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Tradition Of The Elders
May 05, 2013
A dangerous condition developed under Judaism that prevails today in most "Christian" bodies. It is the following of tradition, as handed down from the elders, or from contemporary men or councils of men. Many of the Jews counted the elders' traditions every bit as sacred as the word of God Almighty. Egos in men cause them to want to stand out, so they make up rules to follow that God did not institute. Traditions not only often lead people away from God's instructions, but also often directly contradict what God has declared to be true! Be wary, my friends, of men with egos, and traditions of the elders!
Bernie Parsons
Tradition Of The Elders
by Bernie Parsons
Presented to Load church of Christ on 05-05-2013
Presented to Globe church of Christ on 05-12-2013
The last time, we studied on the fact that Jesus asked His students, or
disciples, to follow Him. We examined what that entails, and where it leads
us. Today, I want to examine who is followed by many who profess
Christianity.
Mark 7:1 "Then came together unto him the Pharisees, and certain of the
scribes, which came from Jerusalem.
2 And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to
say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault.
3 For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat
not, holding the tradition of
the elders.
4 And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And
many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing
of cups, and pots, brasen vessels, and of tables.
5 Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples
according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands?
6 He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you
hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but
their heart is far from me.
7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the
commandments of men.
8 For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the
tradition of men, as the washing
of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.
9 And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye
may keep your own tradition.
10 For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth
father or mother, let him die the death:
11 But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban,
that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he
shall be free.
12 And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother;
13 Making the word of God of none effect through your
tradition, which ye have
delivered: and many such like things do ye."
Many follow traditional doctrine, handed down from older men, or previous
generations.
Colossians 2:6 "As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk
ye in him:
7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been
taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
8 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.
9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily."
Many follow the philosophies of men, or fall prey to the deceit of others,
or follow traditional doctrines based upon fleshly rules made up by men.
Colossians 2:18 "Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary
humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he
hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
19 And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands
having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the
increase of God.
20 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why,
as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,
21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not;
22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and
doctrines of men?
23 Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility,
and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the
flesh."
If we are not diligent, we will fall into the trap of thinking that denying
the flesh – touch not, taste not, handle not – is the same thing as
righteousness. It is not. Righteousness is when we align our thinking with
that of God, and do what He says, not what we think is proper.
1 Peter 1:13 "Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope
to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of
Jesus Christ;
14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former
lusts in your ignorance:
15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of
conversation;
16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
17 And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth
according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in
fear:
18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things,
as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by
tradition from your fathers;
19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and
without spot:
20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was
manifest in these last times for you,
21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave
him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God."
Those who follow hand-me-down doctrines – traditions – are not being holy as
God is holy, but are merely walking in the footsteps and teaching of another
man, or group of men.
Galatians 1:6 "I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you
into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would
pervert the gospel of Christ.
8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you
than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel
unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
10 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I
yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.
11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is
not after man.
12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the
revelation of Jesus Christ.
13 For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion,
how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:
14 And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own
nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the
traditions of my fathers.
15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and
called me by his grace,
16 To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen;
immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:
17 Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but
I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus."
Romans 10:1 "Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is,
that they might be saved.
2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to
knowledge.
3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to
establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the
righteousness of God."
Our goal is not to engage in a zealous, blind commitment to traditions, but
rather to serve God.
Matthew 15:13 "But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly
Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.
14 Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead
the blind, both shall fall into the ditch."
John 8:12 "Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the
world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the
light of life."
Let us not blindly follow traditions of me, but let us walk in the light of
Jesus Christ.
