Then came together unto him the Pharisees and certain of the scribes which came from Jerusalem. And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashing hands, they found fault. For the Pharisees and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not holding the tradition of the elders. And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be which they have received to hold as the washing of cups and pots, brazen vessels, and of tables. Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashing hands." And we'll read the Lord's first response from verse 6. He answered and said unto them, We'll have this highest prophecy of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoreth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. This is the word of the Lord, and He will most certainly add His abundant, gracious, and magnified blessing to the reading of this as holy truth. And let us pray. Most blessed and gracious Father in God, the Father and God of our Lord Jesus Christ, our Lord who is the Son of God, the Savior of the world, and as we see from Mark chapter 1 and verse 1, that this is the beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. We pray that we might see the blessed truths of this portion of scripture and that which you have for us today, that we may see it through gospel eyes. That Christ will be exalted and that, Heavenly Father, you'll be glorified. That your people will be edified by thy spirit. as the Spirit brings glory unto Christ and brings illumination unto your word, and that we might grow in grace and be strengthened in faith to bring you glory and honor and lay our lives down before you, before the throne of grace, that we might seek mercy from you, coming boldly before the throne of grace in time of need. finding that mercy, that we might have mercy unto others, and also rejoicing in the mercy that Thou hast bestowed unto us. We pray, Lord God, that this will be a rich portion of Scripture for us to walk as Thy people in holiness, separated unto You, unto good works. In Jesus' name, Amen. This is a grand chapter, chapter 7. It's coming to a pivotal point in the Gospel of Mark, the 16 chapter book. Chapter 8 is, at the end of chapter 8, we'll come to about the halfway point where it ministers unto the truth of Christ now facing the cross but here he's continuing to present teaching and the way the gospels unfold here we have some grand design we have been covering after chapter one as you know we went seven lessons in chapter one but we've been abounding as God has been abundant for us and bounding through the chapters one at a time. The whole chapter as we see these great pictures in them. And what greater way for the people of God to understand the context by seeing it in its larger context, and Mark chapter 7 is just like that. In fact, it is more like that, to see the context in this chapter than some of the others. Because that which I'm going to present, I have to confess to you, I knew this pattern that was there, but I didn't know how to approach it, and so much time in prayer this week, and then even having some converse, some conversation with some of my old teachers. I went back to the pastor's college at the Metropolitan Tabernacle and conversed with our old friend Mr. Spurgeon, that great pastor, and had him minister unto me certain truths, not just in this passage, But others, and Mr. Bunyan too, to hear him preach and then to spend some time with him, recognizing the abounding grace of God upon his life and pouring forth to keep the gospel at center. So that the works that come forth are gospel works and not just a good glazing over, a veneer as it is like a shellac on a table or a piece of furniture, but real depth because the works that come forth are from the grain itself. It's from the wood, from the sap of the tree. It comes forth because they're gospel works. And I had to go before these men and I had to be in prayer to really present this interesting idea as you see that the title of the message is the furtherance of the gospel missions and then its pitfalls and promises. as the dispensation or as the dispensing of the gospel or the provisions for the gospel. Setting forth in Mark chapter 6 we see those things. Mark chapter 7 actually presents foreshadows of where the gospel is going through these three episodes as they're divided up. And interestingly the pitfalls are right up front. The gospel goes forth unto the Gentiles because of the rejection of the Jews against the Christ that was promised unto them through the word. But likewise, the same, very same thing that causes a stumbling block for the for the Jews causes much, much damage unto the gospel for those that would receive it today among the Gentiles. Interestingly, we want to rush into works with all speed. And it's not just the foolishness of the Greeks that we have to contend with, as they did back in those days. We also have to contend with Gentiles, non-Jews wanting to rush into works, just as we see here. We read the Lord's first answer in verse 6. And actually, let's again, as chapter 7 is a disposition of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and we see a preview of Christ's propagation, or the spreading of gospel missions through these three episodes. Interestingly, and there's so much more there than what we will cover, but having the little details that provide us great context for the overall, it will actually show us a greater and deeper study than if we went verse by verse and just parked here in the first episode for a little while and then moved on and spent about three or four weeks here. I think we'll see a