Commandments VS Traditions

INTRODUCTION:

Pledge

Scripture:

English Standard Version Chapter 15

15:1 Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said,

2 “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat.”

3 He answered them, “And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?

4 For God commanded, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’

5 But you say, ‘If anyone tells his father or his mother, “What you would have gained from me is given to God,”

6 he need not honor his father.’ So for the sake of your tradition you have made void the word of God.

7 You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said:

8 “ ‘This people honors me with their lips,

but their heart is far from me;

9 in vain do they worship me,

teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ ”

English Standard Version Chapter 15

15:1 Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said,

2 “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat.”

3 He answered them, “And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?

4 For God commanded, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’

5 But you say, ‘If anyone tells his father or his mother, “What you would have gained from me is given to God,”

6 he need not honor his father.’ So for the sake of your tradition you have made void the word of God.

7 You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said:

8 “ ‘This people honors me with their lips,

but their heart is far from me;

9 in vain do they worship me,

teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ ”

SEGWAY:

How many of you have certain tradition you have started or have continued from when you were a child?

Illustration of a tradition

Shelly and I are starting a tradition in our family.

We are taking the week between Christmas and New Years and renting a house/cabin for the entire Family to come visit.

This is a family tradition we are wanting to start.

Definition of “Tradition” - the transmission of customs or beliefs from generation to generation, or the fact of being passed on in this way.

Theological - a doctrine believed to have divine authority though not in the scri

This is a family tradition we are wanting to start.

Illustration of a commandment

Many of us are familiar with what is called the Passover.

But for those who are not let me explain what the passover is ....

Pharaoh was not letting the Israelite’s leave.

The lord had stated to Moses to share with the people that tonight they were to take the blood of a sacrificed animal and smear it onto the door post of their house.

That night the Angel of death would come through a pass by the houses who had the blood.

For those who didn’t death came to the 1st born sons of that household.

This was to free God’s people from slavery.

The Israelite's Celebrate this Passover every year.

The Passover celebration is not a tradition as it is a commandment from God.

Definition of “commandment” - a divine rule, especially one of the Ten Commandments

another definition - a rule to be observed as strictly as one of the Ten Commandments

We find this observance of the Passover as a commandment in “This day shall be for you a memorial day, and you shall keep it as a feast to the LORD; throughout your generations, as a statute forever, you shall keep it as a feast.

So as we have read in this pericope we find ......

The Pharisees are upset about Jesus and His disciples not honoring their Tradition.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

Jesus is upset about the Pharisees not honoring the Commandments for the sake of their traditions.

BODY:

Let’s take a quick look at this encounter between Jesus and the Pharisees/scribes

(Vs 1)

What we understand is that Jesus is still in Gennesaret along with his Disciples

The Pharisees travel over 60 miles (3 day journey) to specifically speak to Jesus about His disciples.

Of course the Pharisees accusing the disciples, they were accusing Jesus as well.

(Vs 2) “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat.”

Of course the Pharisees in their accusation of the disciples, were accusing Jesus as well.

The accusation is concerning the “Tradition of the Elders”

This was a body of teaching handed down from the religious leaders of the past.

Some of it was concerned with the way those leaders had understood passages in Scripture, especially passages whose meaning was not obvious or was ambiguous.

It also gave guidance as to how passages that might be construed in more than one way were to be understood.

In the beginning the tradition was praiseworthy and useful, but through the years, with the contributions of many teachers, some with less insight than others, it had come to amount to a very burdensome body of doctrine.

Its huge volume meant that by New Testament times even to know what it comprised of was a difficult chore, while to obey all its countless regulations was too big a task for most people.

The Pharisees don’t mince words. There is no greeting! Right to the point!

(Vs 3)

Jesus doesn’t mince any words as well, “He answered them ....”

He does the traditional Jewish thing by answering a question with a question, “And why do you ....”

A couple arguing ........ (Young Wife) “Why do you always dislike what I make for dinner?” (Young Husband) “Why don’t you make it like my mom makes it.”

This young husband hit where it hurt.

To some degree, Jesus Hit the Pharisees where it hurt.

Look what he said, “And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?”

If this was taking place in our day and time I could just hear someone in the crowd saying, “Did He just go there, OH NO HE DIDN’T”

The Pharisees specify their accusation, “Your didn’t wash your hands” (Traveled 60 miles to tell them this).

