Then Pharisees and legal experts came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, “Why are your disciples breaking the elders’ rules handed down to us? They don’t ritually purify their hands by washing before they eat.” Jesus replied, “Why do you break the command of God by keeping the rules handed down to you? For God said, Honor your father and your mother, and The person who speaks against father or mother will certainly be put to death. But you say, ‘If you tell your father or mother, “Everything I’m expected to contribute to you I’m giving to God as a gift,”then you don’t have to honor your father.’ So you do away with God’s Law for the sake of the rules that have been handed down to you. Hypocrites! Isaiah really knew what he was talking about when he prophesied about you, This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far away from me. Their worship of me is empty since they teach instructions that are human rules.” (Matthew 15:1-9, CEB)
Whose rules are we following, God’s or man’s?
The Pharisees asked Jesus why his disciples were not keeping the rules handed down by the elders. These are not laws given by God but rules created by the elders based on what God had said. They are not commandments of God but interpretations of men. And which is more important, and that is exactly what Jesus asks.
You see the elders were allowing people to break the commandments of God by following man-made rules. And God’s rules are more important than making people or men happy.
Do what God is calling you to do. Honor God not man.
Loving People. Loving God.
aSacredRebel 