The traditions of the elders are the rules added around the law.
You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men.
By the time of Jesus, the Pharisees and scribes keep a body of tradition besides the written law. Washing hands before eating, Corban, and many other rules are in it. He asks why they break the commandment of God for the sake of their tradition. Isaiah’s line is quoted: this people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. The church can add its own fences. The commandment still outranks the fence.
- Tradition is not automatically false. The charge is that it sets aside the word.
- Corban let a man keep from his parents what he had pledged. The tradition undid the fifth commandment.
- Paul tells the Thessalonians to hold the traditions they were taught by the apostles. Apostolic teaching is not this fence.
Why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?
In vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.
- The traditions of the elders are rules around the law.
- Jesus says they can void the commandment.
- Hand washing and Corban are the examples He uses.
- Lip honor with a far heart is the prophecy He quotes.
- Apostolic tradition is a different thing.
- The written word judges the added rule.
- The Fence – Rules around the law.
- The Charge – Voiding the commandment.
- The Case – Corban.
- The Heart – Far from God.
- The Other Word – Apostolic teaching.
- The Test – Does it hold the commandment or replace it?
- Matthew 15:2-6 – “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? … So for the sake of your tradition you have made void the word of God.”
- Mark 7:8-9 – “You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men.”
- Isaiah 29:13 – “This people draw near with their mouth… while their hearts are far from me.”
- 2 Thessalonians 2:15 – “Stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us.”
For the sake of your tradition you have made void the word of God.
You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men.
A fence is not the word. When the fence cancels the commandment, drop the fence.
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