Tradition and Christian Duty

MEMORY VERSE: “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” —John 10:10

MATTHEW 15:1-20

TRADITION has always tended to blur spiritual vision. The scribes and Pharisees of Jesus’ day were steeped in tradition, and it did much to hinder them from appreciating the teachings of Jesus, teachings which were based upon the Old Testament Scriptures. Much of the tradition believed and practiced by the scribes and Pharisees came from the Talmud, which to them was of equal importance to the Word of God.

We accept the inspired Word of God as the truth because it comes from God through the channel of the Holy Spirit. All teachings contrary to the Word of God we can properly classify as traditions of men. Today denominationalism is based largely on tradition rather than on the Bible. Few realize this. Indeed, the only ones who realize it are those who have compared the teachings of the denominations with the Word of God.

One of the popular traditions of today is the inherent immortality of the soul. This is not taught in the Bible, but originated with the heathen many long centuries before Christ came. It is one of the outgrowths of Satan’s lie in the Garden of Eden when he said to mother Eve, “Ye shall not surely die.”—Gen. 3:4

According to the Bible, the hope of life after death is based upon God’s promises to restore the dead to life in the resurrection, not on the tradition that man is immortal and does not really die when he expires, or ceases to live. This tradition has blinded many, so that they cannot see God’s loving plan of redemption and restoration through Christ.

Another blinding tradition which has come down to our day from the Dark Ages is the theory that when Christ returns the earth is to be burned up. True, the Bible does prophesy a severe time of trouble among the nations at that time, and in some of the prophecies this trouble is symbolized by fire; but so far as the literal earth is concerned, the Bible assures us that it will last forever, and that it was created not in vain, but to be inhabited.—Eccles. 1:4; Isa. 45:18

This tradition has prevented many from seeing God’s plan to restore the human race to life on the earth. It has rendered meaningless Peter’s prophecy concerning the future “times of restitution of all things,” which, he declared, have been “spoken by the mouth of all his [God’s] holy prophets since the world began.” (Acts 3:19-21) How could there be times of restoration following the second coming of Christ, if the earth and the human race were to be destroyed?

Another tradition of the Dark Ages is the doctrine of the trinity. The Bible teaches that Jesus was the Son of God, not God himself. The Bible teaches that the Holy Spirit is the holy power, or influence, of God, not a third person in a trinity of gods. If God and Jesus were one and the same, how could Jesus die as man’s Redeemer? This tradition hinders one from understanding the great fundamental doctrine of the ransom as taught in the Bible, and without this understanding the whole plan of God is hidden.

These are but some of the damaging traditions of men which today are hindering the people from knowing the true God and his plan for their salvation. The particular tradition mentioned in our lesson has to do with the practice of ceremonial hand-washing before eating.

All of the Lord’s people should put each teaching to the test by comparing it with the Bible. Those teachings and practices which are not clearly taught in the Word of God should be discarded. It is not easy to break with tradition, but richly blessed are those who conform their beliefs and lives to the Word of God alone. And this is the will of God, for it is through the Word of truth that we are sanctified, and not by tradition.—John 17:17

Our memory verse is in keeping with the lesson. Jesus did not obey the traditions of his day, but he did obey his Heavenly Father. Because of this he was in a position to give life to his followers, and eventually he will give life to all the willing and obedient of mankind. He is truly the Good Shepherd who gave his life for the sheep of this age, as well as for those “other sheep” of the next age.—John 10:14-16

QUESTIONS

Name some of the traditions of our day, and explain how they blind people to the truth.

What tradition is particularly mentioned in our lesson, and what did Jesus say about it? (See Scripture passage)

How did Jesus qualify to be the “Good Shepherd”?

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