Universal Utterings
for August 4, 2026
A Godcast
UniversalUtterings.Com
08-04-2026 Matthew 15 v0114 Blind Man Leading A Blind Man
The Gospel of Matthew Chapter 15 Verse 1 thru 14
1 Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, 2 “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They do not wash [their] hands when they eat a meal.” 3 He said to them in reply, “And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? 4 For God said, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and ‘Whoever curses father or mother shall die.’ 5 But you say, ‘Whoever says to father or mother, “Any support you might have had from me is dedicated to God,” 6 need not honor his father.’ You have nullified the word of God for the sake of your tradition. 7 Hypocrites, well did Isaiah prophesy about you when he said: 8 ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; 9 in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines human precepts.’”10 He summoned the crowd and said to them, “Hear and understand. 11 It is not what enters one’s mouth that defiles that person; but what comes out of the mouth is what defiles one.” 12 Then his disciples approached and said to him, “Do you know that the Pharisees took offense when they heard what you said?” 13 He said in reply, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. 14 Let them alone; they are blind guides [of the blind]. If a blind person leads a blind person, both will fall into a pit.”
In Matthew 15:1-14, we encounter an emotional confrontation between Jesus and the Pharisees, who chastise His disciples for failing to follow tradition regarding ritual cleanliness. Jesus responds by challenging their understanding of true purity and the nature of their worship. He quotes Isaiah, stating, “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.” This stark declaration serves as a powerful reminder that mere outward expressions of faith are insufficient if they are not accompanied by genuine devotion.
The Pharisees, while appearing righteous in their adherence to tradition, reveal a deeper hypocrisy in their actions. They prioritize human rules over the commandments of God, allowing their focus on rituals to overshadow their relationship with the divine. Jesus emphasizes that what truly defiles a person are not external factors but the evil thoughts and intentions that arise from within. This message challenges us today to reflect on our own lives and motives.
As we consider this passage, let us not allow God to find that we honor Him superficially. It is easy to go through the motions of faith—attending services, reciting prayers, and participating in rituals—while our hearts remain distant from His truth. To avoid this pitfall, we must cultivate an authentic relationship with God, one that goes beyond mere outward appearances.
Let us strive for a faith that resonates deeply within us, aligning our actions with our sincere beliefs. Remember, God desires our hearts, not just our words. In striving for authenticity, we can ensure that we are not hypocrites, but true followers of Christ. Amen.
Join me as we pray our daily prayer of forgiveness. The Lord’s Prayer.
At the Savior’s command and formed by divine teaching, we dare to pray:
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. Deliver us, Lord, we pray, from every evil, graciously grant peace in our days, that, by the help of your mercy, we may be always free from sin and safe from all distress, as we await the blessed hope and the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ. For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours now and forever.
I am sorry Lord. I believe You died and rose for me. Please forgive me as I forgive others. I share You as my Lord and Savior seeking to live your Will in all things. Prayers for wife Toni and my mother Betty pray for our children especially our two oldest Alexandra & Allen Son in Law Mark Stern; Julian, Gabriel and Jeffrey and our grandchildren Oliver, Julian and Elliott. We pray for those we’ve said we’d pray for and those who’ve asked us to pray for them. We pray for the dying as we do each day Lord give them peace in their last breath. We pray for Holy Mother Church. Our prayers for our niece Brittany. In Jesus Precious Blood by His Name we pray. Amen.
I am a poet obedient to Christ,
Catholic Evangelist Thomas Cruz†Wiggins
†Spirit led God inspired Christ fed†®
Ephesians 6:17-20
08-04-2026 Matthew 15 v0114
**Blind Man Leading A Blind Man**
In a land where traditions held tight,
Pharisees gathered in the soft morning light,
With hearts set on rules, their voices a whip,
They challenged the Master, in pride made a slip.
“Why do your disciples, with hands unwashed,
Dine without care?” their stern faces embossed,
They spoke of the law, of ancestral decree,
Yet missed the true essence that set people free.
The Savior responded with wisdom profound,
“It’s not what goes in that makes a man bound,
But what comes from within, from the depths of the heart,
For there lies the source of the pure and the dark.”
He spoke of the blind, leading others astray,
In their rigid traditions, lost the true way.
“Let them be!” He proclaimed, “For their hearts are afar,
They honor with lips, but their spirits we scar.”
In the crowd, there were murmurs, confusion took flight,
His words were like seeds, awakening light,
For hearts that had yearned for the truth to unfold,
In the silence, He offered a love pure and bold.
So gather your wisdom, but loosen your clasp,
For love is the law that forever will last.
In the echo of mercy, let kind hearts respond,
For in faith and in love, in unity, we bond.
Thus spoke the Master, with power and grace,
In a world filled with turmoil, He showed us our place,
To embrace one another, to look to the heart,
For there lies the Kingdom, where love is the start. Amen.
© Thomas Joe Cruz†Wiggins
August 4, 2026 @ 04:49 AM EST
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