great deal. We cover it in three points, the hypocrisy of tradition-loving scribes and Pharisees, and then point number two, the hope of Tyre and Sidon, and point number three is the hope of truth in spirit. And in that we see this great, great picture of Christ's authority in the first episode, Christ's propriety or his orderliness in the second episode, and then Christ's sovereignty over all, especially as it relates to the healing of the deaf man. And we'll see that the doctrines of grace pour forth through this, but permeated and preeminent with the gospel throughout. The first thing, the hypocrisy of tradition-loving scribes and Pharisees. We read to verse 6, Christ's first answer. He calls them hypocrites right away because they were looking at this tradition that they had. They washed their hands off of a tradition that's not commanded in the law, of the 613 laws that are codified by even rabbinical Jews today. They recognize from, these are the things, the commandments that are given by God, and these are the things that we need to hold. Well, they fail because half of them are sacrifices. Because the sacrifice is given by Christ and they have no temple for those sacrifices. One of the commandments is to utterly destroy the Amalekites. How can they do that today? And so they fail because we know that the scriptures, both Old Testament and New Testament, that if you desire to keep one point of the law and fail in one, or keep the law and fail in one point, you are guilty of all. So if they failed to destroy the Amalekites, then they have failed. And so the rabbis are kind of sunk in their traditions. And here they take this one tradition of washing of hands, and they would recite a prayer even today. Rabbinical or Pharisaical Jews today would pour water over their hands and recite a prayer. God of the universe who has given us the commandment, and they'll call it a commandment, but it's a tradition, the commandment of washing. And it's a tradition, and they did it in Jesus' day, and then they would do the same thing because the priests in the temple would pour water over their feet and that they would wash the instruments and that there was a holiness there so the common man who was reading the scriptures and desiring to serve God says well why don't we do that too so they apply a tradition and then they turn the tradition into almost a commandment and then eventually by Jesus' day they took the tradition and it was not only equal to the commandment but it surpassed the commandment because this is what Jesus says about it in verse 7 how be it in vain do they worship me Teaching for doctrines the commandments of men they're teaching. This is this is what you got to do a doctrine For laying aside the commandment of God you hold the tradition of men as the washing of pots and cups and many other such things you do Verse 9 and he said unto them full well you reject the commandment of God that you may keep your own tradition for Moses said verse 10 honor your father and your mother and And whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death. But you say, if a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me, he shall be free, and you suffer him, or you allow him no more to do ought for his father or his mother. Verse 13, Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition which you have delivered, and many such like things do ye. Now traditions aren't bad in and of themselves. We all have traditions. For many years I had a tradition of getting up at 3 in the morning after the Lord saved me to get up early 3 o'clock or 3.30 in the morning to be able to do my morning devotions and to read portions of scripture so that I could have the day begin. with the Lord and then go out and go on the dive station because I'm a young Christian, I'm a new Christian, I want to know God's Word and I had a tradition. That was a tradition. And then I would get up and I would start imposing upon it even without saying so. Well, you don't get up at 3.30 in the morning, brother? Well, you must not be spiritual. See, I was doing the same thing as these Pharisees were doing. Why don't your disciples, Lord, why don't your disciples eat with washed hands. They're defiling themselves. They're not holy. That's what they're talking about with this tradition. They're not holy. They're defiled. They're unclean because they don't wash their hands. Jesus isn't saying that they shouldn't take soap and water and stuff. He's talking about this religious ceremony that they've attached to themselves. It has nothing to do with worshiping God, but all everything to do with showing themselves pious before men. It is an idolatrous thing that they do because they want to be seen of men holding on to this thing as if, if I do this, which is an external show, then I'm doing, and Jesus confronts them with saying, look, You even do this? See, there's no evidence that even in Matthew, as Matthew records this, there's no evidence that they were doing this. But Jesus is the Son of God. And as the prophet of God from Deuteronomy 18 reached into their hearts by the Holy Spirit and said, you do this. Now, did every single one of them do this? Maybe not. But there was a general consensus because, as Romans 1 tells us, that the guys that didn't do it still approved of the ones that did. And so there was this general company of scribes and Pharisees, and they approved because whatever you would give unto your parents, your poor parents, that they might be able to live, to survive, well, that's a gift of God. And unfortunately, that goes on too much today in churches all around the world. this is what