We are continuing to examine how Christ lived and served the Father.

Jesus was more concerned with the commandments of God than with the traditions of man. The scribes and Pharisees, however, took issue with the breaking of man’s traditions and confronted Jesus saying, “Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread” (Matt. 15:1-2). The scribes and Pharisees were attempting to place the breaking of this tradition on equal footing with transgressing God’s law, thus treating it as sin. However, Jesus answered their question with a question of His own, because He took issue with their breaking of God’s law! “Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition?” (Matt. 15:3).

They accused Jesus of breaking the elders’ traditions, but Jesus turned it back on them by accusing them of breaking God’s commandments. They thought their question would trap Jesus, because Jesus’ disciples were in direct violation of what the elders commanded, but what the elders commanded was not commanded by God; therefore, they had no right to bind where God had not bound. “Therefore you shall be careful to do as the Lord your God has commanded you; you shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. You shall walk in all the ways which the Lord your God has commanded you, that you may live and that it may be well with you, and that you may prolong your days in the land which you shall possess” (Deut. 5:32-33).

The elders’ tradition of washing their hands before they ate was not wrong because it did not break God’s law. However, it was wrong to bind it as sin, because the command is not found in God’s Word. Jesus’ disciples’ violation of this tradition did not break God’s law and thus, it was not sin. Man cannot add to God’s laws as he sees fi t, no matter who he is (Gal. 1:6-9). This absolved Jesus of any wrongdoing, because His disciples had not violated God’s law but the elders’ tradition, which they were vainly attempting to elevate to the level of God’s law.

To attempt to elevate man’s traditions to be equal with God’s law is sin. “In vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men” (Matt. 15:9). Jesus was being accused of allowing His disciples to eat without washing their hands, but He would point out that the scribes’ and Pharisees’ traditions were not necessarily correct. His response to them implied that His disciples did not transgress God’s commands, only the elders’ traditions, which they had no authority to bind. Thus, to keep a tradition which violates God’s law nullifies the commandment of God (Matt. 15:3-6). Their attempt to trap Him with the elders’ traditions therefore, was in vain.

Jesus lived and served the Father by being more concerned with God’s law and how to properly apply it than with man’s traditions. Following His example, we also need to be more concerned with being obedient to God’s commandments rather than our own traditions, not that our traditions are necessarily wrong; they can be acceptable if they do not violate God’s law.

For example, congregational singing can be placed before the sermon or after as a tradition; it does not matter, because the Scriptures do not tell us when to sing during the worship assembly. However, to completely remove congregational singing would be sinful, because Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16 command singing. Are the worship traditions you are keeping acceptable to God or do they nullify the commands of God, because they contradict His commands (Matt. 15:9)?

Just something to consider.

getting paid twice and making out very well.

One more bit of unsavory news before I give up. Hillary and Bill are out on a 6 month speaking tour. I say this to warn America that Hillary is not politically dead yet. In fact, I think I see her making political moves. Beware.

And lest we forget, let me remind everyone to be sure and be in church Sunday.

Wayne Bullard, DPh

waynebullard@sbcglobal.net