THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE
Oil plays an important part in our lives and our economy. In fact, 92 percent of our transportation is fueled by petroleum. While oil serves us well, it can also be the source of great problems.
The worst accidental oil spill in the world occurred in 2010 in the Gulf of Mexico at Deepwater Horizon. Over 200 million gallons of oil coated 572 miles of beaches and wildlife. Marine life was killed, and hundreds of birds became coated with the thick oil and died.
Traditions are like oil. Both are good, but we don’t want them coating things they have no business coating. Sometimes we can let traditions and social customs coat and choke out other areas of life. Many religious traditions have value, but when they cover up and hide the commands and the grace of God, it’s like an oil spill in our hearts.
Just as clean up crews work swiftly to clean up an environmental disaster, Jesus stepped in with the gospel to solve a sticky situation. He rebuked and corrected the thinking of religious leaders whose traditions had created a spiritual disaster.
Mark 7:5-8
5 So the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, “Why don’t your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders, instead of eating bread with ceremonially unclean hands?” 6 He answered them, “Isaiah prophesied correctly about you hypocrites, as it is written: This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. 7 They worship me in vain, teaching as doctrines human commands. 8 Abandoning the command of God, you hold on to human tradition.”
What we know as the Old Testament was originally divided into three parts: the Law, the Prophets, and the Writings. It’s all God’s Word, but the first portion—the Law (also called the Torah)—held a special place in the hearts of the Jewish people. As rabbis taught the Torah, they sometimes added more laws around the ones God gave to make sure they didn’t violate one of His commands.
For example, God’s command about the Sabbath says, “You must not do any work—you, your son or daughter, your male or female servant, your livestock, or the resident alien who is within your city gates” (Ex. 20:10). The purpose for this command was to set aside time for worship, spiritual reflection, and physical rest in order to be rejuvenated for the work week ahead. To ensure they obeyed this beneficial command, the rabbis went into detail trying to determine what constituted “work.” They identified actions like drawing water from a well, slaughtering animals to feed the family, or picking barley from a field as “work.” Over time, the original intent of the Sabbath—resting and re-focusing on the Creator— was replaced with a legalistic set of rules that went far beyond the purpose of the command.
In Jesus’ day, there were no stricter enforcers of these added rules and regulations than the Pharisees. So when they saw Jesus’ disciples “eating bread with ceremonially unclean hands,” they were quick to pounce. Their intent was not to correct an error, but to discredit Jesus.
What are some factors that cause modern Christians to neglect God’s commands?
Of course, Jesus saw the motivation of their hearts and responded with ultimate wisdom. He quoted Isaiah 29:13 and then punctuated the truth from God’s Word by calling them “hypocrites.” In their prideful zeal to keep their own oral traditions, the Pharisees neglected the true purpose and intent of God’s commands.
Traditions aren’t necessarily bad, but they cannot and must not transcend God’s Word. As Christians, it’s crucial that we examine not just what we do, but why we do it. To forsake the commands of God in order to keep the law of man is dangerous and in direct opposition to what God truly wants: sincere, humble obedience that is motivated by love.
Mark 7:9-13
9 He also said to them, “You have a fine way of invalidating God’s command in order to set up your tradition! 10 For Moses said: Honor your father and your mother; and Whoever speaks evil of father or mother must be put to death. 11 But you say, ‘If anyone tells his father or mother: Whatever benefit you might have received from me is corban’” (that is, an offering devoted to God), 12 “you no longer let him do anything for his father or mother. 13 You nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many other similar things.”
The Pharisees had hoped to discredit Jesus, but Jesus turned the tables on them. He’d shown in verses 5-8 how they neglected God’s commands in favor of their own traditions; in verses 9-13, He showed how they also twisted God’s Word.
To understand what the Pharisees were doing, let’s look at the rabbinical practice of corban, which referred to a gift dedicated to God. This was a serious vow in which a person devoted property or money to God. It was a good practice that was supposed to honor God.
Why are we often tempted to twist God’s commands?
