Bible Study: Following Traditions

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Today is Thursday October 07, 2010 and we are reading through the Bible in a year. Today's message comes from the reading of the Book of Matthew, chapters 15-17. If you would like to read today's chapters along with us here online you can Click Here to read them or copy & paste this link onto your browser: http://www.imfollowingjesus.com/bible-october-7. In today's Bible reading we will read about, Jesus rebuking the Scribes and Pharisees, Jesus feeding 4000 men, Jesus coming to save everyone, the transfiguration of Jesus, and the disciples unbelief.

Today's Message: Following Traditions
The word tradition is defined as handing down the same customs, practices, beliefs, and information by word of mouth from generation to generation. The key to a tradition is, “by word of mouth”, regardless of whether or not we know something to be true, it is by what we hear others tell us by the mouth that makes it a tradition. Why? Because people will act upon what they hear, if a person hears from someone else that it is okay to do something, especially if it is someone they trust, then they will do it, continuing the tradition onto the next generation.

Everything we do in life needs to line up with the Word of God, including the traditions we follow, just because we follow a tradition from our family it does not mean that it lines up with the Word of God, in fact, most do not, they are just family traditions. When the scribes and Pharisees questioned Jesus about His disciples violation of the elders traditions, He said, “Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death. But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.” - Matthew 15:3-6.

Jesus confronted them about their violating the fifth commandment by altering God's law to fit their needs. Additions to God's laws reflect upon His wisdom, as if He had left out something which was needed, which man could supply. How thankful ought we to be for the written Word of God! We are to never follow the traditions of others who claim that there are missing words or books missing from the Bible and especially wrote their own versions. This is not following God's Law, it's following mans, and will always lead us to in one way or other to disobey God. “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” - Colossians 2:8.

Jesus continues and explains how God's law gets changed, “This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand: Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man....Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught? But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:” - Matthew 15:8-11,17-19.

Many religions talk about Christ and even His death, but they do not acknowledge His burial and resurrection. And those that do acknowledge it, add to or take away from the doctrine of the Gospel. This is vain worship and following the traditions of man, in other words, following what others tell them instead of the truth from the Word of God. How do they even get to that point? Not following God with all their heart. Following God halfheartedly always leads to man altering His Word to fit their lifestyle, not altering their lifestyle to fit His Word. “For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.” -Romans 2:20,21.

If we want to follow God's traditions, first, we must believe in the Gospel, secondly, we must be saved, and third, we must live by Every Word of God. Those who are not saved are those who question the Bible and alter it to fit their needs. Those who are saved live by or work to live by Every Word of God. Man's traditions also deceive people into thinking that they have to be a particular religion or race in order to be saved. Christ saves all and this is shown when a Caanite woman came to Him, “And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us. But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs. And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table. Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.” - Matthew 15:22-28.

Jesus was testing this woman's faith, the children represent the Jews, the bread represents Jesus, who is the bread of life, and the dogs represent the Gentiles. He said, “I was sent here for the Jews, why should I give my bread to the Gentiles?” The woman persisted, worshiped Jesus, pleaded for His help, and acknowledged that she was aware that He was sent to save the Jews, but even dogs get to eat the crumbs from the table, even though I am not a Jew I am willing to accept whatever I can get. Jesus saw her faith and healed her daughter. It does not matter if we were born of the Jews or Gentiles, Jesus came to save all and saves all who believes in Him. “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.” -I Corinthians 12:13.

We all have family traditions, but it is important to realize that if you are saved you are heirs with Christ, making you family, which means the most important family tradition to follow is that of Jesus Christ. “Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.” - Galatians 4:7. Since we are heirs with Christ we need to be aware that some of the customs, practices, and beliefs that we use to follow are ones that we need to avoid.“But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil...And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ. Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.” - II Thessalonians 3:3,5,6.

Enjoy the rest of your day/night and week.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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