they're doing. They make the commandment of none effect when we should honor father and mother as their livelihoods father and mother had given their lives so to raise them and now they say well because we're serving God and God would not do such a thing because God was there in their presence Jesus Christ the Son of God the second person of the Trinity saying this is not right what you're doing You're defying the commandments of God, and more importantly, you're defying authority by keeping an idolatrous tradition. It's idolatrous because you give it a place of importance that God never gave it. And by giving it that importance, you take away other things that are heavenly, other things that are of supreme importance as compared to this tradition that you keep. And verse 14, and when He had called all the people unto Him, He said unto them, Hearken unto Me, every one of you, and understand, there is nothing from without a man, that entering into a man can defile him. But the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man. If any man have ears to hear, let him hear." See, we have the calamity of man's works. He places these things of great importance on things that aren't important. That's the calamity of man's works in verses 1-13. And then in verses 14-16, we see the correction from Christ's Word. And He tells them that what goes into a man is what defiles him. But He's going to explain it a little bit later because He's speaking on spiritual matters. He's not saying that if you drink... Well, you know what? If you drink poison, it's not going to hurt you. That's not what Jesus is saying. He is going to draw now a spiritual parallel when His disciples come up to Him. in verses 17 to 23, because we're going to see the condition of man within. The reason why there's the calamity of man's works is because of the condition of man within. And in verses 17, and when he was entered into the house from the people, his disciples asked him concerning the parable. Remember what we had read before when Jesus had been giving the parables that In chapter 4, it says of him that many such parables he spake the word to them as they were able to hear it. And he wouldn't speak the parable unless they were ready to hear it. And here it is. If the Lord gives us something that's of a mystery in the word, ask him about it. because if it is troubling you to say look I am reading this and I don't understand and then ask him because he'll give it to you because if it's troubling you apparently the spirit is ministering under your soul and stirring it so that you could ask him of these spiritual truths that relate unto our lives and then an application will come and ask him Lord what is the application how do I apply this So they asked him, and it's all right to do so. And it says, And he saith unto them, Are you so without understanding also? Do you not perceive that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man? It cannot defile him. It cannot make him unclean in the ceremonial sense that they were talking about in verse 2. It says it cannot defile him, verse 19, because it entered not into his heart, but into the belly and goeth out into the draft purging all meats. This is where he draws a distinction from that which is physical to that which is spiritual. Jesus is speaking a spiritual truth because that's what the Pharisees and scribes were talking about. And they took a spiritual, they were taking something that was spiritual and putting an external work upon it in order to defy the commands of God. It appeased them. It made them feel good. It gave them a warm, fuzzy feeling, but it had nothing of worship in it. In verse 20, and he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. For from within, out of the heart of men proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, and I'm going to go a little slow on this, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile the man. Jesus just spoke an eternal truth. He didn't say Well, you know, this is what is working up and it might come out. He says that does defile a man. He speaks as if drawing it out from Jeremiah 17 and 9, saying that the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. Who can know it? Christ knows and he says these are there. These are those things. Mark actually lays, makes no apology and he lays out all these things even in Matthew as he presents it. He lays out some of these things but Mark goes right for the juggler because he makes an incredible point. This shows why they do those things. This is why those traditions are important to them. Because they need a Redeemer. Because we are sinful, Christ came and He led a righteous life and He called those things that were sinful by His very presence and His very word and allowing us to know, allowing His disciples to know that these things are sinful. And the only remedy for that is Christ Himself, who would go to the cross because He was righteous, who would suffer the wrath of God upon that tree, who would shed His blood so that we might have the forgiveness of sins, who offered His soul an offering before the Father, that in that, who is the Son of God, well-pleased by the Heavenly Father, that he paid a debt he did not owe. We owe a debt we could not pay. And that Jesus Christ paid that debt that in believing on Him and that sacrifice that is pleasing and acceptable unto God as that payment for the penalty of the sin I committed, then I have every benefit and every inheritance of that son who went to the tree. Blasphemy is mine from my heart of sin, pride, foolishness, deceit. I am a hypocrite filled with all hypocrisy against