How to Interpret the Bible Lesson #11 - Traditions of Men

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Introduction.  Jesus’ quotation of Isaiah in His discussion with the Pharisees revealed His indictment against all human religious traditions and commands of men. The Pharisees had accused His disciples of transgression because they had violated the “traditions of the elders.” Much like our own proverb “cleanliness is next to godliness,” the “elders” had decreed that eating without washing their hands was a sin. Jesus chose to use this opportunity to condemn all human tradition.

• “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. And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men.” (Mk. 7:6-8)

Jesus knew this problem would never end. Men would continue to create traditions, His disciples would continue to violate them, and those who created and bound them would accuse them of wrong doing, just as the Pharisees were doing then. This prophecy was not only against the Pharisees, but against everyone today who creates or follows any human traditions that have been added to the Scriptures. That there was no difference in Jesus eyes’ between those who lead and create them and those who blindly follow them was made clear when He said, “they are blind guides. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.” (Mt. 15:1-14)
 
Jesus wanted it clearly understood that His true disciples would only keep His word and never submit to the commands of men. Their respect and reverence for Him would force them to ignore the words of mere men. Only Jesus is Lord! Everyone else is only a servant. The words of Isaiah gave additional weight to what He was saying.

• “Therefore the Lord said: 'Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths And honor Me with their lips, But have removed their hearts far from Me, And their fear toward Me is taught by the commandment of men,'" (Isa. 29:13)

As we carefully consider these words, we see that it was a serious crime and offense against God to equate the commands of men with His doctrine. Only God can command His people! When God’s authority was used to bind additional teachings on His servants, it was a clear proof that they did not respect or revere God. Those who hold God in awe do not dare add to His words: “Do not add to His words, lest He rebuke you and you be found a liar.” (Pr. 30:6). Only if we reject all of man’s ideas and thoughts can we truly learn to see God’s ways and God’s thoughts.

• “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts” (Isa. 55:8-9).

Jesus took it a step further! All traditions of men added to the Scriptures will either be “laying aside” “rejecting” or “making the word of God of no effect.” Human tradition is another wedge that destroys unity among God’s people. It is these traditions that make each denomination different from another. It is these traditions that set aside some portion of God’s divine revelation in favor of human ideas and fables. For example, the doctrines of Roman Catholicism are primarily based on human tradition and not Scripture. While Scripture only mentions Mary a few times, their traditions have elevated her to “mother of God” and “mediator.” Scripture reveals that “The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son.” (Ezek. 18:20). Human tradition sets that aside saying we all bear the guilt of Adam’s sin, creating the additional tradition of infant baptism - another “laying aside” of clear Scripture.

Human traditions are so common, many people simply accept them without question.  But you can search the New Testament and not find any evidence of these traditions: no Christians being instructed to do them, no approved examples of Christians doing them, and no logical deductions what would require Christians to observe them.  For example, try finding the following commonly accepted traditions in the New Testament:

• "Jesus was born on December 25th."
• "As a baby in the manger, Jesus was visited by three wise men."
• "Mary was taken bodily into heaven like Jesus was."
• "Christians can pray to dead 'saints', including Mary, to receive special favors."
• "Christians use incense and votive candles to worship God."
• "Christians use priest-blessed 'holy water' for various religious purposes."
• "There were special groups of Christians known as 'priests', 'monks', 'nuns', 'arch-bishops', and 'cardinals'."
• "Religious leaders should be honored with special titles, like 'Father', 'Reverend', 'Right Reverend', or 'President'."
• "'Saints' are a special class of the saved who have died."
• "Christians should confess their sins to a 'priest' who can forgive them."
• "Christians need to be married by a 'priest' or 'ordained' minister in a church building."
• "Christians should observe special annual religious holy days like Christmas, Ash Wednesday, Lent, and Easter."

 
The Holy Spirit inspired the writers of the Scriptures to warn everyone that God will not tolerate any additions and deletions to His word. Paul wrote so that we may learn “not to go beyond what is written” (1Cor. 4:6). Everyone who “goes onward and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, has not God.” Only “he that abides in the teaching,” “has both the Father and the Son” (2Jn. 9-11). There can be no human commands in the gospel or it is all vain. We can’t go beyond what is written. The only way to go beyond is to first leave God and His Christ behind. We can only walk with God when we walk in His commands. Those who teach as doctrine the commands of men are accursed: “if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. (Gal 1:9).
 
Conclusion. There are thousands of churches in the world today. While Jesus said, “I will build My church,” human tradition says He has built His churches. So now we hear “join the church of your choice” when Jesus gave no such choice. While the apostles guided them, there was only one church of Christ in many locations: “all the churches of Christ salute you.” (Rom. 16:16). When men equate their own ideas with the authority of Scripture, they force the true disciples of Jesus to reject them. Although the human tradition of “It doesn’t matter what you believe as long as you are sincere” puts a band aid over this, it is still “laying aside”, “rejecting” or “making the word of God of no effect,” leading to God’s scathing accusation: Hypocrites!
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For additional study material from our archives, see the following:

• "A" for "Authority", especially the articles "What does "from heaven or from men" mean?" and "Who decides the standard for right and wrong?"
• "C" for "Christmas"
• "M" for "Mary, Mother of Jesus"
• "R" for "Religious Titles"
• "T" for "Tradition"

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