Pam Padgett ... teacher
When the scribes and Pharisees came condemning the disciples because they did
not follow the tradition of washing their hands before eating bread, they were offended at the
response Jesus gave which spoke to them of the commandments of God ...
1 Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of
Jerusalem, saying, 2 Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of
the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. 3 But he
answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment
of God by your tradition? 4 For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father
and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the
death. 5 But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It
is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; 6 And honour
not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.
7 Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, 8 This people
draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their
lips; but their heart is far from me. 9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the
commandments of men. 10 And he called the multitude, and said unto them,
Hear, and understand: 11 Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a
man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.
12 Then came his disciples, and said
unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended,
after they heard this saying? 13 But
he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath
not planted, shall be rooted up. 14 Let them alone: they
be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind,
both shall fall into the ditch. (Matthew 15)
Rather than humbling and correcting themselves when Jesus presented how
their traditions conflict with commandments of God, the Pharisees were
offended. They loved traditions of man instead of loving what God has
said, holding their traditions above the commandments of God.
tradition: long-established custom, practice, or belief that has
been passed from generation to generation, having the effect of
precedent or unwritten law
Most of us have been taught various traditions of man since the time we
were young children. Customs associated with holidays set up by man, birthdays, weddings are just a few of the traditions we have been taught. Being of the flesh,
man and things are often praised, even when the tradition is presented
as being religious in some way.
Traditions can be deeply rooted in us. But as the Holy Spirit works in
our lives, and our eyes are opened to a tradition that conflicts with
the word of God, we give up that tradition and
submit ourselves to the word of God. We hold the word of God above anything else.
1 Peter 1:17 And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of
persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your
sojourning here in fear: 18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not
redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation (way of life) received by tradition from your fathers;
19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish
and without spot: 20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation
of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, 21 Who by
him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him
glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.
The blood of Jesus has redeemed us, freed us, from vain
traditions of men. We are no longer under bondage to them, but are free to
serve only God. Our expectations and hopes are in God, not in traditions of man.