The blind leading the blind (The heart of a man Matthew 15:10-20)

The blind leading the blind (The heart of a man Matthew 15:10-20)
Have you ever tried to follow someone who has no idea where they are going? It is not that common now, but I remember as a child a road trip meant that you jerked out an atlas and who ever was in the lead car would have a navigator or map reader. We did not have GPS or cell phones to give us step by step directions, we had to count on the person with the map in their hand to lead the way and if they were not good with a map you end up in some out of the way places or stopping to ask for directions. In our parable, Jesus let His disciples know that the Pharisees was like a bad navigator leading a convoy on a road trip, no one is going to end where they are supposed to be, and everyone is going to be in a ditch. He said it was like the blind leading the blind, no one knew where they were going. Jesus simply gave the harsh reality of what the church was like in His time, religion had taken over for relationship with God and the church leaders was leading everyone further from God instead of closer. Everyone was aimlessly wandering around blind to the fact that God was not pleased with the actions or their hearts.
This parable is the poster child for why each and everyone of us should take time to read and study the word of God daily. In that time, people did not have individual copies of the Bible in their home but in modern times we have unprecedented access to the Bible via hard copies, our phones, and the internet. There is no excuse for us to be deceived or mislead by individuals who are pushing their own agendas instead of the Word of God. We do not have to blindly follow the words of someone else, we all have access to the Word of God to make sure we are heading in the right direction. The sad reality is that we have instant access to the Word of God and there are still those who do not take advantage of it, and they would rather hear what someone else has to say about God instead of hearing what God has to say about Himself. God has given us access to His word so that we do not fall into the same trap of religion that plagued the Pharisees and we should take full advantage of it by committing ourselves to be students of the Word. Everyday we encourage you do Encounter God, Exalt God, edify yourself by reading the Word of God, and Engage this world for Jesus Christ. These are not just a clever list; these are things that will keep you out of the ditch and heading in the right spiritual direction.