grace because I should be praying even more for God's people and yet I get up and I get myself busy because if I don't do these things then I bear witness against myself that I don't even trust in the truth of the grace of God who gave His life for me and for you and for us that we might be His people. I'm a hypocrite. I present that I love God and it says in his word that you should love the Lord thy God with all your heart and with all your soul and all your strength as we read in our catechism today, the sum of that moral law of the Ten Commandments. And yet I defy it. I don't love God with all my heart and thank God but God but God as we read in Ephesians 2 and verse 4 today in our devotion thank you brother Gene and reminded us that that was Rolf Barnard's favorite verse that we were wretched sinners with the wrath of God abiding on us because we're the children of disobedience but But God saved us. By grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves. It is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast that we are this workmanship that He has created us unto good works for His glory. And I'm paraphrasing there because I want to try to fit all of Ephesians 2 in there because it's so good. what the grace of God does, that the grace of God, as it says in Titus chapter 2, that the grace of God is revealed from heaven against all in godliness and unrighteousness of men, teaching men, oh this grace, teaching men of this grace that is found in Christ alone. So we go to the next episode as we see this as I finish preaching that the condition of man within because it is the gospel and as we keep the gospel as it's going these are the pitfalls that will come but there's a foreshadow and as Jesus gets away from the crowds and he goes up in verse 24 and from thence he arose and went into the borders of Tyre and Sidon and entered into a house and would have no man know it but he would not be hid for a certain woman whose daughter had an unclean spirit heard of him and came and fell at his feet The woman was a Greek, a Syrophoenician by nation, and she besought him that he would cast forth the devil out of her daughter. But Jesus said unto her, Let the children first be filled, for it is not meat, it is not appropriate to take the children's bread and to cast it unto puppy dogs. And she answered and said unto him, Yes, Lord, yet the puppy dogs under the table eat of the children's crumbs. And he said unto her for this saying, Go thy way. The devil is gone out of thy daughter. And when she was come to her house, she found the devil gone out and her daughter laid upon the bed. Here as he goes up into Tyre and Sidon. And as we see that next point, the hope of Tyre and Sidon, that this is a foreshadow of the glimpse of what would happen after Jesus goes to the cross. And the gospel now is not confined to one people in a place that is on the west side of the Jordan River, it is now going to go forth unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, tribes, and people. It's going to go to even this woman. But he says the truth. In Matthew it says that he doesn't even speak to her. He continues to walk on as she begs him and his disciples say, Master, she's calling after us. Get rid of her. But Mark doesn't do that because he's making a point that goes along with the context of this. She is seeking a spiritual truth, a healing. Did she just figure, well, Jesus is the Christ, I must go. No, she didn't. She's a Gentile. She doesn't know the Word of God. But she heard that this man who has healing in his wings, whom God of the Jews had sent. Let me go to her. My daughter has an unclean spirit." And she goes. Now, was Jesus just going to cast her off? We read that in our Robert Murray McShane portions today, one of them is in Isaiah 42, and we had it in our Call to Worship in Isaiah 42 in verses 3 and 4, Bruce reads, shall he not break? And a smoking flask, shall he not quench? He shall bring forth judgment unto truth, which he did unto the scribes and Pharisees. But here, here's a woman. who knew not the things of God, because of the providence of God and the sovereignty of God, for her to be born in a nation outside of Israel, away from the Word. But she comes. fulfilling Romans 11, which isn't even written yet, Romans 10, that says that I was sought of a people, actually it was Isaiah, Isaiah, because Romans was quoting Isaiah. I was sought of a people, or I was found of a people who sought me not. She was not seeking, but she heard of this man. And as he goes, he says the truth to her, look, the time is not now, it's Israel. But we know that there would be a time when it would go forth. Because he said in the Gospel of John in chapter 10, I have sheep that are not of this fold. Sheep. That means that in God's eternal plan they are to be saved. And notice the words that the Lord uses. He doesn't call her a dog. He says a puppy dog. lapping from the crumbs, the bread crumbs. It's not good for me to just cast the bread there, but Lord, the crumbs that fall from the children's table. May I have those things, in verse 27, she says, or that Jesus says that, and she says in verse 28, she picks right up on it, let the puppy dogs eat from the crumbs, Lord. because the crumbs of heaven are greater than the feasts of fools. In verse 28-30, Jesus says, or 29-30, it says, Jesus, for this saying, go thy way, the devil is gone out of thy daughter. He draws out faith from her. She sought a healing for her daughter, but he brings out faith of a truth that the Messiah has spoken unto her and speaks the word until that time when the gospel will go out in full measure. I pray that