Religious Traditions
Mark 7:1-13
The text is about traditions – that which is passed down.
a. Some traditions are ordinary and harmless i.e. necktie, service start times, when we have mid-week Bible study.
b. Some are God ordained traditions (II Thess. 2:15; 3:6).
c. But there are also wrong traditions. Wrong because they did not come from God (vs. 8, 9, 13).
Review the narrative.
d. The issue is not whether it is good hygiene to wash before eating, but whether such should be bound as a religious practice, and whether it is compatible with the will of God.
e. One Rabbi is supposed to have said, "That to eat with unwashed hands is as great a sin as adultery."
f. Jesus also cited another tradition that was indirect conflict with God’s commands – their Corban tradition.
That which distinguishes every religious group is its traditions.
g. It is what made a Pharisee, a Pharisee.
h. The principles involved show the difference between a Pharisee and a Christian or the difference between any unacceptable religious group and Christianity
First Let’s consider some things in the text that show the origin and error of religious traditions.
A. Notice verses 7-9
1. Mt. 21:25 – apply to all practices.
2. Mt. 15:13 – parallel text.
B. Here is the typical life story of a tradition.
1. Innovation
a. Something new, not found in the word of God.
b. Passed down until it becomes …
2. Accepted (vs. 4) – received from previous generations. ("Dad did and his dad before him")
3. Approval of the theologians (vs. 3,5)
4. Defended (vs. 2)
5. Exalted above the word of God (vs. 9)
C. The development of modern traditions can be traced in the same way.
1. Sprinkling
2. Instrumental music
a. Really asking, "Why don’t you follow tradition?"
b. Now taken for granted, approved by theologians, defended and exalted.
3. Infant baptism, etc.
4. We too, need to exercise caution not to bind our own customs here in this church.
a. How many songs before a prayer.
b. Worship start times
c. "Cloth over the Lord’s table."
D. The value of the text before us is that it illustrates the principles by which we determine what is right or wrong in religion (13c).
1. Jesus point was, whatever the tradition was, it is covered by the same principle.
2. Hand washing is hardly a religious issue today but any religious tradition today that is bound upon men without scriptural authority is also wrong.
3. We are not to add to nor take away from the instructions God has given us.
4. What did Jesus say they did (7-8)?
5. Rev. 22:18-19; Gal. 1:6-9
Therefore, we can take it a step further and point out that the text demonstrates that we are not to practice traditions, which are additions to what is authorized by the word of God.
E. The washing of hands was not wrong in itself. It is even commendable. But what is right in personal practice should not be made a rule of religion.
1. The Pharisees had made a law that God had not made.
2. "Wash hands before shaking hands."
3. I Tim. 4:1-3 (Same principle is applied.)
F. Suppose someone today tried to enjoin such washings as a religious rule.
1. Obviously we would use this text to object.
2. But the same principle applies for example, to instrumental music.
a. "Thou shalt not have instrumental music," but there is no "Thou shalt not have a hand washing."
b. It is because of the principle that we must not add to what God has ordained.
c. Jelly on the Lord’s Table? No specific prohibition against it, therefore what would be the objection?
3. Principle applies to every addition to God’s word invented by man and accepted by various denominations; special church rulers i.e. pope, infant baptism, choirs, religious holidays, titles, denominational names (not trying to belittle people or their sincerity, but must tell the truth and the truth is that these are additions to God’s word).
The text, therefore, demonstrates the obvious fact that traditions are wrong when they interfere with obedience to what the Lord required (vs. 10-12).
G. Their traditions allowed them to ignore Ex. 20:12 and Ex. 21:17
H. They knew what the scripture said. So how did they avoid its impact? They simply gave their "interpretation."
I. As outrageous as this is, there are religious traditions today that stand in the way of God’s obedience.
1. Mark 16:16
2. Rom. 6:4; Acts 8:38-39
What made the Pharisees, the Pharisees? Sadducees?
Today what makes a denomination, a denomination?
We should not follow the traditions of men. When we follow only the traditions of the Bible, we will simply be Christians, not Pharisees, not Sadducees or any other religious group in present day America.
Jim Pharr
Lenoir, NC