Daily Devotion: Truth Over Tradition by J.E. Smith

Bible Reading: Matthew 15:1-8 KJV 

Key Verse:  "But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?"
- Matthew 15:3 KJV

As mentioned in earlier devotionals, Satan has given all true Christian denominations (those that share the fundamentals of faith) some lies to go along with the truth taught from the Bible. Some denominations have more lies than others, but all seem to have acquired some lies. The lies are often carried forward through "Traditions." For centuries the church has been given volumes of knowledge and yet with that knowledge so little change has taken place. In fact, the church has slipped from its height in the third century. We do not need more information, what we need is "revelation" and "truth."
The most difficult people to teach are not new Christians, but those who are embedded in church tradition for years or even decades, (i.e. "Don't bother me with facts, my mind is made up.") Traditions are powerful enemies of change because: 

1. They provide security. You don't have to think about what you are doing.
2. We lose the incentive to grow. "This is what we have always done."
3. We allow man's customs to take precedent over God's Word.

To be clear, not all traditions are wrong. Only those not supported by God's Word.

Even Jesus was accused of breaking traditions in Matthew 15:1-5 when his disciples were caught not washing their hands before they ate. Though it is good to wash your hands before you eat, this was a tradition created by man, not God.

The first step in hearing, and accepting truth, is to admit that you do not have all the answers. Peter thought he had it all figured out in Acts 10. He was taught all of his life not to eat unclean things. Little did he know, that God was about to change his world by telling him to rise and eat the unclean animals. Peter first attempted to argue with God, before obeying.

In John chapter 9, Jesus' disciples asked Him who sinned to make this man blind, him or his parents? Jesus answered, that neither had sinned but that he was blind so that the works of God could be seen in him when he was healed. All were holding to the same tradition that blindness was caused by breaking God's law and whoever broke the Sabbath law could not be of God.

Notice how each reacted:

• The disciples were willing to learn and change their assumptions in response to Jesus' teaching.
• The blind man was willing to change based on personal experience. 
• The Pharisees saw the blind man healed, but refused to change their position, as a result they became morally blind.

First, let us consider the words of Jesus in Matthew 15:3-6 (KJV) where the Bible says, "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." 

Here Jesus cites the commandment to honor your father and mother, and contrasts it with their tradition of saying that their support for their parents is a gift, thus exempting them from the commandment. Jesus argues that their tradition has made the commandment of God of none effect. The meaning of this passage is that we should never prioritize human traditions over God's commandments. We should not use our traditions as a way to excuse ourselves from following God's commands. Instead, we should seek to honor God and follow his commands, even if it goes against our traditions.

Also, the Apostle Paul in Colossians 2:8 (KJV) stated, "Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ." Here, Paul warns believers against being led astray by the traditions and philosophies of the world. Instead, we must remain grounded in the truth of Christ and His teachings.

In a world filled with diverse beliefs and customs, it is essential for believers to recognize the importance of truth over traditions. While traditions can provide a sense of comfort and familiarity, they should never take precedence over the unchanging truth of God's Word.

As we navigate the complexities of the world around us, let us remain steadfast in our commitment to truth over traditions. By seeking wisdom and guidance from God's Word, we can grow in our understanding of His will and purpose for our lives. As we do so, we will become ever more faithful servants in His kingdom, shining the light of truth for all to see.

Sources:

- Portions of the above is from Dwain Miller's excellent book Jesus the Rabbi: Unlocking the Hebraic Teaching of Yeshua


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