the episode of this woman, it's already gone, but it would be wonderful to consider that possibly that the gospel came forth through Barnabas or Paul or one of those men to bring forth salvation unto a Syrophoenician woman. Last verses 31 through 37, we have the hope of truth and spirit. that it would go forth from the Gentiles and the pitfalls are there, that traditions of men would get in the way. Well, you know what? It's supposed to be for Israel. We need to do the Ten Commandments and all these things. Wait a minute. No, that's not it. God has a plan that brings Christ in the center of all things. Those are pitfalls that we must watch out for. But the hope of truth and spirit is this. In verses 31 to 32, we'll see a loss of hearing. We'll see in 33 through 35, a loosening of a tongue. And then left of center, 36 to 37, Jesus makes a command, but it's not hardly followed. Verse 31, and again, departing from the coast of Tyre and Sidon, he came into the sea of Galilee through the midst of the coast of Decapolis. Then they bring unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech. And they beseech him to put his hand upon him. Now he has an impediment of speech, which means that maybe his deafness, more than likely, and most commentators agree with this, Mr. Gill, Mr. Poole, Mr. Spurgeon, In several places we see that Matthew, in fact Matthew Henry, they agree that it is probably he lost his hearing because he had speech but his impediment was on speech because now he doesn't hear. We know of cases like that but it ties well into the story. This is why Matthew doesn't carry it but Mark does because Mark fits it together for this glorious picture. And in verse 33 and he took him aside from the multitude and put his fingers into his ears. Notice how often Mark even mentions that when some great healing is taking place, he takes him aside. He doesn't do it out in public and out in the open. because the word is that which he proclaims and the word is that which he preaches and he spit and touched his tongue and in the Greek it seems to lend to the idea that he spit upon his finger and then took his finger and touched his tongue and that's a pretty interesting thing because if that's true Jesus wasn't doing this as like a remedy he was saying that even his very spittle is undefiled and holy that he could even do that. There's nothing of him that is imperfect. Verse 34, And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Epheta, Epheta, that is, be open. It's a Chaldean or an Aramaic. It's Aramaic, not pure Hebrew, which is an interesting thing because the guy's deaf. He can't hear it. And he took him off to the side. So who is he doing this for? His disciples. Interesting. Verse 35, And straightway his ears were opened, and a string of his tongue was loosed. Then he spake plain, and he charged them that they should tell no man. Charged who? Well, he took them away from the multitude, so it wasn't them. And it says them, so it wasn't the man that was deaf. He charged his disciples not to tell anyone of this. charged them so much more a great deal they published it because people heard about it and they went out and published it and were beyond measure astonished saying he hath done all things well he maketh both the deaf to hear and the dumb to speak and they were clamoring about these wonderful things that Christ does and Christ is sufficient and he is a reward and he does do miracles and he does miracles today but those things as Christ told his disciples Don't publish this. The others went out and published it because that's what's going on today even. We see a picture of that because it's the miracles that people want, of physical healing, of feeding multitudes, of getting educated, of all these crazy things and the gospel suffers. The proclamation of Jesus Christ and Him crucified is nowhere to be found. because there's a clamor that he heals the deaf ears and he causes blind eyes to see and he makes the lame to walk and I thank God that he does that but if the gospel must be put in second place that it doesn't present the truth of Jesus Christ. How do we apply this? As it fits all together we see our application because of Christ's authority. Here he brings, what illustration does Christ bring when he's rebuking them for his traditions? He says that you dishonor father and mother. And that commandment is there so that we can understand right from birth of the providence of God and the sovereignty of God to give us unto parents whom we didn't choose. so that we can understand authority as the father is the head of the home and the mother is placed there for the nurture of the children and the children are placed there for the obedience unto the father and the mother unto the glory of God so that we can understand a trinity and triunity of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and the orderliness of it and the perfection therein. the authority of Christ in that episode because missions must go forth like that, the gospel must go forth like that, and it must come forth from a triune God with all authority by his word and the proclamation of the gospel to exalt Jesus Christ above all. Second, in verses 23 to 30, Christ's propriety with the Syrophoenician woman There is an order to what God is doing because He is a God of order and He plans and purposes all things. It was not until 4,000 years after the creation of the world that in the fullness of time Christ came, born of a virgin, made under the law. God could have done it then. In fact, God, in a sense, He didn't have to create anything. He was in perfect unity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, without