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Mark 7 - OUR traditions

Mark 7 - OUR traditions

Traditions, they are like noses in that all of us have them. Some of them (traditions, not noses!) are harmless, some are simply amusing, some are good and should be kept, and some are harmful and need to be abandoned. Here we see traditions of this later harmful type. Such were based upon faulty understandings, taking things that were instructions to specific peoples and applying them unto all people. (note below).

Then the real danger, they were so dedicated to these traditions that they refused to apply the actual teaching of the word of God that applied to themselves. They were “Neglecting the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men.” (Mark 7:8).

We then learn that we must reevaluate our traditions. When they conflict and cause us to not keep GOD’s commandments, we must put them aside. Such action requires absolute honesty in our examining ourselves. It also requires diligence in LEARNING what the actual commandments of God for us are. And such begins with having good and honest hearts, hearts that love God more than anything, including our own lives.

Take note of the tradition started by the Bereans in Acts 17:11-12: 11 Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so. 12 Therefore many of them believed, along with a number of prominent Greek women and men.

Are you like these noble Bereans?  

Hugh DeLong

Notes from two commentaries:

1.       The Pharisees took the OT requirement for priests on duty in the Temple and expanded them to all “true” Jews every day. They were adding to the Law of Moses. (Bob Utley)

2.       The origin of this custom seems to have been the necessity for priests to wash before eating ‘holy’ food which had been offered as a sacrifice (as in Num. 18:8–13), a principle which was then extended to their ‘ordinary’ food. This rule that hands must be ceremonially washed before meals was later applied to laymen, on the basis that all food should be treated as though offered in the temple... Black, comm. on Mark