The trouble with tradition

Any of us who have seen the movie “The fiddler on the Roof” can probably still hear the booming voice of the main character as he sang “Tradition!” This popular play, later turned into a movie, follows the life of a small town Jewish dairyman named Tevye as he struggles to hold on to his traditions in a changing culture. His firm adherence to the long-held traditions of his family and race is put to the ultimate challenge when his daughter announces her desire to marry a poor young tailor instead of the middle-aged butcher whom Tevye has chosen for him.

While most of us may not be able to identify with Tevye in a direct sense, the fact is all of us are affected by traditions in one way or another. The dictionary defines tradition as, “an inherited pattern of thought or actions, such as a religious practice or social custom.” Traditions are often handed down from one generation to another without any specific written instruction or formal process. Though some traditions involve much ceremony and family pride, many others are learned unconsciously in childhood, among countless other social patterns and traits that parents pass on to their children.

Many traditions are little more than harmless variations in the unessential aspects of our complex lives. But in Matthew 15:1-9 Jesus had a discussion with the scribes and Pharisees in which he pointed out a powerful truth about the potential harm inherent in traditions. In verse 2 of this passage the scribes and Pharisees asked Jesus why his disciples did not keep the traditions of the elders. Perceiving their hypocrisy, Jesus turned the question back on them asking, “Why to you yourselves transgress the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?”

Jesus then went on to cite an example of how the scribes and Pharisees had done the very thing he had accused them of by choosing to keep their traditions even when it meant breaking a clearly expressed command of God – in this case the command to honor their father and mother. Jesus then showed them the seriousness of their offense, informing them, “You have invalidated the word of God for the sake of your tradition.” Most of us find it very difficult to identify with the scribes and Pharisees, even though we often find others who we believe are very much like modern day scribes and Pharisees. But the fact is many of the passages where Jesus rebuked the scribes and Pharisees apply to us more than we recognize or care to admit; and this passage is no exception.

The word “invalidated” in this passage literally means, “to make of no authority.” By preferring their traditions above the clearly expressed word of God, the scribes and Pharisees were essentially un-authorizing God’s word, and authorizing their own beliefs, customs and traditions instead. And whether we want to see it or not, we all do this same thing every time we choose to act in a way that is contrary to the word of God simply because we have grown accustomed to that particular behavior, action or custom. Family customs, denominational differences, and personal beliefs and preferences can all become traditions that we cling to – even to the point of “invalidating the word of God.”

In verse 8 Jesus went on to indicate how dangerous this practice is, informing the scribes and Pharisees that, because they were preferring their own traditions to the word of God their worship was all “in vain” – or worthless. The power of this statement is staggering. If we are preferring our own beliefs, customs, denominational stands or traditions above the revealed word of God, then all of our acts of worship and all our efforts to draw near God may be worthless. Examine your own life today, and look for any traditions you may have been holding onto in place of God’s word and, if you find any, Let them go!