The Tradition of the Elders
Welcome Prayer Song Chapter 7 March 14th 2021
Then came together to him the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, which came from Jerusalem. 2And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashed, hands, they found fault. 3Saying, for the Pharisees, and all the Jews, unless they wash their hands often, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders. 4And coming from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to observe, for instance, the washing of cups, and pots, brasen vessels, and of tables.
5Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why don’t your disciples walk according to the tradition of the elders, but instead eat bread with unwashed hands? 6He answered and said to them, Esaias clearly prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honor me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. 7Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching doctrines which are the commandments of men. 8For laying aside the commandment of YHWH, you hold the tradition of men, like washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things you do. 9And he said to them, Full well you reject the commandment of YHWH, that you may keep your own tradition.
The Commandment and the Tradition
10For Moses said, Honor your father and your mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death: 11But you say, If a man will say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou might be profited by me; he will be free. 12And you suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother; 13Making the word of YHWH of none effect through your tradition, which you have delivered: and many such like things do you. 14And when he had called all the people, he said to them, Hearken to me every one and understand: 15There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man. 16If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.
17And when he was entered into the house from the people, his disciples asked him concerning the parable. 18And he said to them, Are you so without understanding also? Do you not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him; 19Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats? 20And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. 21For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eyou, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: 23All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.
Encounters in Tyre, Sidon, and Decapolis
24And from thence he arose, and went into the borders of Tyre and Sidon, and entered into an house, and would have no man know about it but he could not be hid. 25For a woman, whose young daughter had an unclean spirit, heard of him, and came and fell at his feet. 26The woman was Greek, a Syrophenician by nation; and she besought him that he would cast forth the devil out of her daughter. 27But Yeshua said to her, Let the children first be filled: for it is not right to take the children's bread, and to cast it to the dogs. 28And she answered and said to him, Yes, Lord: but the dogs under the table eat of the children's crumbs. 29And he said to her, For this saying go your way; the devil is gone out of your daughter. 30And when she was come to her house, she found the devil gone out, and her daughter laid upon the bed.
31And again, departing from the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, he came to the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the coasts of Decapolis. 32And they bring to him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they beseech him to put his hand upon him. 33And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue; 34And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and said to him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened. 35And immediately his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spoke plain. 36And he directed them that they should not tell anyone: but the more he directed them.
Jesus' Perspective on Religious Traditions
The more they shared it; 37And were greatly astonished, telling others, He hath done all things well: he makes both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.
The Pharisees' Confrontation
Alright back to verse 1
Then came together to him the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, which came from Jerusalem. Of course, these were the religious leaders of that day whom had a distinct disdain for Jesus and His message which was an approach to God that was much more from the hearts than what was presented outwardly.
Verses 1-16 describe the problem with focusing materially religious affects – what is eaten, worn, and observed in the name of God; such things were very important principles among the Jews. Yeshua came and explained how these views were unimportant relative to the contents of the human heart and he cites examples of their hypocrisy from their own law (which we will get to in verses 10-13).
2And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashed, hands, they found fault. With Jerusalem being the destination of all Judaism, it is not surprising that the most zealous leaders would come from there, and in confronting Yeshua and his disciples that they would find fault.
Here the fault finding had to do with external cleanliness, which was a major focus of the Jews. Jesus challenged these notions of material cleanliness and made it clear that the human heart and mind was the source of all human pollution. It is really interesting how over the course of Christian history fault finding is still centered on observable traits, opinions, and codes, all the while ignoring the fact that God looks upon the heart. And they said (verse 3)
The Tradition of the Elders
3 . . . for the Pharisees, and all the Jews, unless they wash their hands often, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders. 4And coming from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to observe, for instance the washing of cups, and pots, brass vessels, and of tables. 5Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why don’t your disciples walk according to the tradition of the elders, but instead eat bread with unwashed hands?
