Our Lord Refutes His Enemies

This week on From the Housetops, Brother Matthew reflects on the growing opposition Our Lord faced as His life on earth drew to a close. While His holiness, miracles, and doctrine drew the admiration of the people, they also stirred the jealousy of the scribes and Pharisees. Taking occasion from the fact that some of His disciples did not observe the ritual washing of hands prescribed by Jewish traditions, they sought to accuse Him. These practices, confirmed by Jewish custom, had come to be observed with excessive rigor, and their neglect was considered a serious fault.

Our Lord responds not by defending the external conduct of His disciples, but by exposing the error of His accusers. He reproaches them for placing human traditions above the commandments of God, especially in their misuse of corban, by which they avoided their duty toward their parents. Quoting the prophet Isaiah, He condemns their hypocrisy and teaches that true defilement does not come from without, but from within. He thus shows that holiness is not merely external, and warns that those who reject this truth are like blind guides leading others into ruin. Let us then examine our own hearts, not content with outward observance, but striving for true interior purity.