Traditions are Sinful! Part 2

Last Sunday morning, I shared a message with you entitled, “Traditions are Sinful.”  We continue with that same idea or theme in today’s text.

 

Jesus condemned the traditions of men last week because the Pharisees and scribes were elevating their traditions to the same level of authority as God’s Word.  They honored Jesus with their lips, but their hearts did not worship Him.

 

Unfortunately, we are prone to do the same.  We have traditions and preferences and opinions, and that is fine and normal.  However, we are also prone to elevate our traditions or our preferences or our opinions to the same level of authority as God’s Word.  When we do that, our traditions are sinful, and I gave you some examples of our traditions or preferences that we elevate regarding dress and worship songs and recreation. 

 

Again, traditions and preferences and opinions are fine, but when we say they are biblical when they’re not, our traditions have become sinful, and we are hypocrites. 

 

This morning, we look at another example of the Pharisees and the scribes demonstrating their own hypocrisy.  I want to make three observations with you as we rejoin Jesus and the Pharisees and the scribes in this courtroom setting.

 

 

1. The Indictment from the Lord, Mark 7:9

9 He said to them, “All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition.

 

Jesus continued addressing the Pharisees and scribes after they had questioned Him about His disciples eating with unclean or unwashed hands.

 

He sarcastically noted that they were good at rejecting God’s Word.  In the NASB, He called them “experts” at ignoring the Bible.  They were experts in setting aside the commandments of God in order to keep their own traditions. 

 

Jesus’ indictment of them was that held the traditions of men as having the same authority as God’s Word, and that is sinful.

 

These men should have known better.  See Deuteronomy 4:2.

 

Deuteronomy 4:2, “2 You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you.

 

 

2. The Evidence from the Law, Mark 7:10-12

10 For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’ 11 But you say, ‘If a man says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me is Corban”—’ (that is, a gift to God), 12 then you no longer let him do anything for his father or his mother…

 

After Jesus’ indictment of the Pharisees and scribes elevating the traditions of men to the same level as God’s Word, Jesus gave them proof by turning to the Bible.

 

In verse 10, He quoted the fifth of the ten commandments to honor father and mother.  However, He went a step further and presented evidence in the positive and the negative. 

 

Exodus 20:12, 12 “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.

 

Deuteronomy 5:16, 16 ‘Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you, that your days may be long, and that it may be well with you in the land which the Lord your God is giving you.

 

Exodus 21:17, 17 “And he who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death.

 

Leviticus 20:9, 9 ‘For everyone who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death. He has cursed his father or his mother. His blood shall be upon him.

 

In verses 11-12, He said something that deserves some further explanation as He reminded the Pharisees and scribes of what they had said and practiced. 

 

They understood the command to honor and take care of father and mother, but they practiced greed.  Saying something was Corban was to commit one’s possessions or financial resources to God as a gift or offering.  Sounds good doesn’t it?  However, you will never find this tradition or commandment in God’s Word.

 

Once this vow was taken, it could not be broken.  See Numbers 30:2.

 

Numbers 30:2, 2 If a man makes a vow to the Lord, or swears an oath to bind himself by some agreement, he shall not break his word; he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.

 

Rabbis and Priests loved this because the temple profited even though fathers and mothers were going uncared for.

 

Just to be clear, they were giving every indication they were practicing godliness by committing their financial resources to the Lord.  However, at the same time, they weren’t doing it out a pure heart, and they were ignoring and in effect rejecting the fifth commandment. 

 

In a similar way, I have heard Christians say, “I’m sharing the gospel in the deer stand or on the lake or at the golf course on Sunday mornings.”  It is great to share the gospel, but don’t ignore or reject God’s Word regarding being with your church when they gather.  See Hebrews 10:24-25.

 

Hebrews 10:24-25, 24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

 

Let me give you an another example.  I love singing hymns.  If you were to look at my Pandora Stations or Spotify Preferences, you could affirm that is true.  However, if you refuse to sing any songs that aren’t in a hymnal, you have ignored and rejected God’s Word.  See Colossians 3:16.

 

Colossians 3:16, 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

 

 

3. The Verdict on Legalism, Mark 7:13

13 …making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do.”

 

What is legalism?  It is treating the traditions of men as if they are the same as the commandments of God or God’s Word. 

 

The Pharisees were invalidating or canceling out the word of God or the Scriptures for the sake of their traditions.  They were not breaking their vows, but they were neglecting the command to take care of their parents.

 

Therefore, again like last week, traditions of men and legalism are sinful when we treat them as if they are the same as the Bible. 

 

 

Conclusions

First, as followers of Christ, we are obligated to honor, respect, and take care of our families, especially our parents.

 

Ephesians 6:1-3, Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise: 3 “that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.”

 

1 Timothy 5:4, 8, 4 But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show piety at home and to repay their parents; for this is good and acceptable before God.  8 But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

 

Second, as followers of Christ, we are obligated to keep our word.

Matthew 5:37, 37 But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.

 

This verse has application in telling the truth, being on time, and writing checks.

 

Third, as followers of Christ, we are obligated to make Scripture, not traditions of men or preferences or our own opinion the highest authority in our lives.

 

1 Timothy 3:16, 16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness…

 

Revelation 22:18-19, 18 For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; 19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

 

Finally, the world will tell you that you can earn your way to heaven and forgiveness from God. However, the Jesus in the Bible says otherwise.

 

John 14:6, 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

 

Acts 4:12, 12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”