For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts …. These are the things which defile a man.
Matthew 15:19-20 KJV
In general terms, “fashion” is the way we are looking at someone.
It is based on how they are dressed, behaving, writing, or if they are acting in a way that is most acceptable to us.
Human nature wants our physical appearance to define who we are.
But really, it does not.
It is what is in our hearts that does.
Jesus warns us against those things that can cause us to act in a way that doesn’t follow the way He has desired for our lives.
When the Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus, they wanted to act like they were the masters regarding appearances.
They had asked Him, “Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.” (vv. 1-2).
They were looking at human traditions. Not those set forth by God.
The Lord responded: “Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?” (v.3).
The Savior even began to remind them of how they have put into place things that allowed them to keep their wealth instead of caring for their parents (vv. 4-6), which dishonored them and violated the Fifth Commandment (Exodus 20:12).
How they were trying to add things to the law as if God had left something out.
That they were trying to add things that would always lead men to disobey God.
The Lord wanted everyone to understand that what they really should be worried about is what is in their hearts.
That it was not what they put in their mouths as food, but for what came out of their mouths.
Because that is what showed the wickedness of their hearts.
When Christ teaches, He is showing us the false appearances and wickedness of our own hearts.
The things that cause us to disobey what the Father had told us.
He has told us that “For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies” (v. 19).
That we must humble ourselves and seek to be cleaned.
To live our lives according to His ways, not man’s.
Only by our Heavenly Father, because of the righteousness of Jesus and our faith in Him, will our hearts be cleansed.
Our true cleansing comes when we follow what is written in the Word.
Only then will we be on the right track.
It is better than any fashion trend we try to follow.
Better than any laws set by man.
We will be blessed with wisdom.
A WORD OF PRAYER
Father, never let us think that Your Word can be improved by any human addition. That there is no doctrine or practice that can ever be better than anything You have told us. We know that there are times we do things to impress others. We even think they may impress You. We are not to follow the ways of man. Forgive us our sins and restore our hearts, so we can walk, not as man says, but as You do. Desiring to have an upright heart and a willingness to seek Your guidance. We want to please You in every way possible. You are the only one we need to impress.
In Jesus Name We Pray, Amen