What traditions today might conflict with God's Word as in Matthew 15:1? Setting the scene “Then some Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and asked, “Why do Your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They do not wash their hands before they eat.” Jesus replied, “And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition?”” (Matthew 15:1-3) What Jesus confronted then • Religious leaders elevated man-made ritual (ceremonial handwashing) above obedience to God’s clear commands • By defending their customs, they “nullif[ied] the word of God for the sake of… tradition” (Matthew 15:6) • Isaiah’s warning applied: “They worship Me in vain; they teach as doctrines the precepts of men” (Matthew 15:9; cf. Isaiah 29:13) Modern traditions that can clash with God’s Word • Cultural morality that redefines sin—approving sexual behavior Scripture calls immoral (Romans 1:26-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11) • Redefining marriage to suit social trends rather than Genesis 2:24 and Matthew 19:4-6 • Consumer-driven worship—treating church as entertainment instead of reverent service to the Lord (Psalm 95:6; Hebrews 12:28-29) • Prosperity teaching that equates godliness with financial gain, contradicting 1 Timothy 6:5-10 • Political ideology treated as ultimate authority, eclipsing allegiance to Christ’s kingdom (Philippians 3:20; Acts 5:29) • Holiday commercialization that buries the gospel message beneath materialism (Matthew 6:24; Luke 12:15) • Self-help psychology replacing repentance and the new birth (John 3:3; 2 Corinthians 7:10) • Social-media virtue signaling substituting online image for genuine obedience (Matthew 6:1; James 1:22) • Denominational or family traditions that override clear Scripture on salvation by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5) • Syncretistic practices—yoking biblical faith with incompatible spiritualities, such as occult imagery or religious yoga, violating 2 Corinthians 6:14-16 • Ritual observances (lighting candles, repeating creeds, wearing symbols) trusted for merit rather than Christ’s finished work (Colossians 2:20-23; Hebrews 10:10-14) Guarding the heart from empty tradition • Test every custom by the Word: “The Bereans… examined the Scriptures daily to see if these teachings were true” (Acts 17:11) • Submit traditions to Christ’s lordship: “Take every thought captive to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5) • Value obedience over ritual: “To obey is better than sacrifice” (1 Samuel 15:22) • Remember Scripture’s sufficiency: “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16) Steps to keep Scripture central 1. Daily Bible reading with a commitment to literal, plain-sense interpretation 2. Regular self-examination for customs that downplay clear commands 3. Fellowship with believers who prize God’s Word above opinion 4. Immediate course correction whenever tradition contradicts a biblical mandate 5. Celebration of practices that reinforce, rather than replace, the gospel of Christ |
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