Did You Wash Your Hands? Series

When you put both these Gospels together they say the same thing to a large degree. There are a couple of things different which I will point out shortly but these differences do not create any major issues.

If you have ever see the movie ‘Fiddler on the roof’, I would suggest you do so. It is a great production. One of the songs that I like from it is ‘Tradition’. Here the lead male sings, then the woman, the sons, and then the daughters expressing their views of ‘tradition’.

TEVYE]

Tradition, tradition! Tradition!

Tradition, tradition! Tradition!

[TEVYE & PAPAS]

Who, day and night, must scramble for a living,

Feed a wife and children, say his daily prayers?

And who has the right, as master of the house,

To have the final word at home?

The Papa, the Papa! Tradition.

The Papa, the Papa! Tradition.

[GOLDE & MAMAS]

Who must know the way to make a proper home,

A quiet home, a kosher home?

Who must raise the family and run the home,

So Papa's free to read the holy books?

The Mama, the Mama! Tradition!

The Mama, the Mama! Tradition!

[SONS]

At three, I started Hebrew school. At ten, I learned a trade.

I hear they've picked a bride for me. I hope she's pretty.

The son, the son! Tradition!

The son, the son! Tradition!

[DAUGHTERS]

And who does Mama teach to mend and tend and fix,

Preparing me to marry whoever Papa picks?

The daughter, the daughter! Tradition!

The daughter, the daughter! Tradition!

Are ‘Traditions’ good or bad? Now that is a good question to ponder before answering. As human beings we cannot get away from having them play an important role in how we do things, especially when we are addressing religious issues. I think the major reason why we so heavily depend on traditions is because we are sinful. Do you know what the word ‘Religion’ means? It means to re-link. Acting in our flesh we try to re-establish a relationship with God. Somehow, in our ignorance we try to somehow think that by doing certain things or ceremonies Jehovah Elyon – The Lord Most High – Is going to be impressed. Therefore, if we act pious or perform certain acts that others before have done then they become part of our religious ceremonies. These ‘traditions’ are in actuality worthless, except for the fact that it makes us feel good.

Then the Pharisees and some of the scribes came together to Him, having come from Jerusalem. 2 Now when they saw some of His disciples eat bread with defiled, that is, with unwashed hands, they found fault. 3 For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands in a special way, holding the tradition of the elders. 4 When they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other things which they have received and hold, like the washing of cups, pitchers, copper vessels, and couches. 5 Then the Pharisees and scribes asked Him, “Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed hands?”