SCRIPTURE
Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law came to Jesus from Jerusalem and asked, "Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They don't 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)
OBSERVATION
There are always watchdogs, people who watch for others to break the rules and then dog them about it. Here, the Pharisees and teachers of the law thought they caught the disciples breaking the rule about washing before eating. However, Jesus turned the tables on them by pointing out they were in fact breaking God's command. They were breaking Commandment 5, to honor their father and mother, by devoting money to God so they would not have to use it to support their parents.
The Pharisees probably thought they were defending God's laws when they were merely defending their traditions. Jesus' did not teach that we do not have to obey. He was drawing attention to what we choose to obey: tradition or God's commands. The two are not necessarily the same. We can uphold traditions and break God's command or we can uphold God's commands and break tradition. Jesus would have us do the latter. God's commands always trump tradition.
APPLICATION
I remember the rule, "Don't go swimming for 1/2 hour after you eat." Recently, I've learned that rule has been debunked as a myth. But it illustrates the point Jesus was trying to make. I can base my life on rules that are not necessarily true. More importantly, I can base my life on rules that God did not instigate. Therefore, I need to be careful not to equate my own set of rules (which is a form of legalism) with God's commands. I've got to keep God's commands first and foremost. I can learn a lot about what not to do from the Pharisees, but their tendencies can creep very easily into my life. God is concerned that I know his commands and sift out the laws and tradition of men. They are not bad, they're just not binding.
PRAYER
God, help me to keep the commands you've revealed in your word. There is great freedom when I let go of traditions and live by your truth.
