Theme: THE LOVE OF GOD
Text: “Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men.” – Isaiah 29:13.
Comment: This text highlights the hypocrisy of many of the natural Jews in time of old. Outwardly they gave the impression that they were zealous for the work of God but the reality was different. “And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness.” (Ezekiel 33:31) During his days on earth, our Lord Jesus Christ had cause to refer to the passage for today when questions came as to why he was not keeping the commandments of the elders. Replying, he openly called the religious leaders hypocrites in that they did not mind breaking the laws of God while carefully observing traditions that allowed them to do as they pleased. He went on to explain that it is the fruit of one’s heart condition that shows if one really has love for God or not. “…But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: These are the things which defile a man…” (Matthew 15:15-20) Obedience is proof of our love for God. “And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.” – 2 John 1:6; Deuteronomy 5:10.