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When Are Traditions Bad?

When Are Traditions Bad?. Text: Matthew 15:1-20; Mark 7:1-23. Tradition. Paradosis Para — alongside Dosis — “ to give (or transfer) .” According to Greek scholars, the combination of para and dosis denotes “ that which has been passed (handed) to others ”.

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When Are Traditions Bad?

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  1. When Are Traditions Bad? Text: Matthew 15:1-20; Mark 7:1-23

  2. Tradition • Paradosis • Para—alongside • Dosis— “to give (or transfer).” • According to Greek scholars, the combination of para and dosis denotes “that which has been passed (handed) to others”. • Edgar Goodspeed in Matt. 15:2 translated it “rules handed down”.

  3. Tradition • Sometimes referred to that which is handed down by God. (1 Cor. 11:2; 2 Thess. 2:15; 2 Thess. 3:6) • More often, that which is handed down by men. (Matt. 15:2, 3, 6; Mark 7:8, 9, 13; Gal. 1:14; Col. 2:8)

  4. Tradition of the Elders • The elders were men of the past who were “experts” on the Law. • The elders handed down interpretations and decisions on the Law of Moses. • These teachings became known as the “oral law” or “the traditions” (Mishna).

  5. Good Traditions • Divine Traditions • Paul praised the Corinthians for keeping the traditions he delivered. (1 Cor. 11:2) • Paul instructed the Thessalonians to keep away from those who did not keep apostolic tradition. (2 Thess. 3:6) • Man Made Traditions • Jesus took part in the Feast of Dedication (John 10:22) • We have some good traditions today (Mother’s Day. Father’s Day,. Memorial Day, Thanksgiving)

  6. David Roper— “The Pharisees taught that Moses himself had given “the oral law” along with the written Law, and that this “oral law” had been handed down by great teachers. This was untrue, or course. (Various religious groups today make a similar claim, trying to justify their man-made laws by alleging that they were taught by the apostles and were handed down orally through the centuries “by the church.”) the Pharisees considered “the traditions” as binding as, or more binding than, the Law itself.” (Truth Commentary for Today, The Life of Christ Volume 1)

  7. When Are Traditions Bad? • When the tradition is bound as a command of God. (Matt. 15:2-9; Mark 7:4-7)

  8. Rabbi Eleazar : “He who expounds the Scriptures in opposition to the tradition has no share in the world to come.” …. “It is a greater offense to teach anything contrary to the voice of the Rabbis than to contradict Scripture itself.”

  9. Applications: • The Jews bound man made traditions as divine. (Ref. Mark 7:13) • “Oral laws” • Decisions of judges • Interpretations of rabbis • The Catholic Church • Decisions of councils • Decisions of church leaders • Papal rulings • The Churches of Christ? • Are we sometimes guilty of the same thing in principle? • Judge local churches that fail to meet on Sunday night or Wednesday evening as “Unscriptural”? • Judge local churches that change the order of services as “Unscriptural”? • Bind matters of personal interpretation on others as divine Law?

  10. When Are Traditions Bad? • When the tradition is bound as a command of God. (Matt. 15:2-9; Mark 7:4-7) • When the traditions is used to disregard a command of God. (Mat. 15:2-6; Mark 7:9-13)

  11. Applications: • Baptism • A burial in water (Romans 6:3-4; Col. 2:12; Acts 8:36-38) • Men have applied the tradition of sprinkling and pouring. • Singing • We are to speak to another (Eph. 5:19). • We are to sing (1 Cor. 14:14-15) • Men have applied the tradition of playing mechanical instruments of music • What is the result of disregarding God’s word for man made traditions? • Hypocrisy (Matt. 15:7-8) • Vain Worship (Matt. 15:9)

  12. Supreme Court Ruling • "DOMA instructs all federal officials, and indeed all persons with whom same-sex couples interact, including their own children, that their marriage is less worthy than the marriages of others. The federal statute is invalid, for no legitimate purpose overcomes the purpose and effect to disparage and to injure those whom the state, by its marriage laws, sought to protect in personhood and dignity. By seeking to displace this protection and treating those persons as living in marriages less respected than others, the federal statute is in violation of the Fifth Amendment."

  13. When Are Traditions Bad? • When the tradition is bound as a command of God. (Matt. 15:2-9; Mark 7:4-7) • When the tradition is used to disregard a command of God. (Mat. 15:2-6; Mark 7:9-13) • When the tradition is given undue significance. (Mark 7:14-23)

  14. We Are Obligated • To defend the divine traditions found in God’s word (Ref. Matt. 19:3-6; Gen. 2:24; 1 Cor. 11:2; 2 Thess 3:6) • To hold man made traditions in the right perspective. • Not binding where God has not bound • Not elevating the tradition and disregarding God’s word • Thus not giving man made traditions undue significance

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