TRUTH
OR TRADITION?
Mark
7:1-9
7
Then came together unto him the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, which
came from Jerusalem.
2
And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say,
with unwashen, hands, they found fault.
3
For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not,
holding the tradition of the elders.
4
And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And
many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as
the washing of cups, and pots, brasen vessels, and of tables.
5
Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according
to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands?
6
He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites,
as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is
far from me.
7
Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of
men.
8
For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the
washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.
9
And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may
keep your own tradition.
The
New Testament book of Hebrews was written to Jews who had come to
believe in Jesus as Messiah. The changes that necessarily took place when their
worship moved from one of strict adherence to a set of rules to what Jesus
described as “spirit and truth” was cataclysmic. Try to imagine that, like the
Jews, you never ate anything without performing some cleansing ritual. This was
more than the common washing of hands but was a ceremony of sorts. Jesus and
His followers had discarded these formalities for a more casual approach. It
just didn’t seem right to those who were accustomed to the form.
Probably
the most revealing phrases are the ones I have underlined above: “many other
such like things ye do.” Adam Clarke, in his commentary, quotes another source
called “Ward’s Customs.” This is what he says about ceremonial washings: “This
sort of washing was, and still continues to be, an act of religion
in the eastern countries. It is particularly commanded in the Koran, Surat 5
verse 7, "O believers, when ye wish to pray, wash your faces, and your
hands up to the elbows-and your feet up to the ankles." Which custom it is
likely Mohammed borrowed from the Jews. The Jewish doctrine is this: "If a
man neglect the washing, he shall be eradicated from this world." But
instead of pugmee, the fist or hand, the Codex Bezae has puknee,
frequently: and several of the Itala have words of the same signification.
Bathing is an indispensable prerequisite to the first meal of the day among the
Hindus; and washing the hands and the feet is equally so before the evening
meal.”
The
point, of course, is
that we must not allow tradition to cloud truth. Although there is no
particular benefit to a casual approach to worship, we must not become so entangled
with the manner of worship. Have you examined your heart for the
possibility the form has replaced faith?
Mark
7:17-23
17
And when he was entered into the house from the people, his disciples asked him
concerning the parable.
18
And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not
perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot
defile him;
19
Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into
the draught, purging all meats?
20
And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man.
21
For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries,
fornications, murders,
22
Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy,
pride, foolishness:
23
All these evil things come from within, and defile the
man.
Rom
10:10
10
For with the
heart
man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto
salvation.
Dear
Lord, please keep my heart pure and my mind clear as I attempt to worship you.
AMEN
No comments:
Post a Comment