Tradition

Isaiah 29:1-14; Mark 7:1-13 / Malachi 2:17--3:5

I. Form Can Obscure Purpose

A. The religious leaders of the day noticed that Jesus was not following expected patterns; holiness had become a matter of external practice. “Then came together unto him the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, which came from Jerusalem. And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault. For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders.” (Mark 7:1-3)

B. Jesus did not compel His followers to observe the traditions added by the historic schools of Jewish thought. “For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders. And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brasen vessels, and of tables.” (Mark 7:3-4)

C. What was Jesus doing? “Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands?” (Mark 7:5)

D. People living by their own private agendas will do what is necessary to call into question the simple directions of God. “Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him. Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.” (Daniel 6:4-5)

II. Jesus Was Exposing a Major Religious Flaw

A. When form substitutes for substance, all that remains is hypocrisy. “He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.” (Mark 7:6)

B. Instead of making people holy, traditions were drawing vacuums in people’s hearts. “Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” (Mark 7:7)

C. Human analysis had replaced heaven’s revelation. “For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.” (Mark 7:8)

D. History is filled with disasters which flow from taking the world rather than the Word as life’s standard. “And king Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglathpileser king of Assyria, and saw an altar that was at Damascus: and king Ahaz sent to Urijah the priest the fashion of the altar, and the pattern of it, according to all the workmanship thereof. And Urijah the priest built an altar according to all that king Ahaz had sent from Damascus: so Urijah the priest made it against king Ahaz came from Damascus. And when the king was come from Damascus, the king saw the altar: and the king approached to the altar, and offered thereon. And he burnt his burnt offering and his meat offering, and poured his drink offering, and sprinkled the blood of his peace offerings, upon the altar. And he brought also the brasen altar, which was before the LORD, from the forefront of the house, from between the altar and the house of the LORD, and put it on the north side of the altar. And king Ahaz commanded Urijah the priest, saying, Upon the great altar burn the morning burnt offering, and the evening meat offering, and the king’s burnt sacrifice, and his meat offering, with the burnt offering of all the people of the land, and their meat offering, and their drink offerings; and sprinkle upon it all the blood of the burnt offering, and all the blood of the sacrifice: and the brasen altar shall be for me to enquire by. Thus did Urijah the priest, according to all that king Ahaz commanded.” (2 Kings 16:10-16) Ahaz burned his babies and bowed to Baal.

E. Believers must always be on guard against the enemies of sovereign grace. “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” (Colossians 2:8) “(Touch not; taste not; handle not; Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.” (Colossians 2:21-23) Transition from Puritan to Presbyterian can carry the same risk; some denominations live by their forms of government rather than by God’s Constitution.

III. Tradition Must Never Cancel Truth

A. The reasoning which leads to the problem is clever but deadly. “And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.” (Mark 7:9)

B. The false teachers started with truth. “For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death:” (Mark 7:10)

C. Living trusts had become substitutes for filial piety. “But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free. And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother;” (Mark 7:11-12)

D. Anything which cancels truth is fundamentally wrong. “Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.” (Mark 7:13) “And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.” (Luke 4:8)