Tradition!

The Obvious/Oversimplified Sermon

Here Jesus points out a key problem of the Pharisees in regards to their ability to receive Jesus. Three times it brings this to the forefront referring to “the traditions of the elders.” @ which time Jesus makes an example of their inability to obey God because of their tradition. Or at least, that is the sermon that will be preached by many pastors around the country this morning. It is an enticing lesson. Traditions are too comfortable, like a good fitting pair of jorts. You slide into them, even though they often times should be left in a previous decade.

Not to mention there is always room for a faith community to examine their practices and the purpose of those things to ensure they are right with God’s word and also effective in their outcomes. But, Jesus isn’t teaching them that lesson. let’s role it back, for context.

Jesus is God.

As evidenced in all the last 3 chapters

Pharisees don’t see Jesus. They are the “outsiders”

Like his mother, and brothers in chapter 3, and his disciples as the wind ceased as Jesus entered the boat. They don’t understand.

Outsiders are blind and deaf

They do not understand.

Mark 4:11–12 ESV

And he said to them, “To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside everything is in parables, so that “ ‘they may indeed see but not perceive, and may indeed hear but not understand, lest they should turn and be forgiven.’ ”

Isaiah 42:18–20 ESV

Hear, you deaf, and look, you blind, that you may see! Who is blind but my servant, or deaf as my messenger whom I send? Who is blind as my dedicated one, or blind as the servant of the Lord? He sees many things, but does not observe them; his ears are open, but he does not hear.

& the Sabbath

Mark 2:23–28 ESV

One Sabbath he was going through the grainfields, and as they made their way, his disciples began to pluck heads of grain. And the Pharisees were saying to him, “Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?” And he said to them, “Have you never read what David did, when he was in need and was hungry, he and those who were with him: how he entered the house of God, in the time of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to those who were with him?” And he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath.”

Mark 1:1–8:26 Commentary

The example of David adduced by Jesus “says” to the Pharisees (on level 2), then, not only that God “does not sweat the small stuff” as far as food acquisition is concerned, but also and especially that God’s laws are not intended to make life unbearable for his people, especially when they are in need.

Outsider will not understand it

They have built a wall around the law

Making it hard to live by it - Sabbath Chapter 2

In so doing breaking the Law - Corban Chapter 7

Making concessions - Chapter 10 - the greatest commandment.