any need, and in perfect love, and harmony, and goodness, without even creating the next angel. But He did this all to show Himself glorious. I was asked this question, what was the purpose of the cross? Well, since the very first thing in our catechism, we understand what is the chief end of man? The chief end of man is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever. But God's purpose in the cross is God's purpose in all things. It is to bring Him glory. It is to bring Him glory first and foremost. And when that day comes when Jesus Christ, who is the Eternal Son, righteous and went to the cross, suffered upon that cross, gave His life upon that cross, was crucified, raised again unto power, ascended into heaven and seated on the right hand of God as Lord of all and King of kings. And then when He comes again in the consummation of all things and restores all things and places judgment as we read in Isaiah the judgment in equity and he does that all of eternity will be taken up with finding glory in God through Jesus Christ and glorifying God in Jesus Christ and that is heaven the glorified son who sits upon the throne and if you want heaven to be anything else it's not heaven it is him And so finally, with his propriety and things are put in order, that he didn't want to not heal her child. He did heal her child, but he taught his disciples, why am I doing this? So that you will know that when the time comes, you will be sent to go unto all nations and kindreds, tongues, tribes, and people. To the Syrophoenician woman and to those like her. I'm not doing it now because it is unto salvation is of the Jews he told the Samaritan woman in John chapter 4 and it is and he gives that fullness until that time comes and he is raised from the dead and the gospel will go forth unto all and then finally the episode is all based upon God's sovereignty to bring forth his plans and purposes according to the word of God by the will of God which is eternal in Christ Jesus It's sovereign because this man who was deaf could not hear. He could not hear because he was not born that way, because he refused to hear, if you want to call it that. He refused to hear, in a sense, because that's all he could do. He refused to hear because he couldn't hear. Because the corruptions that were in his flesh, and this is why Jesus sighed, because of that. He looked to heaven, and this is what has befallen this man. But see, That is by the sovereignty of God, even unto salvation, because how could this man be saved except that God opens up his ears that he can hear, just as he had to raise the girl from the dead in order for her to come to life, as we read in our devotion today with Brother Gene in Ephesians 2, that we were dead in trespasses and sins, unless we were made alive, how could we respond? We want to respond first because I'm dead? Well, see, a dead man can respond. I heard that preached, and it's a lie from the devil. A dead man can't respond. There must be a regenerative work, and it's in the sovereignty of God, and we glorify God in it. If someone falsely believes that, does that mean that they're unsaved? I don't know. That's in the content of the heart. Are they making a confession of faith and believe in the incarnation of the Son of God and the crucifixion, the resurrection, the ascension? I'm going to tell you that if they do, if it is God that has saved them, they're going to have many stumbling blocks along the way to believe such a foolish thing. But it doesn't necessarily mean that they're not saved, that they can confess Jesus as Christ. Christ's sovereignty to do that, and he did it before his disciples, because next chapter we'll see ultimately why he tells them not to say anything. Because the cross must come in power, and it must be by the Holy Spirit. Apart from the Holy Spirit, These miracles that are being done, most of them are basically false signs and wonders from a devil that disguises himself as an angel of light. Why? Because it's a distraction that takes us away from the gospel, the tradition of washing hands. It says, well, this is a good thing because now my hands are clean, but your hands aren't clean. Your hands must be cleansed by the sprinkling of blood that comes from one righteous sacrifice, and that's Jesus Christ. The tradition was a distraction. The miracles are a distraction. Even evangelism, in some senses, can be a distraction. But anything that takes us away from the central truth and preeminence of the gospel of Jesus Christ are distractions that must be dealt with, and we must bring them forth through the truth of God's Word in all authority, in all priority, and in all Christ's sovereignty, and surrender ourselves by God's grace. Lord, I don't have the capacity, but by your grace, make me to be that servant we read in Mark. Let us pray. Most blessed and gracious Heavenly Father, we thank you, Lord, for your word. And we pray, Lord God, that you'll continue to minister unto us the truths of your word. Tonight, as Dr. Justice comes to bring us a word this evening, We pray, Lord, that we might rekindle new old friendships of those that remember Lawrence Justice and the days when Grace Baptist Church was planted here in Anniston, but we also pray, Lord God, that you'll be glorified no matter who it is that's speaking. We thank you, Lord, for the devotions and the worship that has come forth today. We pray, Father, that this word will continue to minister unto the the depths of our souls, the rejoicing of our heart, and the cleansing of our mind for the exaltation of Christ unto your glory in Jesus' name. Amen.