BGT The term baptidzo is translated to wash here referring to the practice that the Jews had of washing their hands but in all probability this was with the use of very little water proving that baptizing does not necessarily mean immersion. Of course the Jews were KNOWN for their attention to external cleanliness and therefore their constant practices of washing (baptizing) everything that they could get their hands upon.
6He answered and said to them, Esaias clearly prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honor me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. 7Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching doctrines which are the commandments of men.
This appears to be one of God's great annoyances from us humans. To speak in lofty terms of love but to have our hearts far from Him. I might suggest that He even hates this when it is present in us.
Let’s re-read what Jesus says here to these men who appear to fit this bill:
Esaias clearly prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honor me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. 7Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching doctrines which are the commandments of men.
Religious Traditions vs. Commandments of God
Here Jesus clearly says that by the time He walked the earth the focus and purpose of their doctrines were far from the truth of them when they came from God but had become the commandments of men.
He adds at verse 8
8For laying aside the commandment of YHWH, you hold the tradition of men, like washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things you do. 9And he said to them, Full well you reject the commandment of YHWH, that you may keep your own tradition.
I want to point out that the commandments of YHWH were clearly posited to the Nation of Israel in Moses day and beyond – to love God and to love neighbor as self as we read in the Great Shema
Deuteronomy 6:5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
And then even before that God said through Moses in Leviticus 19:18
Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the
Agape Love and the Law
In Jesus' day, he said upon these two commandments hang ALL the LAW and the Prophets. But the religious leaders ignored this emphasis and chose instead, to honor the commandments of men, or as Jesus says, to “honor their own traditions.” I maintain and will continue to maintain, that if someone’s interpretation of a scripture does NOT lead or produce agape love in their hearts and minds, then their interpretation of the passages is errant. God could not possibly give commands that are not fully centered on producing and/or being followed in and through agape love and the fruits of it.
The Tradition of Corban
Jesus then gives an example of what these religious hypocrites have done, and says:
10 For Moses said, Honor your father and your mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death: 11 But you say, If a man will say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou might be profited by me; he will be free. 12 And you suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother; 13 Making the word of YHWH of none effect through your tradition, which you have delivered: and many such like things do you.
The Pharisees had a tradition called “corban.” What it meant was once a person gave or donated something to the service of God, you know, to the synagogue or whatever, it could NOT be used for any other purpose – including helping a parent in need. The first commandment was to have no other God’s before Him (so give and love and serve and devote oneself to only Him) and the fifth commandment was to honor parents – so what these religious men figured out was as a means to keep themselves from giving to their parents (and obeying the fifth commandment) they could and would use “corban” which means, “it is a gift” when they were in need, therefore giving the appearance they were holy and giving to God, but in reality they merely used corban to appear religious and devout from the heart.
So, suppose a parent in need came to one of these Pharisees and said, “Son, I need ten thousand dollars or they are going to take away our home.” But as a means to escape the duty to help the parent AND to appear holy, Jesus says these types would say to their parents who are in need, “It’s a gift” (meaning, I have already donated the money to the synagogue) –“ and therefore I am unable to give it to you.”
Honoring Parental Needs
The law two things relative to this.
It required that when a dedication of this kind was made, it should be fulfilled. Psalm 76:11 says "Vow, and pay unto the Lord your God,"
But the law of God also required that a son should honor his parents, which included (among other things) providing for their needs when they are old and in distress. These Jews USED corban, under the auspices that it was more important for a man to dedicate his property to God than to provide for the wants of his parent, as a way to justify such behavior. In the end, the heart driving such behavior is what Jesus is condemning in them.
Certainly, and within a reasonable heart with a love for God and parents, if a person had donated a sheep to the service of God, that sheep was His and no others. But God wanted the heart of the children to manipulating these types of things and to yearn to help and love and honor parents in addition to loving and honoring and serving Him.
