Jesus said, "Howbeit in vain do they worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do." (Mark 7-8)
From the scriptures, we know that the Pharisees and certain of the scribes were always finding fault with Jesus. Mark provides a prime example of this, when the Pharisees and certain of the scribes accused Jesus' disciples of not washing their hands, as was the custom or tradition of the elders at that time.
"Then came together unto Him the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, which came from Jerusalem. And when they saw some of His disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashed hands, they found fault. For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash [their] hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders. And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brasen vessels, and of tables.
"Then came together unto Him the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, which came from Jerusalem. And when they saw some of His disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashed hands, they found fault. For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash [their] hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders. And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brasen vessels, and of tables.
Then the Pharisees and scribes asked Him, "Why walk not Thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed hands?" He answered and said unto them, "Well hath Esaias [Isaiah] prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, "This people honours Me with [their] lips, but their heart is far from Me. Howbeit in vain do they worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do."
And He said unto them, "Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition. For Moses said, "Honour thy father and thy mother" and, "Whoso curses father or mother, let him die the death" ... but ye say, "If a man shall say to his father or mother, [It is] Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou might be profited by Me; he shall be free. And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother; making the Word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye."
And when He had called all the people [unto Him] He said unto them, "Hearken unto Me every one of you, and understand: there is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man. If any man have ears to hear, let him hear."
And when He was entered into the house from the people, His disciples asked Him concerning the parable. And He saith unto them, "Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without enters into the man, it cannot defile him; because it enters not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats?"
And He said unto them, "Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition. For Moses said, "Honour thy father and thy mother" and, "Whoso curses father or mother, let him die the death" ... but ye say, "If a man shall say to his father or mother, [It is] Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou might be profited by Me; he shall be free. And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother; making the Word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye."
And when He had called all the people [unto Him] He said unto them, "Hearken unto Me every one of you, and understand: there is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man. If any man have ears to hear, let him hear."
And when He was entered into the house from the people, His disciples asked Him concerning the parable. And He saith unto them, "Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without enters into the man, it cannot defile him; because it enters not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats?"
And He said, "That which comes out of the man, that defiles the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: all these evil things come from within, and defile the man." (Mark 7:1- 23)
Most relate this scriptural example to themes of hypocrisy, and that in judging another, we miss the point of God's plan of salvation -- that after the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared. (Titus 3:4-7; I Timothy 3:16) That we are saved by grace, and that not of ourselves -- it is the gift of God. (Ephesians 2:8)
And all of these points most relevant, given that it is not what goes in a man's mouth that defiles him but what comes out -- because that which comes out comes from the heart. (Matthew 15:11-20)
However, for this day, let's focus on Corban, which Jesus Himself specifies herein as a gift, and how -- in aligning to the traditions of men -- have varied away from the original commandment. Similarly, as Jesus observes, these have (sadly!) made "the Word of God of none effect through [their] tradition, which [these] have delivered: and many such like things do ye." (Mark 7:8, 13)
How? Because in slightly changing God's original commandment to the Israelites -- from honouring your mother and father to -- "If a man shall say to his father or mother, [It is] Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou might be profited by Me; he shall be free" these have (in essence) rendered the Word of God powerless. (Mark 7:11)
Further, if you note, moving away from the scriptures to the traditions of men did not require a significant change in wording -- just enough to suggest that the partakers "might be profited by Me" -- as Jesus states herein. In so doing, as Jesus said, "ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother." (Mark 7:12)
From the New Testament, we understand that this is the first commandment with promise -- "Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth." (Ephesians 6:1-3)
But instead, the change rendered the Word of God of none effect through the traditions of men. Do we see similar examples of this happening within the religious culture today? Not a big change but sufficient to lead those who profess to believe away from the Word of God which is forever settled in heaven. (Psalm 119:89)
Examples? Water baptism (Acts 2:36-41; Acts 10:44-48); the Godhead (I Timothy 3:16; Isaiah 9:6; Revelation 1:8; Jude 1:25; II John 1:9; Titus 2:13; Genesis 1:1-2); the Apostles' doctrine which of late is a creed void of all scripture (Acts 2:42; Acts 2:1-47) and so many more.
Nevertheless, let those with ears to ears, hear what the Word of God has to say to His chosen people. Stand in the offering plate.
No comments:
Post a Comment