The Pharisees created a loophole, though. In order to appear righteous, a Pharisee might declare everything he had as corban—designated for use by God. But he might not give it to God at that very moment. He could essentially put those resources on reserve for future use in the temple. In a modern context, it would be like a person who has $10,000 in a savings account. He declares that he’s devoting the money to God, but only later, so that he can still use it for the present time. One day his parents admit they are struggling financially and need some help. Their son responds: “I’m sorry, but I have no money to give you. It’s all dedicated to God!”
Sadly, the kind of hypocrisy that stems from twisting God’s Word is still rampant today. Some religious people obey all of the rules and traditions of their local church (or denomination), but it’s only an outward show. They perform “righteous” acts but have no love for others. They treat church members with great respect but mistreat their family members at home.
We need to know the Word of God. We need to weigh the opinions or preferences of others—whether they are pastors or commentary writers—against what God’s Word says. Luke commended the people in Berea because they did this: “The people here were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, since they received the word with eagerness and examined the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so” (Acts 17:11).
Our goal is not simply to have the right knowledge. We want to draw nearer to the heart of God who created us.
Mark 7:14-15
14 Summoning the crowd again, he told them, “Listen to me, all of you, and understand: 15 Nothing that goes into a person from outside can defile him but the things that come out of a person are what defile him.”
Jesus had been speaking directly to the Pharisees and scribes, exposing the corruption and defilement in their religious system. Jesus now turned to the larger crowd gathered to help them see the greater principle that applies to all of us.
This whole conversation began when the religious leaders confronted Jesus because His disciples had dirty hands. But Jesus turned it around and showed that these same Pharisees and scribes had dirty hearts. Because the Pharisees wanted to talk about defilement, Jesus would talk about defilement. Anything defiled was considered common, impure, desecrated, or unclean. It turned out the Pharisees’ accusation—that not washing hands made a person unclean—was not defilement at all. Jesus made this clear: “Nothing that goes into a person from outside can defile him but the things that come out of a person are what defile him.”
I know about trying to clean up messes on the outside and inside. In an effort to get clean from drug addiction, I went to rehab—twice. Neither of those stints cured my addiction because I was doing it without Christ. I was simply using man’s practices to cover up an issue that was deeply rooted in my heart and mind. Seeking purity without Christ is a dead end street.
Jesus calls us to a higher standard than mere human or religious practices. We can do things that look good or religious, but nothing good inherently lives in us. We become clean on the inside only when we let Christ transform us.
God alone makes us righteous, through Christ: “He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Cor. 5:21).
What are the implications of Jesus’ declaration in verse 15 for those who follow Him?
When have you felt the weight of God’s call to a higher standard?
LIVE IT OUT
How will you reach for God’s higher standard in the days to come? Consider the following suggestions:
- Dig. Identify some of the “church traditions” you grew up with or currently practice. Divide them into three groups: rituals, preferences, and Bible-centered practices.
- Bury. Stand strong for Christ-centered practices, but let go of those things that are only tied to your preferences. Determine not to expect others to live according to your preferences.
- Plant. Take someone out for coffee this week who struggles with Christianity because of the practices or customs they experienced in a particular church. Share your story. Help them see that a relationship with God is not tied to these practices, but only to faith in Christ.
I hope you’ll never have to clean up after an oil spill. But I hope very much that you’ll identify and expel any human traditions or rituals getting between you and Christ.
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Teacher's Notes
Click Here to Watch
Our world is full of many
“brands” of Christianity because individuals and groups pick and choose the
parts of the Bible they want to follow or interpret in their own way.
Biblical
Christianity
Is just that, biblical – and calls us to obey the
whole of Scripture.
Jesus calls us to a higher
standard, a standard not grounded in ourselves, but grounded in His loving
commands meant to transform us from the inside out.
Sprinkled throughout Mark’s
Gospel are stories of Jesus dealing with the scribes and Pharisees.
Mark
7:5-8 5 So the Pharisees
and the scribes asked him, “Why don’t your disciples live according to the
tradition of the elders, instead of eating bread with ceremonially unclean
hands?” 6 He answered them, “Isaiah prophesied correctly about you hypocrites,
as it is written: This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far
from me. 7 They worship me in vain, teaching as doctrines human commands. 8
Abandoning the command of God, you hold on to human tradition.”
