Tradition

Matthew 15.1-3: Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying, "Why do your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread." He [Jesus] answered and said to them, "Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition?"

Verses 4-6: "For God commanded, saying, `Honor your father and your mother'; and, `He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.' But you say, `Whoever says to his father or mother, whatever profit you might have received from me [is] a gift [to] [God]'-- then he need not honor his father or mother. Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition."

Jesus quotes the fifth commandment. Then He explains that the tradition they had devised was a clever way of keeping things from passing to one's parents. If one's parents were in need, and that one had the means of providing for that need, such a one could have that provision declared to be a "gift to God," and then the provision had to be kept separate and could not be used for his parents. The child of the parents would get to continue to keep those things in his own home even though supposedly set aside for God.

This tradition made the commandment of God of no effect, for it allowed the commandment to honor one's parents not to be obeyed. The tradition was given more authority; the commandment of God was deprived of its authority by a tradition.

Jesus continues ... Verses 7-9: "Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying: `These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with [their] lips, But their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, Teaching [as] doctrines the commandments of men.' "

A hypocrite is someone who wants you to think that he is something that he really is not.
This tradition made them look as though they were devoted to God, for they gave this provision of aid that would have benefited their parents to God. The motive was purely selfish, for they wanted to keep it from their parents and for themselves.

Religious activity doesn't make one devoted to God when the activity is a violation of God's moral or revealed will.

One should judge himself in his religious activity to make sure that he does not place tradition above the authority of Scripture and that he is not being self-deceived or hypocritical about his own spirituality when participating in the externals and rituals of religious activity.

Tradition involves externals, religious type activity that doesn't necessarily require a true devotion to the Word of God in knowledge, discernment, and obedience.
The Sunday Morning Worship Service is just one of many examples of tradition that allows one to be somewhat religiously involved and yet undevoted to God.

Revelation 3:1-3: And to the angel of the church in Sardis write, ..."I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God. Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent."

Revelation 3:14-19: And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, "... I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, `I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing'---and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked---I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, [that] the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent."

Be mindful that traditions can be a cover for hypocrisy or a mere form of religion in which you are deceived of your own lack of spirituality. Be careful that these traditions do not deprive God's Word of its force and authority.

Jesus now addresses the particular tradition His disciples had "transgressed."
Verses 10-11: When He had called the multitude to [Himself], He said to them, "Hear and understand: Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man."

The problem with this tradition was the wrong belief about what defiled a person. Defilement speaks of one being unacceptable before God. These leaders ascribed a significance and value to this tradition that if one washed his hands before eating, he would not be defiled before God.

Jesus uses a parable to illustrate the error of the Jewish leaders' belief in their tradition. The tradition itself would not be so bad if it wasn't for the erroneous significance and value ascribed to it.

Verses 15-20: Then Peter answered and said to Him, "Explain this parable to us." So Jesus said, "Are you also still without understanding? Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated? But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, and blasphemies. These are [the] [things] which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man."

Jesus in His parable is saying that what comes from the outside ("what goes into the mouth") does not defile a man but what comes from within ("what comes out of the mouth") from the heart, i.e., one's innermost being.

Jesus gives a list of those things that have their origin from within a person that defiles, making them unacceptable before God.

The tradition of washing before eating doesn't make one acceptable before God when these things from within exist.

Like many traditions, this tradition of washing may not be bad in and of itself, but one could be self-deceived or hypocritical in the practice of it, in that they have by its practice an appearance of devotion to God but within one is far from God and is living inconsistent with the will of God. People can put a higher value on some external ritual than thy do obeying the moral will of God. It doesn't take any real spiritual commitment to do the former as it does the latter.

One must judge his traditions to make sure he is not placing a value and significance on it that is in error and deceives him.

"He who is spiritual judges all things." 1 Corinthians 2.15
Judge your traditions in light of God's Word. Make sure 1) you are not depriving God's word of its authority, or 2) that you are not hypocritical or self-deceived in the practice of it, or 3) that you have not given it a value and significance that is erroneous.

*****

2 Thessalonians 3.6-12: But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us, for we were not disorderly among you; nor did we eat anyone's bread free of charge, but worked with labor and toil night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, not because we do not have authority, but to make ourselves an example of how you should follow us. For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies. Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread.

Some may reference Second Thessalonians 3.6 to justify the belief that established traditions have authority and should be continued.

This reference to tradition by Paul is explained as having appropriate conduct, conduct becoming a child of God.

The tradition in this text was the example of Paul and company to work for one's own needs and not mooch off the generosity of other believers, nor meddle in their lives.

Paul's reference to tradition can not be used to justify established teachings and practices which deprive Scripture of its authority, especially in matters pertaining to salvation and practical sanctification.

It must be realized that the Church in whatever form it takes is not the source of truth. They are to discover the truth from the source of truth, being Scripture. And they are to uphold that truth. Undiscerning people have judged that since the religious beliefs and practices of the Church often have their source in traditions established and handed down from their leaders, then the Church’s view on certain beliefs and practices can be changed to fit the change of attitudes and culture. This view has been encouraged by the practice of putting tradition over Scripture.