So the Pharisees and teachers of the law asked Jesus, "Why don't your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders instead of eating their food with 'unclean' hands?" (Mark.7.5 NIV)
Today many things hold places of priority in the world and have also crept into the church, which are actually not according to God's command but traditions of men.
Unfortunately, some ministers have picked up these as topics to teach to the church. The prophet Isaiah said it about them, "they have let go of the commands of God and are teaching traditions of men." [Isaiah 29.13]
Truth be spoken; God has not called us to live according to tradition. The Spirit God has given us is dynamic in His operation. This gives us a picture that God has not set the same pattern for everything for all people.
Many people have been disturbed and have actually missed what God has prepared for them because they are holding to tradition handed down from men yet without Biblical support.
People have a pattern that one should follow to become rich, to receive power, to to become famous, to receive blessing, and so much more. And in our theme scripture, the Jewes had a tradition of washing hands ceremonially before eating.
It disturbed them to see the disciples eating without washing. So, the Pharisees and teachers of the law asked Jesus, "Why don't your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders instead of eating their food with 'unclean' hands?"
The response of Christ is clear, He sets the word of God above the opinion and tradition of me. The difference between tradition and the word of God is that tradition sets justice at the center while the word of God sets Love–the Heart of God– at the center.
No matter how much a man is bruised by the tradition, it is important to the imposter that it is obeyed. Condemnation lies at the door of anybody in case of failure to abide by tradition. As for the word of God, it comes with great love and divine enablement to fulfill it.
So what is God teaching us today?
Live by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God not from the reasoning and culture of men. The Bible is full of many examples in which God broke the protocol of men to establish His will. Even today, God is no respecter of men's tradition but of His word.
Hallelujah!
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