9
He also said to them, “You have a fine way of invalidating God’s command in
order to set up your tradition! 10 For Moses said: Honor your father and your
mother; and Whoever speaks evil of father or mother must be put to death. 11
But you say, ‘If anyone tells his father or mother: Whatever benefit you might
have received from me is corban’” (that is, an offering devoted to God), 12
“you no longer let him do anything for his father or mother. 13 You nullify the
word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many other
similar things.”
14
Summoning the crowd again, he told them, “Listen to me, all of you, and
understand: 15 Nothing that goes into a person from outside can defile him but
the things that come out of a person are what defile him.”
What was going on here? What
were the scribes and Pharisees trying to do?
- The legal and religious experts challenged the things Jesus said and did in an effort to destroy His credibility and elevate themselves in the eyes of others. The scribes and Pharisees had abandoned God’s Word in favor of human tradition.
- We too are challenged to live by the Word of God and not the traditions or opinions of men.
- We are reminded that spiritual purity and righteousness begins on the inside; they are not products of our doing good or religious things in an effort to gain favor with God.
- Mark 7:5-8 5 So the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, “Why don’t your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders, instead of eating bread with ceremonially unclean hands?” 6 He answered them, “Isaiah prophesied correctly about you hypocrites, as it is written: This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. 7 They worship me in vain, teaching as doctrines human commands. 8 Abandoning the command of God, you hold on to human tradition.”
What we know as the Old
Testament was originally divided into three parts: The Law, the Prophets,
and the Writings. It’s all God’s
Word, but the first portion — the Law (also called the Torah) — held a special
place in the hearts of the Jewish people. As rabbis taught the Torah, they
sometimes added more laws around the ones God gave to make sure they didn’t
violate one of His commands. For example, God’s command about the Sabbath says,
“You must not do any work—you, your son or daughter, your male or female
servant, your livestock, or the resident alien who is within your city gates”
(Ex. 20:10). The purpose for this command was to set aside time for worship,
spiritual reflection, and physical rest in order to be rejuvenated for the work
week ahead. To ensure they obeyed this beneficial command, the rabbis went into
detail trying to determine what constituted “work.” They identified actions
like drawing water from a well, slaughtering animals to feed the family, or
picking barley from a field as “work.” Over time, the original intent of the
Sabbath—resting and re-focusing on the Creator— was replaced with a legalistic
set of rules that went far beyond the purpose of the command. In Jesus’ day,
there were no stricter enforcers of these added rules and regulations than the
Pharisees. So, when they saw Jesus’ disciples “eating bread with ceremonially
unclean hands,” they were quick to pounce. Their
intent was not to correct an error, but to discredit Jesus. Of course,
Jesus saw the motivation of their hearts and responded with ultimate wisdom. He
quoted Isaiah 29:13 and then punctuated the truth from God’s Word by calling
them “hypocrites.” In their prideful zeal to keep their own oral traditions,
the Pharisees neglected the true purpose and intent of God’s commands.
How do human traditions often
get confused with God’s truth? Why do you think people tend to get stuck in
tradition?
There are some people who just like
to argue. So, they find something to get worked up about, something new to
debate. They love conflict. It’s a sad way to live. I like this statement
regarding believers:
“In
essentials, unity; in nonessentials, liberty; in
all things, charity.”
Essentials
refer
to the most important theological doctrines like that of the Bible being the Word of God, Jesus Christ being the only way to the
Father, and salvation coming through
Christ and Christ alone. Those are the essentials. In essentials, unity. We
don’t ever flex on essentials.
Nonessentials,
liberty. What are nonessentials? Things like the style of music. Some people like it loud. Some people like it
quiet. Some people like a certain style. Some people like another style. These
are secondary issues. We should never divide over them.
The most frequently defended
traditions in churches.
1.
Worship and music style.
2.
Order of worship service.
3.
Times of worship service(s).
4.
Role of the pastor.
5.
Committee structure.
6.
Specific ministries and programs.
7.
Location of church facility.
8.
Use of specific rooms: worship center, the
parlor, the gym, and the kitchen/fellowship hall.
9.
