1/13/09 Matthew 15 Discerning Sin vs Tradition
Mt 15:11 “It is not what enters into the mouth that defiles the man, but what proceeds out of the mouth, this defiles the man.” Some sincerely religious people show up in the beginning of chapter 15 and ask Jesus why His disciples are breaking the traditions by not washing their hands when they eat. Jesus replies with a similar question as to why they are breaking the commandment of honoring your father and mother by saying they have set aside money for God’s purposes and cannot help their parents, who have need.
We must consistently ask God to examine our hearts. It is all too easy to elevate a tradition to a point where it usurps authority over the Word of God. This is why it is essential for you and me to know what the Word of God actually says and not just rely on pastors and spiritual leaders in our lives. I do not want to be an individual who defends religious traditions and misses a love relationship with God. Let me ask you to make some comments on this post on what you believe are some traditions that have been elevated to points equal, or beyond the Word of God.
Prayer: Father, Be patient with me when I lack understanding, just as Peter did in this passage. Give me discernment between what is sin and what is tradition. Forgive me when I elevate traditions over the Word of God. Forgive me when I concentrate more on religiously following rules and ritual and not my love relationship with you. Teach me to be patient with others who lack understanding concerning the things which actually defile men; sin, and those things that claim to defile men but do not; traditions. Amen