Back to Home Page | Back to Index
|
Matthew Chapter Fifteen
The Danger With Traditions (15:1-9)
INTRODUCTION
1. As Jesus went about preaching and teaching, He often ran afoul of the religious leaders over the matter of keeping traditions... a. E.g., plucking heads of grain on the Sabbath - Mt 12:1-8 b. E.g., healing on the Sabbath - Mt 12:9-14 c. E.g., eating with unwashed hands - Mt 15:1-9 2. In Mt 15:1-9, Jesus describes the danger of traditions at length... a. How keeping them can make void the very commands of God b. How keeping them can make our worship vain before God 3. Traditions are very important in some religions... a. In the Roman Catholic church, tradition is place on par with God's Word 1) "It is an article of faith from a decree of the Vatican Council that Tradition is a source of theological teaching distinct from Scripture, and that it is infallible. It is therefore to be received with the same internal assent ofScripture, for it is the word of God." - Catholic Dictionary,
p. 41-42 2) "Do you have to believe in Tradition? Yes, because it is theWord of God and has equal authority with the Bible."
- Catholic Catechism For Adults, p. 11 b. Just about every Protestant church has its own traditions 1) It is often the accepted traditions that distinguish between the denominations 2) To be a member of a particular denomination, one must accept its traditions 4. In this study, we will address the following questions... a. What are traditions? b. Are traditions always wrong? c. If not, when does a tradition become sinful? [Let's begin with...] I. THE MEANING OF TRADITION
A. THE WORD ITSELF... 1. The Greek word is "paradosis", which means "giving over" or "handing down" 2. It refers to teaching that is handed down either by word (orally) or in writing B. AS UNDERSTOOD BY THE JEWS... 1. It was often applied to the oral teachings of the elders (distinguished elders from Moses on down) 2. These traditions were often divided into three classes... a. Some oral laws supposedly given by Moses in addition to the written laws b. Decisions of various judges which became precedents in judicial matters c. Interpretations of highly respected rabbis which were held in reverence along with the OT scriptures -- Article on "Tradition", ISBE 3. Prior to his conversion, Paul was a staunch supporter of Jewish tradition - Ga 1:13-14 C. AS UNDERSTOOD BY ROMAN AND GREEK CATHOLICS... 1. Their views appear to be parallel to that of the Jews 2. What they consider "Tradition" is what they believe to be the teachings: a. Of Jesus or the apostles, persevered orally rather than through writing b. Of various councils which have left various decrees c. Of various church leaders (such as the pope) considered to be inspired with later revelations from God 3. Of course, one is expected to take their word for it that these "traditions" were truly from God and have been faithfully transmitted D. AS FOUND IN THE SCRIPTURES... 1. The word "tradition" as such is not found in the Old Testament 2. It is found thirteen times in New Testament a. Three times it refers to "apostolic teaching" 1) That which had been delivered by the apostles - 1 Co 11:2
2) Whether by word (in person) or epistle - 2 Th 2:15 3) Which Christians were expected to keep - 2 Th 3:6 b. Ten times it refers to "the tradition of the elders" or "the traditions of men" 1) As in our text and parallel passages - Mt 15:2-6; Mk 7:3-13
2) Of which Paul warned the Colossians - Co 2:8 3) From which Jewish Christians had been delivered (including Paul) - 1 Pe 1:18; Ga 1:14 3. Jesus did not feel bound to abide by "the traditions of the elders" a. Some traditions He had no problem keeping 1) Such as going to a wedding feast - Jn 2:1-2 2) Or attending the Feast Of Dedication - Jn 10:22-23 b. But He just as easily had no problem with violating other traditions 1) Plucking grain or healing on the Sabbath 2) Eating with unwashed hands c. Evidently Jesus did not subscribe to the view of "traditions" handed down orally 1) He never appealed to the traditions of the elders 2) He either appealed to the authority of the written Word (the Law of Moses), or to His own authority as the Son of God [Not all "traditions" are wrong. When they are teachings inspired ofGod, given and "written" by men approved of God, they are to be heeded.But when they are doctrines or interpretations handed down by uninspired men, then like the traditions of the Jews they are suspect. As we return to our text (Mt 15:1-9), Jesus points out...] II. THE DANGER OF TRADITIONS OF MEN