Business meetings: frequency, the scope of
authority, and the items covered.
10.
Staff ministry descriptions and titles.
in all
things, Charity.
In all things, charity, which
is another word for love. Be loving.
Don’t neglect
the commands of God. The highest standard for living faithfully for
the Lord is obedience to His Word; anything thing else is in vain.
Are traditions a bad thing?
Traditions aren’t necessarily
bad, but they cannot and must not transcend God’s Word. As Christians, it’s
crucial that we examine not just what we
do, but why we do it. To forsake
the commands of God in order to keep the law of man is dangerous and in direct
opposition to what God truly wants: sincere, humble obedience that is motivated
by love.
II. Mark
7:9-13 9 He also said to
them, “You have a fine way of invalidating God’s
command in order to set up your tradition!
10 For Moses said: Honor your father and your mother; and Whoever speaks evil
of father or mother must be put to death. 11 But you say, ‘If anyone tells his
father or mother: Whatever benefit you might have received from me is corban’”
(that is, an offering devoted to God), 12 “you no longer let him do anything
for his father or mother. 13 You nullify the word of God by your tradition that
you have handed down. And you do many other similar things.”
The Pharisees had hoped
to discredit Jesus, but Jesus turned the tables on them. He’d shown in verses
5-8 how they neglected God’s commands in favor of their own traditions; in
verses 9-13, He showed how they also twisted God’s Word. To understand what the
Pharisees were doing, let’s look at the rabbinical practice of corban, which referred to a gift dedicated to God. This was a
serious vow in which a person devoted property or money to God. It was a good
practice that was supposed to honor God.
Why
are we often tempted to twist God’s commands?
The Pharisees created a
loophole, though. In order to appear righteous, a Pharisee might declare
everything he had as corban—designated for use by God. But he might not give it
to God at that very moment. He could essentially put those resources on reserve
for future use in the temple. In a modern context, it would be like a person
who has $10,000 in a savings account. He declares that he’s devoting the money
to God, but only later, so that he can still use it for the present time. One
day his parents admit they are struggling financially and need some help. Their
son responds: “I’m sorry, but I have no money to give you. It’s all dedicated
to God!” Sadly, the kind of hypocrisy that stems from twisting God’s Word is
still rampant today. Some religious people obey all of the rules and
traditions of their local church (or denomination), but it’s only an outward
show. They perform “righteous” acts but have no love
for others. They treat church members with great respect
but mistreat their family members at home.
When
was a time you felt like God’s truth was distorted by human teaching?
- We need to know the Word of God. We need to weigh the opinions or preferences of others—whether they are pastors or commentary writers—against what God’s Word says.
Don’t
twist the commands of God. God’s Word is to be accepted
as just that; and therefore, it is to be obeyed.
III. Mark
7:14-15 14 Summoning the crowd again, he told them,
“Listen to me, all of you, and understand: 15 Nothing that goes into a person
from outside can defile him but the things that come out of a person are what
defile him.”
Jesus had been speaking
directly to the Pharisees and scribes, exposing the corruption and defilement
in their religious system. Jesus now turned to the larger crowd gathered to
help them see the greater principle that applies to all of us. This whole conversation began when the
religious leaders confronted Jesus because His disciples had dirty hands.
But Jesus turned it around and showed
that these same Pharisees and scribes had dirty hearts. Because the
Pharisees wanted to talk about defilement, Jesus would talk about defilement.
Anything defiled was considered common, impure, desecrated, or unclean. It
turned out the Pharisees’ accusation—that not washing hands made a person
unclean—was not defilement at all. Jesus made this clear: “Nothing that goes
into a person from outside can defile him but the things that come out of a person are what defile him.”
What point is Jesus
trying to make here?
Purity and righteousness begin on the inside. Our
words and actions reveal the condition of our hearts.
Many people want to be the best
at something, but they are not always willing to take the steps to make it
happen. Becoming the best for Christ demands that we submit ourselves to Him,
open ourselves up to His sanctifying work, and be unwavering in our obedience
to His Word. Jesus calls us to live by the highest standards, His standards. We
are not to settle for anything less.
Hope to see you on Sunday!
In His Love,
David & Susan
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