Traditions of Our Elders
Mark 7:1 Then came together unto him the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, which came from Jerusalem.
They sought Jesus out. Be sure that trouble will come to you, but this was an opportunity to learn.
Job 5:7 Yet man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward.
Job 5:8 I would seek unto God, and unto God would I commit my cause:
Mark 7:2 And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault.
They were always finding fault. The Pharisee spirit was proud and judgmental. Indeed there is no harm in washing hands. This was a good thing that kept germs from the hands. There was not yet knowledge of germs, but this was a good thing to wash the hands. To be condemning people all the time was not Good. The Pharisees were trusted to bring others to God, they were not doing this with their critical spirit.
Mark 7:3 For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders.
This was a tradition of men. Tradition meets the Living Word of God, in Christ Jesus.
Mark 7:4 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, brazen vessels, and of tables.
This is not unlike our society, preoccupied with cleaning the outside, but inside they were separated from God. The hearts are not right. Lots of rules and regulations, but nothing changed within the person to come closer to God.
Mark 7:5 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?
They confronted Jesus about not keeping the traditions of religious people of the past. Some traditions are good, but the word and Spirit of God are the truth we follow. Jesus would answer them using scriptures, God's word, not mans ideas. We must cleanse our hearts with the living word and in this way we will not sin against God.
1 comment:
The tradition of OUR elders usually runs like this...We've always done it this way. We've never done it THAT way before...son.
Post a Comment