A. THEY CAN MAKE VOID THE WORD OF GOD... 1. Jesus gave the example of honoring one's parents - Mt 15:3-6 a. The tradition of the elders taught giving to the temple freed one from giving to his or her parents b. Thus rendering the command of God of no effect 2. There are traditions of men today with similar affect a. Such as the practice of sprinkling for baptism, a tradition of man b. When one keeps the tradition of sprinkling, they make the command of God to be baptized (immersed) of no effect! 3. Through keeping such traditions, one is actually rejecting the command of God! - cf. Mk 7:8-9 B. THEY CAN LEAD TO VAIN WORSHIP... 1. When traditions of men are taught on the same level as the commands of God, it leads to vain worship - Mt 15:9 2. Such worship may appear to be impressive, but it in actually "empty, worthless" a. First, because God did not command it b. Second, because it does not accomplish the good we really need - cf. Co 2:20-23 C. THEY CAN LEAD TO HYPOCRITICAL WORSHIP... 1. Traditions of men tend toward ritualism (just look at the rituals found in many religions that have no scriptural basis) 2. Such ritualism is often done repeatedly, with little thought as to its origin and purpose 3. It is easy to go through such rituals, with the heart and mind on other things 4. Worship without the heart (or mind) of man is hypocritical worship! - Mt 15:7-8 CONCLUSION
1. What are traditions? a. They are simply teachings that have been handed down b. In the case of inspired men (like the apostles) given in person or through their writings, such traditions are good and to be followed 2. In the case of oral transmissions, given through a chain of uninspired men, traditions are at best suspect... a. Jesus did not hold the "traditions" orally transmitted through the Jews on par with God's written word b. Neither should we hold "traditions" orally transmitted through Christians on par with God's written word 3. At worst, traditions of men can be vain and deadly... a. When their observance leads one to not keep a command of God b. When they are taught as doctrine, on par with God's word c. When they lead to ritualism, done without engaging the heart and mind of man From Jesus' words, let us be aware of "The Danger With Traditions", andmake sure that our faith and practice is based upon the written Word ofGod, not the interpretations and teachings of uninspired men!
Blind Leaders Of The Blind (15:12-14)
INTRODUCTION
1. Who can you trust regarding religious matters today? a. Many people trust their preacher, priest, or pastor b. They assume that "a man of God" must be trustworthy 2. Yet the Bible does not always speak highly of religious leaders... a. Paul warned about "savage wolves" not sparing the flock of God - Ac 20:29-30 b. Peter wrote of "false teachers" bringing in destructive heresies - 2 Pe 2:1-2 -- Such men would knowingly destroy the people of God 3. Not all those who mislead do so knowingly... a. Jesus told His disciples about "blind leaders of the blind" - Mt 15:12-14 b. Being "blind" themselves, they may not be aware of how they mislead others 4. The end result is still the same, however... a. Those misled still "fall into the ditch" and are destroyed - Mt15:14; Isa 9:16
b. Whether led by a "false teacher", or by a "blind leader" 5. That we ourselves might not blindly follow a blind leader... a. What are some of the characteristics of a blind leader? b. How can we be sure not to be misled by a blind leader? -- These are the questions we hope to answer in this study [While Peter had much to say about false teachers (cf. 2 Pe 2), Jesushad much to say about blind leaders...] I. CHARACTERISTICS OF A BLIND LEADER
