The Trouble With Tradition Series

THE TROUBLE WITH TRADITION

Mark 7:1-13

You have probably heard about the man who was confused by the way his new bride baked a ham. Before putting it in the oven, she took a knife and trimmed off both ends of the ham. The husband asked, "Why did you do that?” The wife answered, "You know, I don't really know. I never cooked a ham before, but that's the way my mother always did it." She called her mother and asked her why she always cut off both ends of a ham before she cooked it. "Her mother said, I don't really know, that's just the way your grandmother always did it." After this, the young bride then telephoned her grandmother and asked her why she always cut off both ends of the ham before she cooked it. Her grandmother said “Well, sweetheart, "the first oven we owned wasn't big enough to put a whole ham in, so I had to cut the ends off to make it fit. After that, I guess it just became a habit!"

Many people do certain things simply because that is the way they were taught to do them. Tradition is defined as "the handing down of information, beliefs, and customs by word of mouth or by example from one generation to another without written instruction." Traditions are not inherently bad, but they must be kept in their proper place.

The Jews in Jesus day had a major problem concerning traditions. Rather than focusing on the things of God, they focused on certain traditions that were handed down from the elders. They were more concerned with rituals and ceremonies than obedience to God and offering Him genuine worship. In our selected text, certain Scribes and Pharisees challenged Jesus because His Disciples did not follow the traditions that had been handed down for generations. In His response, Jesus confronted and illustrated their hypocrisy. If we ever elevate tradition to the level of scripture, He will certainly confront us as well.

- I would like to examine this discourse between Jesus and the religious leaders and preach about “The Trouble With Tradition”.

Certain Scribes and Pharisees came to Jesus to address what they perceived to be a major problem. But they were so focused on their traditions that they were blinded to a much bigger issue. In the end, Jesus would turn the tables and reveal a major problem in their lives. Notice in verses 1-5:

I. THE CONFRONTATION CONCERNING TRADITIONS

v1 Then the Pharisees and some of the scribes came together to Him, having come from Jerusalem.

At his point in His ministry, Jesus popularity had reached its climax. For some time, Jesus had been performing many miracles throughout Galilee. Everywhere He went, multitudes of people gathered around Him. As a result, the local Pharisees and Scribes became concerned.

This is evident by their response after Jesus called Levi to follow Him. When Levi met Jesus he threw a party and invited many of his friends to join Him. Mark 2:15 Now it happened, as He was dining in Levi's house, that many tax collectors and sinners also sat together with Jesus and His disciples; for there were many, and they followed Him. On that occasion, the local Scribes and Pharisees began to confront and challenge Jesus. (Mark 2:16 and when the scribes and Pharisees saw Him eating with the tax collectors and sinners, they said to His disciples, "How is it that He eats and drinks with tax collectors and sinners?")

Throughout the Gospels we find many other occasions where Jesus infuriated the local religious leaders. After Jesus healed the man with the withered hand on the Sabbath, the Pharisees went so far as to team up with their enemies the Herodians. (Mark 3:6 Then the Pharisees went out and immediately plotted with the Herodians against Him, how they might destroy Him.) Now some of the leading Pharisees and Scribes had arrived from Jerusalem, and they too were looking for a reason to oppose Him. They hoped to convict Jesus of breaking the Law of Moses. The problem was that the Pharisees and Scribes were focused on the “traditions of the elders” more than they were the actual Law. These religious leaders accused Jesus’ Disciples of “eating with defiled hands”.

v2 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?"