6 He replied, ”Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written: "'These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. 7 They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.' 8 You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men."
Man considers the outside. God is concerned with the heart. Scripture tells us we are to beware of choosing what is important to man over what is important to God. We may be very pleasing to man – the world may think we are very religious – yet our hearts are far from God. We must beware; this is easy to succumb to. Paul states in Galatians:
10 Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.
Gal 1:10 (NIV)
Remember, God delights in an obedience that is backed by a heart whose motivation is pure.
9 The heart is deceitful above all things
and beyond cure.
Who can understand it?
10 "I the LORD search the heart
and examine the mind,
to reward a man according to his conduct,
according to what his deeds deserve."
Jer 17:9-10 (NIV)