I suppose we could find a similar situation when and if a person uses attending church as an excuse for having to help a relative move in a time of desperation. “Oh, I’m really sorry Mom. I know, I know, it must be terrible to get evicted at your age, but I can’t help you move – I’ve gotta go to my church services. To this kind of heart and attitude, Jesus called them hypocrites.
14 And when he had called all the people, he said to them, Hearken to me every one and understand:
Note that for this message Jesus calls all the people and not just his chosen disciples and he says to them, in the face of the Religious accusations.
15 There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but
Understanding Defilement
the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man. 16If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.
Yeshua is breaking down the walls of Judaism here as He openly teaches His brethren something that even Peter would not understand immediately (see Acts 10:13-14). Paul made this concept perfectly clear in Romans 14:17 when he wrote, “For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.” External religion will attempt to govern what goes in the mouth, but Jesus made it clear, true faith is all located in the heart and mind of the individual.
Teachings About the Heart
17And when he was entered into the house from the people, his disciples asked him concerning the parable. 18And he said to them, Are you so without understanding also? Do you not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him; 19Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats? 20And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. 21For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eyou, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: 23All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.
It is easy to wash hands but to clean the heart? Through this approach, Yeshua was showing them their need for Him as the Messiah, to wash away their sin and give them a new heart and mind.
24And from thence he arose, and went into the borders of Tyre and Sidon, and entered into an house, and would have no man know about it but he could not be hid. 25For a woman, whose young daughter had an unclean spirit, heard of him, and came and fell at his feet. 26The woman was Greek, a Syrophenician by nation; and she besought him that he would cast forth the devil out of her daughter. 27But Yeshua said to her, Let the children first be filled: for it is not right to take the children's bread, and to cast it to the dogs. 28And she answered and said to him, Yes, Lord: but the dogs under the table eat of the children's crumbs. 29And he said to her, For this saying go your way; the devil is gone out of your daughter.
Verse 26-29 In these passages Jesus directly and truthfully challenges the faith of a non-Jewish woman who sought Him to heal her daughter of demonic possession. In that He was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, he rightly explained that it was improper for Him to serve those who were not rightful heirs to the blessings promised the Nation by His father. Interestingly, the woman’s faith – and persistence, won the Lord over and caused Him to act on her behalf which He initially explained was improper.
In this we discover the mercy of God in the face of human persistence.
The woman who will not leave a judge alone. The man who is asleep with his family at night but is bothered by a friend who will not give up.
The Role of Persistence
In the two way relationship God and Man has these principles make great sense with the principle being persistence in pestering the living God.
I don’t know why, but Jesus teaches it plainly. So this woman pesters and persists in getting the Lord to help her which he does (verse 30)
30And when she was come to her house, she found the devil gone out, and her daughter laid upon the bed.
Again, it is my opinion that Jesus has had the victory over Satan and death and that they have no power over human beings anymore – others do not see it this way which is fine.
31And again, departing from the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, he came to the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the coasts of Decapolis. 32And they bring to him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they beseech him to put his hand upon him. 33And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue; 34And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and said to him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened. 35And immediately his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was
Miracles of Healing
Loosed, and he spoke plain.
36And he directed them that they should not tell anyone: but the more he directed them, the more they shared it; 37And were greatly astonished, telling others, He hath done all things well: he makes both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.
The Promised Messiah was prophesied to come and perform miracles just like these (see Isaiah 35:5).
Varied Approaches to Healing
There is a tendency in human beings to want to create an order or system on how to do things – especially in spiritual matters. In the life of Yeshua he employs a constant stream of approaches to healing – sometimes speaking healing, sometimes having people take certain measures, sometimes touching them or doing unique things with them. These descriptions, while literal and purposeful in that day and age, are emblematic of Yeshua and his relationship to the world today.
Modern and Spiritual Healing
Where modern medicine has made great strides in healing issues with sight, hearing and speaking, Yeshua continues to heal the human soul, enabling individuals to know, hear and speak eternal truth once He heals them. CLA: (see Modern Miracles)
Comments/Questions/Prayer
Tawnie
