TRUTH TRUMPS TRADITION

 

“He also said to them, ‘You completely invalidate God’s command in order to maintain your tradition!’” (Mark 7:9 HCSB)

Years ago, I read a story of a new bride, flush with love for her husband, who decided to make him a home-cooked meal.  He watched with his mouth watering in anticipation as she got ready to fix a ham.  Then to his shock he saw her cut off the ham hock and throw it away!

“That’s good meat! Why are you throwing it away?” 

Defiantly, she answered, “My mother is a great cook and she always did that!” 

So, the next time they were at her mother’s house, he asked her, “Why did you cut off the ham hock?” 

The answer she gave was, “My mother always did and she’s the best cook I know.”

Curious, he called grandma and asked why she cut off and threw away the ham hock.  “Oh, that’s because my pan was small and the whole ham wouldn’t fit!” 

You see, the original purpose for the action had been lost and instead it had simply become a tradition that no longer served any useful purpose.  As a matter of fact, it had become worse than not useful—it was detrimental!  Something good was being discarded in order to keep a tradition. 

That is a problem with not a few churches today.  There are programs that once were sacred “hows” that have become sacred cows.  Yet, to even suggest a different way of doing things—even to question the possibility—is to be met with scorn and potentially split the church. 

Not all tradition is bad: Christmas, Homecoming, and altar calls, though not commanded in a single Bible verse, nevertheless can be wonderful traditions.  But, when any tradition supplants truth and becomes an object of worship, it has become traditionalism and is the thing that Jesus condemned in the Pharisees.  Here is the rule of thumb, “Truth trumps tradition.”  This is the message to explore in the seventh chapter of Mark.

The tension between truth and tradition is so thick here you can cut it with a knife.  Let’s begin the study by considering TRADITIONALISM AND THE INDICTMENT FROM IT.

“The Pharisees and some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Him.  They observed that some of His disciples were eating their bread with unclean—that is, unwashed—hands.  (For the Pharisees, in fact all the Jews, will not eat unless they wash their hands ritually, keeping the tradition of the elders.  When they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they have washed.  And there are many other customs they have received and keep, like the washing of cups, jugs, copper utensils, and dining couches.)   Then 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 ritually unclean hands?’”   (Mark 7:1-5). 

Have you ever read in the Bible, “Cleanliness is next to godliness”? 

You haven’t because it isn’t in there—but, apparently the Pharisees believed it was. 

The text mentions that the Pharisees and scribes “observed” that the disciples of Christ were eating bread before they washed their hands.  It wasn’t that they were there and just happened to see this.  They had come to spy—these self-appointed sentinels of the status quo.  Do you know why they found fault?  It’s what they were always looking for! 

When you come to the house of God, you will see what you are looking for.  If you come to see God and to see how you can bless others—if you come to hear the Word of God and seek to engage in the worship of God—your life will be filled with wonder and overflowing joy.  You’ll get what you expect! 

On, the other hand—if you come to find fault—you can—every time—for we are not perfect yet.  Think about it—if someone could find fault with the only Perfect Man, do you think it will be that hard to find fault with the pastor, or staff, or deacons, or choir, or…fill in the blank? 

There is nothing wrong with personal hygiene.  That’s not the issue here.  The bottom line is that they had a special ritual for cleansing and believed those who did it were spiritually superior.  That’s traditionalism and it looks down its sanctimonious nose at every one who doesn’t dot every i and cross every t the exact same way. 

There are churches that try to produce cookie cutter Christians—who look, talk and dress just alike.  They see themselves as the true Christians—the sanctified—and the others are liberals—maybe even unsaved.  Thankfully the Bible says that in Christ there is no condemnation, because in Christianity we often find it!

Next, we note TRADITIONALISM AND THE ILLUSTRATION OF IT.

He answered them, ‘Isaiah prophesied correctly about you hypocrites, as it is written:

These people honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me.  They worship Me in vain, teaching as doctrines the commands of men.  

Disregarding the command of God, you keep the tradition of men.’  He also said to them, ‘You completely invalidate God’s command in order to maintain your tradition!

For Moses said:

Honor your father and your mother; and

Whoever speaks evil of father or mother must be put to death.

But you say, “If a man tells his father or mother: Whatever benefit you might have received from me is Corban”’ (that is, a gift [committed to the temple]), ‘you no longer let him do anything for his father or mother.  You revoke God’s word by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many other similar things.’”  (Mark 7:6-13). 

