What other scriptures warn against elevating tradition above God's Word? Matthew 15:2-3—The Challenge Laid Bare “Why do Your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They do not wash their hands before they eat.” (Matthew 15:2) Jesus answered, “And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition?” (Matthew 15:3) Old-Testament Warnings • Deuteronomy 4:2—“Do not add to or subtract from the word I command you, so that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God that I am giving you.” • Proverbs 30:5-6—“Every word of God is flawless; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him. Do not add to His words, lest He rebuke you and prove you a liar.” • Isaiah 29:13—“These people draw near to Me with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. Their worship of Me is but rules taught by men.” Jesus Drives the Point Home • Mark 7:8—“You have disregarded the command of God to keep the tradition of men.” • Mark 7:9—“You neatly set aside the command of God to maintain your own tradition.” • Mark 7:13—“Thus you nullify the word of God by the tradition you have handed down; and you do many things like that.” The Apostles Echo the Warning • Acts 5:29—“We must obey God rather than men.” • Colossians 2:8—“See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, which are based on human tradition and the spiritual forces of the world rather than on Christ.” • Galatians 1:14—Paul recalls being “extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers,” showing how tradition once blinded him to truth. • 1 Peter 1:18—Believers are redeemed “from the empty way of life you inherited from your fathers.” • 2 Timothy 4:3-4—“For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine… they will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” A Final, Sobering Closure • Revelation 22:18-19—“If anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. And if anyone takes away from the words of this book of prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city…” Key Takeaways for Today • God’s Word is perfect, complete, and untouchable. • Adding human rules—even well-meaning ones—can end up canceling divine commands. • True obedience flows from the heart, not from externally imposed customs. • Scripture consistently calls believers to test every tradition against the plain teaching of God’s revealed Word. |
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