ODJ: trumping tradition
June 13, 2010
Their worship is a farce, for they teach man-made ideas as commands from God (v.9).
READ: Matthew 15:1-9
It’s tough when tradition trumps family. Daman Rao knows this bitter reality only too well. Born in a small south Asia village to a family steeped in superstitious tradition, he was despised and mistreated by them for simply being the fifth child and a boy.
Fortunately, as Daman grew into his teens, he was befriended by believers in Jesus and received the Lord as His Savior. His new family in Christ loves Him and is helping him grow in his faith.
Jesus voiced some strong words about man-made practices to some religious leaders of His day. He questioned, “Why do you, by your traditions, violate the direct commandments of God?” The Pharisees and religious teachers had asked Jesus why their elaborate hand-washing routine had been ignored by the disciples as they headed to the buffet table (Matthew 15:2-3).
Jesus’ potent question blew away their smokescreen and revealed two things:
• The religious leaders’ adherence to futile human laws and tradition versus God’s commands (they were not honoring their parents, v.4; Exodus 20:12).
• The leaders were acting nice and righteous, but they lacked a real heart of worship for God (Matthew 15:8-9). This latter point was driven home by Jesus as He quoted Isaiah 29:13—a passage familiar to His audience in which God condemned His people for being all about man-made, legalistic rules, but not His commands.
Traditions can be important. But when we begin to confuse them with what Scripture actually teaches, we’ve crossed a line. When we start to love them more than God Himself, we’re in trouble spiritually. Let’s strive to honor God with our actions and worship Him with all our hearts (Matthew 15:8-9). —Tom Felten
How has tradition trumped your fellowship with other believers? Why must God’s Word always supersede tradition?
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