God’s Will vs Human Traditions
Sermon Notes
TODAY’S PASSAGE:
Mark 7:9-13 ESV… And he said to them, “You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish your tradition! 10 For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’ 11 But you say, ‘If a man tells his father or his mother, “Whatever you would have gained from me is Corban”’ (that is, given to God)— 12 then you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or mother, 13 thus making void the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And many such things you do.”
MANKIND & TRADITIONS
Traditions are everywhere and play a much bigger role than most people realize.
Dr. James White… “It’s the person who says they have no traditions, who will be most enslaved by traditions.”
Traditions can sometimes become dangerous… Colossians 2:8
IMPORTANT KEYS REGARDING TRADITIONS
Key #1… Having the “right heart” before God, is far more important than following “traditions of men”
Key #2… Where there is freedom to make a tradition, there must be freedom to break that tradition… Luke 6:6-11
Key #3… We have to be willing to sacrifice “sacred cows” that are nothing more than “convenient means” for rejecting the will of God.
WHEN “RELIGIOUS TRADITIONS” BECOME “MORAL ABSOLUTES” CONVOLUTING THE WILL OF GOD
Some churches like to stand when God’s Word is read… Nehemiah 8:5
People couldn’t believe that Jesus (and his disciples) didn’t ceremonially wash their hands before eating… Mark 7:1-8; Luke 11:37-41
God is always more concerned about the state of our heart, than the traditions we follow... Micah 6:6-8;; Isaiah 58:3-8
As believers we are to test everything… including our traditions… 1 Thessalonians 5:21
WHEN “RELIGIOUS TRADITIONS” BECOME “CONVENIENT MEANS” FOR REJECTING THE WILL OF GOD
In Jesus’ day the tradition of “Corban” took precedence over honoring your parents… Mark 7:9-13; Exodus 20:12
Corban… A tradition by which people would dedicate their money to the temple thus avoiding family obligations.
It doesn't matter if it’s… A religious tradition… a family tradition… or a personal tradition… or a cultural tradition… Sacrifice that cow if it’s standing in the way of doing God’s will.
THE TRADITIONS THAT EXIST TODAY
People have all types of traditions when it comes to “giving to the Lord”... but only one matters… 2 Corinthians 9:7
Some Christians make it a tradition to practice certain Old Testament feasts and holidays… but we cannot lose sight that these are now just “traditions”… Colossians 2:16-17
Lent is a tradition that many observe… Just remember, you can cut our sweets from your life and still be bitter at God!
Never be afraid to ask, “ARE YOU SURE ABOUT THAT?”
CHALLENGE
Examine all your traditions in light of God’s will… being careful to not never let tradition trump what is truly pleasing to God!