Daily Reading: Matthew 15
Scripture Focus: So for the sake of your tradition you have made void the word of God. Matthew 15:6
Devotional Thought: I am a huge stickler for washing hands. Ask any of my three daughters (and their friends)… if we have been out of the house, I always insist on a nice thorough hand-washing once we return. Even a trip to my mailbox will result in a hand-washing. In my van, there is a giant hand sanitizer pump, and my kids are trained to get a squirt every time they load up. I could keep going. After all, who wants the flu?
The Pharisees and religious leaders confronted Jesus with a similar concern. They came criticizing the eating practices of his disciples. They were not following the “tradition of the elders,” and were not washing their hands when they ate. Keeping in mind that Louis Pasteur would not develop his germ theory of disease for 1800 more years, this was not an argument over hygiene. Rather, for the Jews, these commandments and traditions of man had become equally important (and maybe more so) to the actual Law given to them by Yahweh. Jesus is quick to point out their hypocrisy, quoting the prophet Isaiah: “This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men,” (v. 8-9).
While this seems like a minor argument, Jesus recognized the attempts of these religious Jews to obtain righteousness by themselves, while imposing their traditions on others. Their hearts were far from him. Do we do the same in our communities of believers? In the church? Do we impose our non-core beliefs and convictions on others? Paul has much to say about this in Romans 14, but the bottom line is that we should “pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding,” (Rom. 14:19).
Jenny
Prayer: Lord, keep my heart from judgment, and incline my heart towards grace and mercy. Help me to stand firm on the indisputable truth of the gospel, and not on prideful tradition.
Psalm of the Day: Psalm 90.13-17
13 Return, O Lord! How long?
Have pity on your servants!
14 Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love,
that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
15 Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,
and for as many years as we have seen evil.
16 Let your work be shown to your servants,
and your glorious power to their children.
17 Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us,
and establish the work of our hands upon us;
yes, establish the work of our hands!
Comments