Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth: You’ve probably given your kids instructions on how to wash their hands.

Mom: “Use soap and rub them until you see lather.”

Nancy: It’s appropriate for moms to instruct children. But in Jesus’ day the religious leaders had all kinds of rules for how everyone was to wash their hands, telling them how much water to use and how to pour it. The problem was that they treated their regulations as if they were actual Scripture.

One day these leaders asked Jesus why His disciples didn’t wash properly. And Jesus responded with the words of Isaiah: “'This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men'” (Matt. 15:8–9).

These leaders kept certain rules so they’d look good to others, but they didn’t love God in their hearts. Are you doing good things just so others can see? Or does holiness go to the deepest parts of your heart?

With Seeking Him, I’m Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth.

*Offers available only during the broadcast of the podcast season.