“And why do you, by your traditions, violate the direct commandments of God?” (Matthew 15:3)
I am one of those people who loves traditions. Family traditions are truly something special to me. Perhaps it’s in part due to the planner side of me – but I love looking forward to things that for the most part don’t change. Take for instance Christmas. I know that we will be at church on Christmas Eve. I know that even though my parents and siblings will not be in attendance with us, they are attending elsewhere at similar times. I know that my dad will be reading “The Night Before Christmas,” and that the story of Jesus’ birth will be read/told as well. I know that on Christmas morning we will each spend time with our spouses and children, and then we will gather to celebrate with duck for dinner, gifts to exchange, and mom’s homemade ice-cream cookie sandwiches. And we will sing, as a family, “Happy Birthday” to Jesus. I love traditions. Even as I list these things, it brings warmth to my heart. I am blessed.
I don’t believe that these are the traditions that Jesus is talking about, by the way. These aren’t the traditions that violate the direct commandments of God. I do think it is wise to ask myself, however, if there are traditions that I am willingly embracing that DO violate God’s commandments. Are there things, for example, that I am adding to the Word and shoving at people as truth that frankly aren’t there? Or worse yet, are there things that I know aren’t there, but because I want them there, I present them as new or enlightened truths? Are there commands that I know in the depths of my soul are for me – even as a believer under the new covenant of Christ – and yet I blatantly ignore or disregard?
Jesus has words for this type of behavior. “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship is a farce, for they teach man-made ideas as commands from God.” (Matthew 15:8-9) Strong words, right? You see our words – that which comes out of our mouths matters to God. Our lips were made to tell of His greatness – to sing His praise – to worship. So often, what comes out of our mouths, however, is pretty revealing. My mouth cannot just utter praise and truth on Sunday morning in a sanctuary for an hour, and then spend the rest of the week uttering statements that contradict or conflict with that the rest of my time. Why? My lips are connected to my heart. Meaning my words come from the state of my heart – my soul.
Jesus says it like this: “But the words you speak come from the heart – that’s what defiles you. For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, all sexual immorality, theft, lying, and slander. These are what defile you.” (Matthew 15:18-20)
Can you and I slow down our brains and bodies for a few minutes and really do some self-reflection? How are we doing here? On multiple recorded occasions in the Word, we are provided with lists of evils that stem from the sinful hearts of man. Sometimes, I think we skim over those lists quickly. Sometimes, I think that we can attach the names of other people to the descriptors on that list. Do we really take the time to reflect on ourselves and identify our sin-nature and guilt? I mean literally asking ourselves: “Am I guilty of this one, LORD?” and then being willing to accept the answer.
We are such a mess. Truly. I wish we would stop pretending that we weren’t. I don’t believe God wants us to continue lying to ourselves and to Him by denying it. I don’t. I think the reason is that He knows he can heal us and set us free – but we have to realize our need for freedom – and more specifically our need for Him.
In the same chapter of Matthew, chapter 15, we find that Jesus has returned to the Sea of Galilee. He makes his way up a hill and sits down amongst the crowd of people who at this point in his ministry were always present. This crowd is a mixture of all types of broken people. The spiritually broken are present. The physically sick are in attendance. Men, women, and children alike – the old and the young – sitting around Jesus. The Scripture says: “A vast crowd brought to him people who were lame, blind, crippled, those who couldn’t speak, and many others. They laid themselves before Jesus, and he healed them all. The crowd was amazed! Those who hadn’t been able to speak were talking, the crippled were made well, the lame were walking, and the blind could see again! And they praised the God of Israel!” (v. 29-31)
How were they healed? They had to recognize a need for healing. They had to bring their need to Jesus and trust that He alone could bring the deliverance they needed.
LORD, I cannot speak for anyone but myself, nor should I. I do ask that you open my heart to the truth of your word, and I ask that you would allow it to convict me of anything which doesn’t align with you. LORD, set me free from my sins. Make my mouth – my lips – return to instruments of praise and thanksgiving for all you have done and continue to do. May my heart and my lips be filled with your goodness, your faithfulness, and profess the truth. LORD I know truth does not exist apart from you, for you are unchanging and holy. Create within me a clean and pure heart and soul. I ask these things in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Blessings.