Week 23 – The Traditions of Men

Matthew 15

The Traditions of Men

Matthew 15

When raising our children, we taught them proper etiquette, including saying please and thank you, respecting their elders, and being obedient to us as their parents. Of course, there was also church etiquette: don’t run in church or move around during corporate prayer, and so on. There is nothing wrong with teaching others to comply with the rules and expectations of their homes, churches, schools, and businesses. But should this be our primary focus as Christians? Are we called to be the examiners of the eternal?

The Pharisees and scribes challenged Jesus about this in Matthew 15. They reprimanded Jesus (imagine that) for His disciples breaking the tradition of the elders by failing to wash their hands before eating. These men were strict about washing their hands and keeping their traditions, yet they did not care for their parents in their old age (Matthew 15:4-5). Jesus called them hypocrites and then taught that they honor God with their hearts, not with words alone (Matthew 15:8-9). These men were considered “blind guides” because they led people astray by causing them to focus on the outward appearance of holiness rather than on transforming their hearts to look more and more like the heart of Jesus (sanctification). 

Jesus went on to remind them that looking the part doesn’t equal being holy, but the place where you were planted determines the trajectory of your growth (Matthew 15:13). Were you planted by God? If so, you would produce Godly fruit (Galatians 55:22-23). When we are not planted by God, we operate in the flesh and in accordance with what’s in our hearts. Jesus states that it’s what comes out of our hearts that defiles, such as evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, and slander (Matthew 15:18). Galatians 5:19-22 adds impurity and debauchery (excessive indulgence in sensual pleasures), witchcraft, hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, orgies and the like. Wow!!! And the scribes and Pharisees were focused on the disciples washing their hands before eating. Sounds insane, huh?

Where are we focusing more on the outside than on heart transformation in ourselves or others? I have to keep this at the forefront of my spirit as I seek to coach my young adult children, guide my grandchildren, and disciple younger women and married couples. Jesus’ goal was not behavior modification but heart transformation. Although there is nothing wrong with traditions, and certainly nothing wrong with teaching manners and etiquette (and we should), our main focus should be to create an environment where our hearts are constantly being transformed from glory to glory, and then to seek the same for those for whom we have influence. My friends, let’s all seek to have washed hearts, not just washed hands.