Category Archives: Law of love

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Traditions of Men


Matthew 15:1-9 Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying, “Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.” He answered and said to them, “Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition? For God commanded, saying, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’ But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to God”— then he need not honor his father or mother.’ Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition. Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying: ‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ ”

The scribes and Pharisees taught the law to people adding many human safeguards so there would be no chance that someone might transgress a commandment by accident. Unfortunately, these initially well-intended additions to levitical law grew up around the law and eventually smothered it. The tradition came to be seen as just as authoritative as the actual words of Scripture, kind of like a study Bible in which the line separating the sacred text from the human notes is erased.
Jesus was not amused. A true disciple puts God’s Word first, not our interpretation of it. No matter how good or insightful an article, an institution, or a book may be, it does not carry the same binding authority as God’s Word.
Jesus answers their question—why his disciples don’t follow a particular tradition—with one of his own. Why do they put a tradition ahead of God’s command? The implication: God’s Word trumps human tradition. While some traditions are fine, according to Jesus, other traditions cause us to break God’s commands and must be discarded.
Understanding the letter of the law profits us nothing if we fail to grasp its spirit. Jesus is asking us to read the Bible with new eyes. He is asking us to not only know it, but also to interpret it rightly and apply it to our lives. Jesus was never satisfied with merely a rote understanding of Scripture, or a wooden application of its commands. Knowledge of God’s Word that did not lead to a transformed heart and a holy life was less than adequate. It was an idol that had to be smashed.

What are some traditions that we observe today that are religious but not biblical?
Leviticus chapter 23 tells us the feasts or holy days that the Jews were to observe. There is no mention of Easter or Christmas. It is my opinion that we should celebrate Jesus birth, crucifixion, and resurrection everyday not just once a year. The customs that have been adopted for these holidays are steeped in pagan customs and traditions.
Church buildings- I believe, based on the scriptures below, that the church is the body of Christ, the body of believers. I think mankind is putting too much emphasis on a building or denomination.
Ephesians 1:22-23 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
1 Corinthians 12:12-14 For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. For in fact the body is not one member but many.

Hebrews 10:23-25 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. I believe, as the scripture here says, that we should “not forsake the assembling”. I believe that we should come together to fellowship, praise and worship, encourage each other, and receive a biblical teaching that will help sustain us as we go out into the world and shine Jesus’ light. I’m just not sure that all the things we are doing today in church buildings are necessary. It seems to me that church buildings tend to separate people (by denomination or customs or traditions) rather than embrace them.

I know that some of the things I have said here are controversial but before you judge me harshly just think about it and do a little seeking on your own on the subject. Get your bible out and find out what Jesus had in mind for the church. Let’s do what will please Him.

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The law


Matthew 5:17-18 “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.

Thank you Jesus for fulfilling the law as no other man could.

Did you know that from the time of Adam until Moses came down the mountain with the law, given to us by God, sin had not been held against mankind? Paul says in Romans 5:13 For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. There was idolatry, murder, adultery, and every other form of sin being committed but none of them were being held against the perpetrators. When I first read that I was astounded! Do you mean to tell me that when Lots two daughters got him drunk and had sex with him so that they could get pregnant, that wasn’t a sin? Or when Simeon and Levi killed all the men of the city because Shechem defiled Dinah, their sister, that wasn’t a sin? Oh it was sin alright, but it wasn’t counted against the sinner.

Why? Because there was no standard. There was no law. If God had counted mans sin against him with no criterion upon which they would be judged He could not be called a just God. So when God dictated the law to Moses and he brought it down to the people they began being judged based upon that law. And since there was no way for man to keep every law the blood sacrifices were instituted to atone for their inability to keep the law. Ever since God killed the animal to clothe Adam and Eve, after the original sin, blood has been necessary to cover our sins.

So fast forward to the New Testament. The law in still in effect. Jesus is born a Jew and is taught the Tanakh which is the canon of the Hebrew bible or our Old Testament. He went to school with his peers as was expected of every Jewish male and was taught the law. In the scripture I referenced above (Matthew 5:17-18) Jesus is saying that He kept the law, the only man, since Moses brought the law down the mountain, that was able to abide by all the rules and regulations. Some may say that He could keep the law because He was God. But I believe that when He stepped off His throne, in Heaven, He took off His godly power and majesty, entered Mary’s womb, and became fully man. The same as you and me. Yes, His DNA was different because of His father, but He was fully human with all of our shortcomings and weaknesses. Paul says in Hebrews 4:15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. So it wasn’t like Jesus was walking around, a foot off the ground, with a pious look on His face saying “thus says The Lord”… No He was a man like any other man. Going about His life, doing His job, eating, sleeping and doing it all without sinning so He could be our perfect and spotless sacrificial lamb. The only One who could take away the sins of humanity once and for all. Almost two thousand years ago He died for my sins past, present, and future. He was such a perfect sacrifice that there is no need for animal sacrifices anymore to atone for sin. I love the way it’s put in Hebrews 10:11-14 And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. Because He loved us so much He fulfilled the law so we could get out from under it. That’s my Jesus, my Savior, my groom! Isn’t He marvelous?