What are your thoughts about this scenario?
Jason learns his boss will ask for volunteers to stay late. He devises a partly true excuse, but he’s not asked to participate and never has to lie.
Since Jason didn’t lie to anyone, did he sin?
Read Jesus’ words to the disciples below. See if it changes your feelings about Jason’s thoughts.
Jesus said, ““Don’t you understand yet?… the words you speak come from the heart—that’s what defiles you. For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, all sexual immorality, theft, lying, and slander. These are what defile you.”
Matthew 15:16-19 (NLT)
Do you see Jesus’ point?
Jason’s heart was revealed; he would have chosen to sin if needed. Rather than hiding God’s Word in his heart and seeking wisdom, he made sinful allowances for himself.
The Pharisees were a lot like that. Read Matthew 15 (NLT). What did Jesus accuse them of?
We must be careful about our conduct, thoughts, and motives. Consider King David’s passage after his fall into adultery and murder.
Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight.
You will be proved right in what you say, and your judgment against me is just.
Psalm 51:7 (NLT)
Even though our sin can hurt ourselves and others, our sin nature is ultimately against God alone.
May that knowledge sink into our hearts so that we may honor Him and turn from sin.
New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Getting the Seed out of the basket and into hungry hearts. Matthew 13 