Jesus get’s specific with his accusation as well, ......

(Vs 4) For God commanded, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’

Jesus goes to the OT ( Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.) Concludes with ( “Whoever curses his father or his mother shall be put to death.”)

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

(Vs 5-6)

Basically what we see is Jesus validating his point to the Pharisees.

But here is where things get real intense .....

(Vs 7)

“You Hypocrites”

This word means - actor, fraud, fake (Portraying someone you are not)

This is not the first time Jesus references them as such and it won’t be the last.

(Vs 8-9) 8 “ ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; 9 in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ ”

but their heart is far from me;

9 in vain do they worship me,

teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ ”

Then to top it all off, Jesus says, that the Prophet Isaiah had spoken about you Pharisees and scribes.

13 And the Lord said:

“Because this people draw near with their mouth

and honor me with their lips,

while their hearts are far from me,

and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men,

14 therefore, behold, I will again

do wonderful things with this people,

with wonder upon wonder;

and the wisdom of their wise men shall perish,

and the discernment of their discerning men shall be hidden.”

The Bottom line was this .....

The Pharisees were more concerned about keeping the man made rules (Which some over-road God’s Law) opposed to honoring and obeying the Commandments of God.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

CLIMAX:

Oh those Pharisees....... RIGHT?

Now, lets not be to hard on the Pharisees and Scribes.

We all can be, to some degree, guilty of the same thing.

CLIMAX:

Shelly and I were in Madison getting gas the other day. (It was the cheapest)

I am not familiar with Madison.

I pull into the Get Go off 20

Get my gas and then pull back out the same way I came in.

It is not an exit.

I realized this once I was sitting at the road waiting on chance to pull out.

I told my wife, “I am going to back up and go out the right way.” (This was how the people of Giant Eagle wanted it)

She said, “Just pull out and go.”

For some reason I decided to listen to that.

I sat there for what seamed like hours, (About 2 minutes) not able to pull out.

About this time a guy slows down and pull in the correct way all the while rolling his window to tell me, “This is not an exit dude!”

The old Rod was trying to come out and what I wanted to say was, “Thanks for pointing that out captain obvious!”

But I didn’t! I pulled out and continued on my way.

I could tell this guy upset! (ALL because I didn’t obey a man made rule.)

Not even a rule made by government officials but by some guy in Giant Eagle.

Later on I ask my wife, I wonder if this guy

...... loves God,

...... Loves his kids, is a good father, a good husband?

...... knows God and his word?

I wonder if he was doing what the Pharisees were doing?

He was more concerned about Man’s rule regarding the parking lot and not honoring the commandments of God.

What if he stopped and said, “Hey my friend, I don’t know if you are aware but this is for traffic coming in. I wouldn’t want to see you get into a wreck. Just watching out for you.”

I don’t know this guy.

But I do know me, and I have been this guy!

I might even still be this guy to a certain degree.

I have been upset when someone goes through the 20 items or less register and its clear they have more than 20 items..

Are we more concerned about obeying the traditions of the Elders than the commandments of God?

Are we more concerned about Mans law and we ignore or are less concerned about God’s Commandments.

How do we know if we are?

the difference between obeying God’s commandments or adhering to tradition?

Remember what we said earlier, “Commandments are from God” and “traditions are from Man.”

Matthew points out three things that I think can help us see the difference .......

Honoring God or Honoring Man.

(Vs 4) For God commanded, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’

Is what we are doing bringing glory to God or man.

Are we Validating the Word of God.

(Vs 6) So for the sake of your tradition you have made void the word of God.

The antonym for the word “Void” is validate. (Opposite)

A synonym for the word validate is “ENDORSING”

So instead of making God’s word void by not obeying it let us endorse HIS WORD by living it.

It’s a Heart thing not a rule thing.

(Vs 8) “This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me”

but their heart is far from me

Don’t leave here this morning and say, “Pastor is against RULES.” (Not true)

If anyone knows me they know I can’t go in the exit door at walmart.

What I am saying is this, “I want a heart of God, endorsing his Word, and Honoring my Lord and savior!”

CONCLUSION:

So which is it ......

are you more concerned about Honoring God or Man?

are you more concerned about obeying the word to validate it or disregarding it?

are you moved within your heart to do something or are you a rule keeper?