I. EXORDIUM:
Can you eat cockroach or snakes?
II. AUDIENCE PROFILE:
General
III. OBJECTIVES:
Above all, guard our heart.
IV. TEXT:
Matthew 15:19
For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, all sexual immorality, theft, lying, and slander.
Pray: that GOD will guard our hearts, help us to guard our hearts with GOD's words and prayers.
V. THESIS:
Above all, guard our heart.
VI. TITLE:
What Defiles Us?
VII. EXPLICATION:
A. Author: Matthew, also called Levi, one of the twelve (12) apostles, Mark 2:14, Jew who was a Roman tax collector, Matthew 10:3, called a sinner because he enters Roman court.
Mark 2:14
As he was walking along, he saw Levi, the son of Alphaeus, sitting at the tax collector's desk. Jesus told him, "Follow me!" So Levi got up and followed him.
Matthew 10:3
Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus;
B. Audience: to the Jews
C. Keywords: Fulfilled
D. Purpose: To show Jesus of Nazareth was the Kingly Messiah of Jewish Prophecy.
E. Job/Profession:
Tax collector, a publican.
A Jew prohibited to enter courts of non-Jew to deliver the collected tax to the Roman (non-Jews). His profession made him a sinner.
(Isaiah 52:11, 2 Corinthians 6:17, Colossians 2:21, Genesis 3:3, Acts 10:28, Acts 11:3, John 4:9)
Isaiah 52:11
"Depart! Depart! Go out from there; touch no unclean thing; go out from the midst of her; purify yourselves, you who carry the vessels of the LORD.
2 Corinthians 6:17
Therefore, "Get away from them and separate yourselves from them," declares the Lord, "and don't touch anything unclean. Then I will welcome you.
Colossians 2:21
"Don't handle this! Don't taste or touch that!"
Genesis 3:3
"but as for the fruit of the tree that is in the middle of the garden, God has said, 'You are not to eat from it, nor are you to touch it, or you will die.'"
Acts 10:28
He told them, "You understand how wrong it is for a Jew to associate or visit with a gentile. But God has shown me that I should stop calling anyone common or unclean,
Acts 11:3
They said, "You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them!"
John 4:9
The Samaritan woman asked him, "How can you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?" Because Jews do not have anything to do with Samaritans.
Events that will make Matthew unclean or a sinner:
1. Matthew will touch the money of the people.
2. Often thought of him stealing money, or adding charges to the people that will go straight to his pocket.
3. He will enter Roman courts to deliver the money.
4. He might be probably advised to eat with them if he has a good tax collection that day.
5. Touch unclean hands of the Romans.
VIII. MAIN BODY:
A. Guard Our Hearts:
1. Above all else - guard our hearts.
(Proverbs 4:23)
Proverbs 4:23
Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.
2. GOD's peace will guard our hearts and minds. (Philippians 4:7)
Philippians 4:7
Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
B. How To Guard The Heart?
1. Avoid the path of the wicked. (Proverbs 22:5)
Proverbs 22:5
Corrupt people walk a thorny, treacherous road; whoever values life will avoid it.
2. Don't forsake or ignore GOD's Words. (Proverbs 4:13)
Proverbs 4:13
Take hold of my instructions; don’t let them go. Guard them, for they are the key to life.
3. Worship and serve GOD with whole heart and mind. (1 Chronicles 28:9)
1 Chronicles 28:9
“And Solomon, my son, learn to know the God of your ancestors intimately. Worship and serve him with your whole heart and a willing mind. For the Lord sees every heart and knows every plan and thought. If you seek him, you will find him. But if you forsake him, he will reject you forever.
4. Don't focus on your own evil thoughts. (Psalms 94:11)
Psalms 94:11
The Lord knows people’s thoughts; he knows they are worthless!
5. Focus our thoughts on these:
- true, honorable and right
- pure, lovely and admirable
- excellent, worthy of praise (Philippians 4:8)
Philippians 4:8
And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.
C. Forsake the following: (Matthew 15:19)
Matthew 15:19
For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, all sexual immorality, theft, lying, and slander.
1. These things defile the heart:
- evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, lying and slander
IX. CONCLUSION:
Proverbs 4:23
Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.
Matthew 15:19
For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, all sexual immorality, theft, lying, and slander.
Avoid evil and guard our hearts.
