Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat.” He answered them, “And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? For God commanded, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’ But you say, ‘If anyone tells his father or his mother, “What you would have gained from me is given to God,” he need not honor his father.’ So for the sake of your tradition you have made void the word of God. You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said: “‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’” (Matthew 15:1-9 ESV)
What is more important following God or following the rules?
One might say they are one and the same. You have to follow the rules to honor God. But does God get more honor out of you washing your pots according to the law or from someone who is hungry eating with dirty hands?
Is it more important to follow all the rules than to make sure the needy are taken care of? You see by saying we can’t help them because the code forbids it means that the code is not honoring God. Did God say, “I’m sorry Jesus didn’t die for you because you did not follow the ritual of cleansing your hands correctly…” No Jesus came so that all might be saved, not cleared to follow the rules.
So see that your heart is following God and the rest will fall into place. Do not try to follow the rules to make God happy, because it just won’t work…
aSacredRebel 