Sermon # 9 - Commandments Over Traditions Series

We read in Matthew 15:3, He answered them, "Why do you break the commandment of God because of your traditions? (GW)

As we continue to study the questions that Jesus asked, we realize that all of them were deep and thought provoking. In the above mentioned question there are two important aspects mentioned. One is the commandment of God, and the other the traditions of men. The question that Jesus posed to those who interrogated Him was why they chose to break God’s commandments, just to implement their own human traditions.

The ones who questioned Jesus

We read in Matthew 15:1-2, Then some Pharisees and scribes came from Jerusalem to Jesus. They asked, "Why do your disciples break the traditions of our ancestors? They do not wash their hands before they eat." (GW)

The Pharisees and scribes had travelled almost 150 kilometers from Jerusalem, to interrogate Jesus. They were curious to know why Jesus’ disciples did not wash their hands before they ate. They therefore questioned Jesus as to why His disciples broke the traditions of their ancestors, which all of them followed meticulously. Jesus was not in any way against washing of hands, but, He challenged the religious leaders for valuing their traditions over God’s commandments.

When these religious leaders came to Jesus, there were huge crowds that had gathered to meet Him. These multitudes came to Jesus with sickness, trouble, pain, evil oppression believing that He could bring healing and deliverance from all of their calamities. These people too had meticulously followed the traditions of their ancestors, to no avail. However, when they came to Jesus everything changed instantaneously, and they were relieved of all their disheartening situations.

There are loads of traditions that Christians follow today, unaware that these are entirely man made. Ever so often traditions will blind people’s eyes, so they are unable to perceive the mighty wonders that God performs.

This was Jesus’ response in Matthew 15:3, He answered them, "Why do you break the commandment of God because of your traditions? (GW)

Jesus did not reply the question that the Pharisees and scribes raised to him, but rather made them ponder by asking the above mentioned question as recorded in Matthew 15:3.

There are many Christian believers who meticulously observe fasting for the period of forty days once every year. During these days there will be no talk of marriage, many won’t move house, and there are others who abstain from eating meat. This kind of tradition does not have its basis from the bible. The premise for this practice is that Jesus fasted for forty days. It is true that Jesus did fast for forty days, but the fast He observed was total abstinence from food and water. Also there is mention of this forty day fast only once, and that too before Jesus began His ministry in the open.

You will be surprised to note that almost every major religion seems to attest to this kind of fast for forty days, or leaving away of sinful practices for a short time. As I researched this a little deeper, I realized that for most people it is far more convenient to live a life of piety for forty days, rather than for a whole year. There are many who are leading a life of sin and disobedience to God, who are constantly disturbed by a guilty conscience. In order to silence their conscience, they erroneously believe that forty days of devotion will nullify all the wrongs they do through the year. Have you noticed how after the period of forty days are done, many will go back to their sinful ways. For instance, a person may give up drinking alcohol for forty days, and will afterwards become a worse alcoholic.

Fasting is a good spiritual discipline. However, it is important to comprehend whether what we observe is based on God’s word, or if it is leaning towards tradition.

In the Old Testament the presence of God dwelt in the tabernacle. There were various courts, and there were regulations as to who could enter the various parts of it. Only the High Priest could enter the most holy place, once a year and if he did so unworthily, he too would be punished with death. God was not satisfied to reside in temples made with hands, and therefore He decided to come down to dwell in the hearts of men. It will not suffice to have the Lord reign in our hearts for just forty days in a year. God yearns that our bodies be His holy temple where He can inhabit, and reign every day of every year, all through our lives. That is also the reason why we do not need to undertake pilgrimage to any religious places, as the Lord longs to live right inside of us.