COMMANDMENT vs TRADITION, MARK 7

 

Then the Pharisees and some of the scribes came toge-
ther to Him,  having come from Jerusalem.  Now when 
they saw some of  His disciples eat bread  with defiled, 
that is,  with unwashed  hands,  they  found  fault.  For 
the Pharisees and  all the Jews do not  eat  unless they 
wash their  hands in a special way,  holding the tradi-
tion of the elders.  Mark 7: 1-3

     Then the Pharisees and Scribes asked Him, "Why 
do your disciples not walk according to the traditions 
of  the elders,  but eat bread with unwashed  hands?”   
He answered and said  to them, “Well did Isaiah pro-
phesy of  you hypocrites, as it is written:  This  people 
honors Me with their lips,  but their  heart is far from 
me.  And  in vain  they worship Me,  teaching  as doc-

trine the  commandments  of  men.   For  laying aside 
the commandment of  God,  you hold the  tradition of 
men—the  washing  of  pitchers  and cups, and  many 
other things  you do.”   He said  to them,  “All to well 
you  reject  the commandment  of  God,  that you may 
keep your tradition."   Mark 7: 5-9

As recorded in Mark 6, Jesus had just performed the

miracle of  the fish and loaves, walked on  the water, calmed the sea and arrived with His disciples at  the 
land of Genesaret.  This was a rural  area or  plain 
and  there  was a small  town  nearby with  the same 
name.  Along with everyone  else,  came  scribes and
Pharisees.  These Jewish leaders  had  determined to 
show Him a  fraud.  They  noticed His disciples were 
not  adhering to their  traditions.  (This  had  little or 
nothing to do  with the  Law  received  by  Moses and 
recorded in Exodus, Leviticus and Deuteronomy.) 

 Their traditions had, in  their  practice, taken on more 
significance than Law. Their traditions had to do with 
formal, outward display;  the Law  as  recorded  in the 
first  five books of  the Bible had  not  only to  do  with 
formal observances, but was primarily about our rela- 
tionship to God and man and doing the just and hono- 
rable thing in every situation.  (Jesus had summarized   
it by saying, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all 
thine  heart with all thy soul  and  with all  thy  mind." 
The second is like  unto it,  "Thou shalt love thy neigh-
bor as  thy self."  This law, or  great  commandment is  
recorded in Mark 12: 30, Matthew 22: 37, and in part; 
Deuteronomy 6:5. "On these two commandments hang 
all of  the Law and  the  Prophets"  according  to Jesus 
Christ  in Matthew 22:40.  Christ has  just summarized 
or "hung"  the Old Testament  Law on  this one  princi-
ple,  "love."  Love  of  God,  the  Great  Commandment, 
and Love of  mankind, His  principle  creation,  second 
only to love of God.

  We, as the followers of Jesus Christ, at in danger  at
times of the being guilty of  the same thing.  Are there 
not  times when  you and I hold the approval of  other 
men to be more important  to us than the  approval of 
our  Lord.  This is displayed any  time status becomes 
important to us and we do  things just for appearance
sake. This might be displayed as we try to present our-
selves to be different from what we know is true, or as
 we tell truth,  but add something to make  us look bet-
ter.  This could also happen as we fail to  forgive ano-
ther, or fail to ask forgiveness when we know we have 
offended someone.  In my own case it is true as prefe-
 ferential treatment is given one  when it is beneficial 
to me rather than being the same to everyone whether 
there is benefit or not. 

     Finally; in order to  fulfill  the "Law of Christ," you 
and I must find ways to be of assistance to his crowning 
creation, mankind.  In other words, as we have opportu-
nity we meet needs or give help without expecting some-
thing  in return and share  personal possessions with all 
whom we meet, who are in need.  Then,  we will begin to 
search out those in need in order to be of service to God 
and mankind.  Jesus  spent his  time on  this earth going 
about doing good.  He did not  ask  questions as  to whe-
ther the persons he helped had good qualifications. Just 
as it is today,  Jesus comes to do service for  you and me.  
The only qualifications is  that we have a need. May the 
Lord God bless  your efforts and  mine as we seek  to be-
come Christ to those around  us. One caveat; Christ will
honor  any deed, large or small, when it  is  done on His 
behalf  and  in  faith.  Everything  we  do,  for  the Lord, 
must  be  done at  His direction,  in His  will,  and empo-
wered by the Spirit of God.  Scripture says:  
     
  "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, 
the evidence of things not seen.  For by it the elders 
   obtained a good report.             
 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed 
  by the Word of God, so that the things which are seen 
  were not made of things which are visible." 
                                      Hebrews 11: 1,2,3

     "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, 
       for He who comes to God must believe that He is, 
      and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently 
      seek Him."  Hebrews 11: 1,2,3,6. 

  Thanks for looking; just remember, there  are no "super 
saints"  We all fail our "Master" at  times.  Don't become 
discouraged,  since discouragement is  a tool of our com-
mon enemy.  (Satan) The "Mind of Christ" is lived  out in 
you and me as we  join with the  local Body of Christ, His 
church.   In this way  the church is  edified and  the  Lord
God receives the glory.  
     We do not want to be "Lone Ranger Christians".

donporter  1.01.14  (jlrsbnch@msn.com)