In the passage in Matthew, Jesus is preaching the same message that Isaiah preached about empty worship, hypocritical worship, worship without genuine salvation, and worship without integrity.
“Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, who were of Jerusalem, saying, ‘why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they wash not their hands when they eat bread.”
Matt. 15:1-2
In verse 1, it says that they were from Jerusalem, and this is an essential note because Jerusalem was the seat of the temple, the centre of religious worship, the place of the school of Judaism, and the place of the most eminent religious leaders. So, this high-powered group came with an air of authority to discredit Christ openly.
Now, what Jesus taught was diametrically opposed to what they taught. They believed that worship was ceremonial and external and Jesus taught that it was in the heart. So, the religion of external ceremony and internal spirit was on a collision course on this occasion. Christ was ready to set the record straight. We must be ready to reveal the truth of God’s word, no matter who may feel offended 1 Pet.3:13-15; 2 Tim.2:25.
This is the same battle that Isaiah, Malachi, and Amos fought; the same battle we are fighting today with the hypocrisy in the Church, with people all over the world who call themselves Christians but are actually not, although they go through some external motions. This is a battle against false teachers, false brethren, and false practices in the Church.
They fired the first shot in Matt.15:2 “Why do Thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders?” They were committed to their tradition. Tradition is that which is handed down from one generation to the next. It is not to be confused with that which comes from God. That is Scripture. Any time you have a religion that mix tradition with scripture, the end result will be confusion. The usual outcome is that people will not be able to differentiate between what comes from God and that which is invented by man.
Image Credit: https://www.holyspiritspeaks.org/.
We will consider this message under three sub-divisions: (1) DIVINE DISAPPROVAL OF UNSCRIPTURAL TRADITIONS, (2) DESTRUCTIVE CONSEQUENCES OF UNSCRIPTURAL TRADITIONS, (3) DECISION AND DETERMINATION TO FOLLOW GOD’S TRUTH.
1. DIVINE DISAPPROVAL OF UNSCRIPTURAL TRADITIONS:
Matt.15:1-3 What was the tradition of the elders? People should wash their hands before eating. The Pharisees observed this tradition very religiously, believing that the food they ate with unwashed hands would defile them. They practiced this with a great deal of strictness and imposed it upon others, making it a sin against God if they did not do it. The tradition was innocent and had some health benefits. However, disobedience was labeled as a sin, so much so that they challenged Christ directly for allowing His disciples to transgress the tradition of the elders Matt.15:2
They said “Why do you break the traditions ?,” and gave him an example. In his reply, He said, “Why do you break the commandment of God by your traditions?,” and He gave them an example, too. He gave a typical example of their refusal to obey the 5th Commandment to honor and provide for their parents by hiding under a tradition of giving an offering to God Matt.15:3-6. By their tradition, they had voided their scriptural obligations to their parents. So, when their parents called for their assistance, they excused themselves and said they had given God what was meant to support them. They thought this was a good and valid plea, and many undutiful children used it and sought to justify themselves.
Note that what men say, regardless of their status or pedigree must be examined by that which God says in His word, and if it’s either contrary or inconsistent with the word of God, it must be rejected, Acts 4:19; 5:29; Matt.15:3; Mki. 7:13; 2Tim. 4,:3-4
This rebuke to the Pharisees, who had added many traditional human precepts to the law of Moses, applies equally to all modern believers who have modified or added certain unscriptural dogmas and traditions to the faith. Whatever one cannot find in the New Testament is of such a character. Practices such as observance of saint’s days, Christmas day festivities, lent; the removal of the cup in the Lord’s supper from the laity in some churches; infant baptism; some men of God covering their head with some priestly cap in the Church; praying through dead saints and angels; praying for the dead etc. are all traditions of men which are not scriptural. Interestingly, some are even in direct conflict with the scriptures. 1 Cor. 11:1-7. These unscriptural traditions have brought a lot of confusion into modern Christianity.
2. DESTRUCTIVE CONSEQUENCES OF UNSCRIPTURAL TRADITIONS.
Matt. 15:8-9. In verse 9, It says,
“But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandment of men”
By the elders’ traditions, not only was the word of God perverted, but the worship of God was also greatly corrupted. The worship is in vain. There are many people whose worship is in vain because they are based on the vain traditions of men. They try to placate God with a multitude of rites and rituals. With ceremonies and ordinances that have no scriptural validity. Is.1:11-15
The Jews were not the only people who acted thus. Many Christian assemblies have embraced many human traditions to attract multitudes of people. It is common to see many churches involved in the sale of religious materials such as anointing oil, anointed handkerchiefs, holy water, wristbands, stickers, crucifixes, etc. Some of these materials have become the objects of faith. Unwittingly, through these strange practices, many believers have gone into idolatry. Ex. 20:3 Their faith is in those objects. They place them in their bags and pockets, sprinkle holy water or anointed oil to ward off evil spirits and receive healing miracles, financial breakthroughs, success, employment, etc.
In the spiritual world, objects of worship are symbolic. Sometimes, these fetish objects like anointing oil, holy water and wristbands are given to members to establish demonic contact with the spirit world. When you put them on or use them, you come under the spell and the manipulations of these false prophets. You do not know the kind of spirit operating in some of these places of worship. If you get involved with these teachers, you may lose your salvation and go into bondage. Prov. 21:16; 1Jn. 4:1, Matt. 24:24; Thes. 5:21; 1Jn. 2:18. It is a serious transgression to add or subtract from the word of God.
3. DECISION AND DETERMINATION) TO FOLLOW GOD’S TRUTH TO THE END.
Josh. 24:15. The call to you today is: choose you this day whom ye will serve. Joshua knew that true service to God must be free and voluntary. Not by deceit or hypocrisy. He, therefore, called on the people to make their choice, for God Himself would not force them – They must serve Him with all their hearts if they served Him. As for himself and his family, he made a choice. In a world where the standards of righteousness are lowered daily, you must make a personal decision to remain true to the word of God. Job. 27:5-6; 2Tim. 1:13-14; Heb. 10:35-39.
To follow God’s truth to the end, you must diligently observe the following steps: (1) Love the Lord with all your hearts, Deut. 6:5; Jn. 14:15; (2) Study and meditate on the word of God always Ps.1:1-2; (3) Be steadfast and unmovable 1Cor. 15:58; (4) Set the Lord before you always Ps. 16:8; (5) Trust in the Lord with all thine heart Prov. 3:5; (6) Watch and pray Eph. 6:18; (7) Endure to the end, Matt. 24:11-13.
Justice Peter Akhihiero is a High Court Judge in Benin City, Nigeria & a Senior Pastor in Deeper Life Bible Church.
