge Commentary” by Walvoord, Zuck (BKC)
“The Bible Exposition Commentary” by Warren Wiersbe (BEC)
“Exalting Jesus in Matthew” by David Platt (CCE)
Outline Bible, D Willmington
NIV Study Bible (NIVSB)
ESV Study Bible