Mark 7 English Standard Version

Traditions and Commandments

7 Now when the Pharisees gathered to him, with some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem, 2 they saw that some of his disciples ate with hands that were defiled, that is, unwashed. 3 (For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands properly, holding to the tradition of the elders, 4 and when they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other traditions that they observe, such as the washing of cups and pots and copper vessels and dining couches.[c]) 5 And the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, “Why do your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?” 6 And he said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written,

“‘This people honors me with their lips,
    but their heart is far from me;

7 in vain do they worship me,
    teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’

8 You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men.”

What is the tradition of Christmas without Christ? His name is right there in the beginning of the word itself. When I was a child my uncle dressed up as Santa. I knew it was Uncle Lytle, I had no idea why he was dressed up in a red suit and a fake beard. Did my parents think I was that gullible? That was the last time Santa was ever mentioned in our home. I was the youngest in my family and my siblings had all outgrown the fantasy. Christmas in our house was never about Christ.

It wasn’t until years later when a Nativity scene appeared in the town square to the objection of atheists that the issues of separation of church and state took the headlines. Shortly thereafter we were stripped of teacher-led morning prayers in school. It didn’t seem like a big deal to me, those morning prayers were someone else’s tradition, not one in our home.

Then a pretty girl I knew asked me to come join her at a church event called BYF. I had misunderstood her intentions. I thought she liked me. She saw I didn’t have Christ in my life and it was her intention to show me Christ for the first time. I tagged along with the wrong intentions but that led me to my first experience with Sunday School and discovering what all the fuss was really about Christmas traditions I had never experienced. 

It wasn’t too long after those messages were preached that my Sovereign God showed Himself to be real in a way that I could no longer ignore. It was at this time that I left the traditions of man, and began in earnest to discover the commandments of God. 

Merry Christmas. My present to you was born in a manger.

Matthew 9:13 Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Look to who Jesus was talking to when He said “Go and learn.”

It was the Pharisees who would not follow Jesus’ example.

Strong’s Definitions 

†Φαρισαῖος Pharisaîos, far-is-ah’-yos; of Hebrew origin; a separatist,

The practice did not exist until after the return from the Babylonian exile. It literally is a position created by man to hold sway over the unlearned. They were not teachers, that was designated to the Scribes. The Pharisees sat in judgment over all religious matters.

We learn this by doing a deeper dive into our studies. We assume too much and take many things for granted because it is easier than spending sleepless nights correcting the thoughts of others where they sound good but have interpreted the scriptures to serve their own needs.

It is telling to me that Jeus said “go and learn” while they were standing right in front of Him. He knew their thoughts and that they would never listen to this unsanctioned itinerant teacher from a backwater town called Nazareth.

James 4:8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

It is in our quiet times with God that He reveals the true mysteries.

Ephesians 1:9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ

We will never discover our true purpose in this life apart from Christ.

Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

1 Corinthians 1:30 And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption,

2 Timothy 1:9 who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,

God shows us the mystery of His will, why would we want to return to our own beggarly thoughts? The separatist did not feel comfortable in His presence. We can.