Man’s Ideas or God’s?

Most of Jesus’ disciples were fishermen, or did other physical work away from home, and were used to eating wherever they might be when they got hungry.  The Levitical Law specified washing one’s hands if he had come in contact with dead animals or sick people, to prevent the spread of disease.  Over the centuries, the Pharisees had greatly expanded the requirements, so that they were continually washing their hands, like germophobes today, constantly afraid of getting some disease.  The scribes and Pharisees were far more educated, working in stores, offices, or around the Temple, rarely getting dirty or being unable to wash their hands, so the restrictions didn’t cause them as much difficulty as it did those who worked at more physical jobs. 

Matthew 15:1-2 tells us they became upset when Jesus’ disciples did not use hand sanitizer before they ate as their traditions specified.  “Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying, Mt 15:2 Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.”   The Old Testament Law said nothing about washing or sterilizing their hands before eating, but the Pharisees held tradition as being equal or even superceding the Law. 

They were like some today, insisting they have an even higher standard than God set.  In Matthew 15:3-6, Jesus pointed out that their standard was not really higher than what God demanded.  “But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?  For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death.  But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.” 

Their traditions allowed and even encouraged people to do things God had forbidden.  For example, God had said a person was to show respect for the parents, even specifying that person who disrespected or abused his parents was to be executed.  Like modern America, their tradition had become that parents did not have the right to make their children help around the house or help with the family business unless they chose to.  They did not have to obey their parents, in other words.  It was exactly the opposite of what God had commanded.

As Matthew 15:7-9 tells us, they were very hypocritical in the way the interpreted and practiced the Law.  “Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.  But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.”   Nearly seven hundred years before, Isaiah had prophesied saying the Jews made a big show of wanting to serve God, while making no effort to obey his word.   Instead of teaching God’s commands they were teaching human opinions, standards, and principles as if they were God’s commands.  Isaiah said their worship was meaningless as a result. 

Today we frequently see the same Pharisaical attitude in religious groups.  They may teach church traditions and customs, or implement a whole bunch of new programs, teachings, and standards, but they ignore what God has clearly commanded.   As a result, Christians think nothing of doing things God has expressly forbidden, while insisting on things the Bible says nothing about.