A. HOLDING TO THE TRADITIONS OF MEN... 1. This was the case of the Pharisees in Mt 15 2. They were willing to put their traditions above God's word - Mt 15:3,6,9 3. Blind leaders today will do the same a. Teaching as doctrine their traditions b. Not knowing that what they teach comes from man, not God B. MAKING DISTINCTIONS WHERE GOD HAS MADE NONE... 1. This was the case of the Pharisees in Mt 23, where they are called "blind" five times 2. They made fine distinctions between the types of oaths one could swear - Mt 23:16-22 3. Blind leaders will often do the same today a. Making fine distinctions so that one need not keep God's word b. Saying some commands of God are essential to salvation, and others not C. LEAVING COMMANDS OF GOD UNDONE... 1. Again, the Pharisees were guilty of this, for which they were called "blind guides" 2. They left undone the "weightier" matters of God's law - Mt 23:23-24
a. They stressed tithing, but neglected justice, mercy, faith b. Thus they would strain out a gnat, but swallow a camel 3. Blind leaders today often do the same, but in reverse... a. They are quick to stress the "weightier" matters, and leave what they consider the "lighter" things undone b. But Jesus said we should do both, leaving neither undone! D. FOCUSING ONLY ON THE OUTER MAN... 1. The "blind Pharisee" worked only on the outside - Mt 23:25-28 a. Concerned with keeping the traditions of ritual cleansing b. Willing to put up with extortion, self-indulgence, hypocrisy and lawlessness 2. Today, blind leaders are happy with the appearance of success... a. Big buildings, large crowds b. Accepting people into the church without challenging them to true repentance E. OTHER CHARACTERISTICS... 1. From this passage (Mt 23) in which Jesus assails the Pharisees, we glean some other characteristics of those who were blind leaders 2. Summarizing these quickly... a. They say and do not, binding heavy burdens on others - Mt23:1-4
b. They do their works to be seen of men - Mt 23:5 c. They love the attention and special treatment by others - Mt 23:6-7 d. They wear religious titles, though Jesus condemned it - Mt23:8-10
e. They fail to truly show the way to the kingdom of heaven - Mt 23:13 f. They use their religion to make money and impress others - Mt 23:14 g. They don't make people better, they make them worse! - Mt23:15
h. They honor the men of God who went before them, but are more like those who persecuted the people of God - Mt 23:29-31
[Sadly, this sounds like many religious leaders today, especially someon TV! If we are not careful, we can easily be led astray by them. This leads to our next point...] II. HOW NOT TO BE MISLED BY BLIND LEADERS
A. LISTEN TO THEM CAREFULLY... 1. We need to have the same attitude as the Bereans - Ac 17:11 a. When Paul came to town, they "received the word with allreadiness"
b. This describes how they listened to Paul - paying close attention to the things he was teaching 2. We must first give all teachers a fair and careful hearing a. Seek to understand exactly what they are saying b. It requires that we be good listeners -- Many are misled because they have never learned to listen carefully to what is being taught them! (How well do you listen?) B. SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES DAILY... 1. This was another noble quality of the Bereans - Ac 17:11 a. Having listened carefully, they then went home and compared what Paul said to the Scriptures b. They did not simply accept whatever Paul said 2. Unfortunately, many today are Biblically illiterate... a. They do not follow along in their Bibles when someone is teaching or preaching b. They do not read their Bibles daily -- Failure to do these things leaves one in a blind condition, unable to discern what is the word of God, or some teaching and tradition of man! CONCLUSION
1. What will be the end of blind leaders, and those who follow them? a. Like plants, they will be "uprooted" by the Heavenly Father - Mt15:13
b. Together they will both "fall into a ditch" - Mt 15:14 c. Though very religious, thinking that they serve the Lord, Jesus will tell them: "I never knew you; depart from Me, you whopractice lawlessness!" - cf. Mt 7:21-23
2. Who are to blame, if people are misled by blind leaders? a. The blind leader will be held accountable, but not totally a. If people are blind, it is only because they have closed their own eyes - Mt 13:15 May the example of the Bereans remind us of what is necessary not to bemisled by blind leaders, and may we so see and hear that what Jesussaid will be true of us: "But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear; for assuredly, I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hearwhat you hear, and did not hear it." (Mt 13:16-17)
－－《Executable
Outlines》