What traditions today might cause us to "set aside the commandment of God"? Setting the Scene “ ‘You have disregarded the commandment of God to keep the tradition of men.’ ” (Mark 7:8) When Jesus spoke these words, He exposed a danger that never grows old: letting familiar customs crowd out God’s clear commands. What Jesus Confronted Then - The Pharisees insisted on ceremonial handwashing, elevating their regulation above God’s Word (Mark 7:3–4). - Their “Corban” practice excused children from honoring parents financially (Mark 7:11–13). - Result: “Thus you nullify the word of God by the tradition you have handed down.” (Mark 7:13) Modern Traditions That Can Eclipse God’s Word - Church programs that prize attendance numbers over making true disciples (Matthew 28:19–20). - Holiday consumerism that overshadows worship and generosity (Luke 2:10–11; Acts 20:35). - Redefining marriage to fit cultural trends rather than Genesis 2:24 and Ephesians 5:31–33. - Political allegiance that governs attitudes more than Philippians 3:20 and Matthew 22:37–39. - Entertainment and Sunday sports that replace assembling with believers (Hebrews 10:24–25). - Prosperity teachings promising wealth while neglecting Luke 9:23 and 1 Timothy 6:6–10. - Social-media “influencers” shaping morals more than Scripture (Psalm 1:1–2; Romans 12:2). - “Self-care” elevated so highly that sacrificial service gets sidelined (Mark 10:45; Galatians 5:13). - Denominational customs that hinder unity expressed in John 17:20–23 and Ephesians 4:3–6. - Human wisdom or tradition-based counseling that ignores James 1:22–25 and 2 Timothy 3:16–17. Root Causes to Watch - Pride: believing our ideas improve on God’s. - Fear of man: craving cultural approval (Proverbs 29:25). - Comfort: avoiding costly obedience (Luke 14:27–33). - Ignorance: neglecting regular, diligent Bible study (Hosea 4:6). Scriptural Anchors - “See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to human tradition.” (Colossians 2:8) - “To obey is better than sacrifice.” (1 Samuel 15:22) - “Trust in the LORD with all your heart… lean not on your own understanding.” (Proverbs 3:5–6) Guardrails for Keeping Scripture Central - Daily, prayerful reading and literal acceptance of God’s Word. - Measuring every tradition—church, family, cultural—by clear biblical commands. - Choosing fellowship that exalts Scripture over trend. - Teaching children the authority of God’s Word above popular opinion (Deuteronomy 6:6–9). - Welcoming loving correction when customs drift from Scripture (Proverbs 27:6). |
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