A picture is worth a thousand words.  For me to try to define traditionalism would be possible, but pointing you to a demonstration of it is easier—and that’s what we have in these verses. 

The Pharisees very name came from the Hebrew, “parash”—to separate.  They claimed to be holy, but Jesus called them hypocrites.  Christ puts the magnifying glass of truth on them and exposes them as pious phonies. 

He gives an example in their practice of “Corban.”  The clear commandment to honor their parents was being circumvented by their tradition.  They could set aside some money which might have been used to care for their elderly parents as Scripture taught, and it could only then be used for “spiritual” purposes.  Of course, since they were such spiritual fellows, they would be able to use that spiritual gift.  These were religious racketeers!  

I once heard about a real racketeer—a mob boss was in jail facing trial.  A prison guard observed him reading a Bible one day.   He asked the gangster, “You looking to find God?”   The mobster answered, “No—I’m looking for a loophole!”

That’s what hypocrites do!

Another thing to weigh is TRADITIONALISM AND THE IMPLICATIONS IN IT.

“Summoning the crowd again, He told them, ‘Listen to Me, all of you, and understand: Nothing that goes into a person from outside can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him.  If anyone has ears to hear, he should listen!’”  (Mark 7:14-16) 

You could have heard a pin drop when Jesus said this.  These words were so shocking that they were like someone sucked all the oxygen out of the room.  All you would have heard would have been the grinding of the Pharisees teeth—loudly!  Jesus has given us something to chew on for sure! 

We’ll get to that.  But, first, before the details, what is the main implication of what Jesus is saying?  Truth is about transforming us from the inside and tradition is about conforming us on the outside.  Truth brings actual change while traditionalism is apparent change.  Tradition might be an expression of real change, but truth is the essence of real change.  Truth trumps tradition—always!

Do you have spiritual understanding?  Are your ears attuned to Scripture?  Jesus calls upon us to hear Him.

Now listen to TRADITIONALISM AND THE INSTRUCTION ABOUT IT.

“When He went into the house away from the crowd, the disciples asked Him about the parable.  And He said to them, ‘Are you also as lacking in understanding? Don’t you realize that nothing going into a man from the outside can defile him?  For it doesn’t go into his heart but into the stomach and is eliminated.’”  (As a result, He made all foods clean.)  Then He said, ‘What comes out of a person — that defiles him.  For from within, out of people’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immoralities, thefts, murders, adulteries, greed, evil actions, deceit, promiscuity, stinginess, blasphemy, pride, and foolishness.  All these evil things come from within and defile a person.’” (Mark 7:17-23)

These were shocking words because these Jews had been taught from childhood that there are things you eat and things you do not (see Leviticus 11). 

How do we reconcile this?  Isn’t it true that Jesus kept the law at every point?  Of course! 

What was it that made it wrong to eat certain things?    It was because God said, “Don’t.”  What was the sin if you did? Defiance against God!  It is rebellion from the heart. 

It wasn’t about what went into the mouth but what came out of the heart.!  The Old Testament is clear, “Man does not see what the Lord sees, for man sees what is visible, but the Lord sees the heart.”  (1 Sam.16:7b). 

Many are nit-picky about their traditions and preferences, but aren’t concerned about the big stuff (v.21-23).  We need high standards.  We must be holy.  But, genuine holiness is from the heart.  It is regeneration that leads to change from the inside out. 

In many churches they will have a big fight over the style of church music or the time of services, but will not confront an adulterous member, correct a greedy man or challenge an arrogant man! 

Paul confronted the church In Corinth concerning their friction and factions about who was the best preacher, about speaking in tongues, and what kind of meat to eat, but then would not deal with a member living immorally! 

Warren Wiersbe offers an excellent comparison between tradition and truth:

 

Man’s traditions	God’s truth
Outward forms—bondage	Inward faith—liberty
Trifling rules	Fundamental principles
Outward piety	True inward holiness
Neglect, replace the Word	Exalts the Word of God    1

 

 

Truth trumps tradition!  Don’t come under bondage to man’s preferences, while ignoring the liberty to live by the Master’s precepts. 

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^[1]Wiersbe, Warren W.: The Bible Exposition Commentary. Wheaton, Ill. : Victor Books, 1996, c1989, S. Mk 7:1