Tradition vs the Word of God (Amos 7-9; Matt 15)

Just like the psalmist in yesterday’s reading, Jesus wanted to get away from it all, he had just heard about the death of his cousin John, tried to get away but a huge crowd had followed him (Matthew 14:13). He had compassion on them, healed the sick and fed 5000. Do you see the loving mercy of Jesus?

He tries again to get some time out (14:22), for He is not only fully God, but also fully man. He sends his disciples ahead on a boat, he goes up a mountain to pray, some time after 3am (the fourth watch), disciples are still struggling with wind and waves. Jesus’ love for the disciples leads him back to them, He calmly walks on the water to reassure them. They are understandably terrified! He reassures them with those wonderful words – literally “I am”, the name of God. Jesus reveals himself to them, and tells them not to fear. What a saviour! When they arrive at the other side, there is no rest, the crowds come, and so do the Pharisees. They have come to accuse Jesus of breaking their traditions (Matthew 15:1).

Despite a sleepless night, Jesus answers perfectly by getting to the heart of the matter. He sees the problem. They have made tradition more important than the Word of God. The Scriptures only commanded handwashing for the priests serving in the temple, but the Pharisees extended it ti be religious requirement for everyone.

Jesus uses this as an opportunity to teach, first of all about the danger of making man made tradition more important than the Word of God. He concludes with the shocking words from Isaiah “this people honours me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.” How easy it is to just go through the religious motions and not have our hearts engaged. But Jesus says, God cares about your heart. There’s no point in turning up to church and saying the right thing but not meaning it in your heart. There’s no point in getting baptised or having your children baptised if you have no intention of following what God says. God doesn’t want empty promises but hearts that love Him.

Secondly, Jesus teaches the problem is not unwashed hands, but unwashed hearts. It’s not about what you eat, but about what comes out of your heart. “For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.” (Matthew 15:19)

The good news is Jesus is willing to take our uncleanness and give us new hearts. What a saviour we have.

Lord Jesus, thank you for your compassion and care. Thank you for saying the hard things so that we know the problem. Please forgive us for times that we honour you with our lips but our hearts are far from you. Thank you that you died to take our uncleanness and to give us hearts that want to go your way. Please help us today to have soft hearts that respond rightly to your word.