Daily bread

Daily Bread - Tuesday, February 27, 2024
Matthiew 15: v 1-9
THE UNRIGHTEOUS COMING TO THE RIGHT ONE.
Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said,
2 “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat.”
3 He answered them, “And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?
4 For God commanded, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’
5 But you say, ‘If anyone tells his father or his mother, “What you would have gained from me is given to God,”
6 he need not honor his father.’ So, for the sake of your tradition, you have made void the word of God.
7 You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said:
8 “‘This people honor me with their lips, but their heart is far from me;
9 in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’”
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When we read the scriptures of the Gospels, we may have noticed instances where Pharisees and Scribes engage in conversations with Jesus, often focusing on debates about laws, their observance, and traditions. Jesus points out that they break the commandments of God due to their adherence to numerous other traditions.
Jesus discusses the paradox of those who claim to be keepers of the law and experts in the scriptures yet violate these laws and scriptures by prioritizing ancestral instructions. Today’s devotional is comforting us to:
1. Come to the Truth for salvation (v. 1, 2):
"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.'" The reason this group approaches Jesus is to accuse Him, asserting that He permits His disciples to disregard tradition of elders regarding handwashing. They aim to convey to Jesus that He is wrong and makes mistakes by not adhering to these ceremonial washings, especially as a social teacher among the Jews. The Pharisees and Scribes believe they are in the right, presenting themselves as clear-minded individuals with the authority to accuse Him. We are witnessing a guilty party confronting an innocent one. When a guilty person approaches the righteous, it suggests seeking salvation for the mistakes committed. Unfortunately, this is not the case with the Pharisees and Scribes; instead, they expanded their wrongdoing. As for us, when we come to Jesus, we are not blameless either, but we should approach with a hope for salvation. In such circumstances, we undoubtedly receive justification and salvation.
2. Come to the Truth for improvement
"So, for the sake of your tradition, you have made void the word of God."
In this context, the elevation of God’s commandments, as Jesus teaches, is more important than adhering strictly to the tradition of the elders. As caretakers of the laws, Jesus reminds them of the significance of God’s commandments over ancestral teachings. No laws or instructions can go beyond the importance of God’s commandments. Indeed, aligning ourselves with God’s laws makes us obedient to all societal laws and instructions that do not conflict with God’s will. Considering social instructions and laws above God’s commandments becomes a temptation for people. Here, Jesus clearly teaches that it is inconceivable to exchange or revoke scriptures and the words of God to follow others’ commands. There is a trend to introduce as doctrines the commandments of men, the instructions, and laws to make pressure to people on following and accepting them. In nowadays’ society, living in a tightening environment, many choose to follow unconventional instructions due to fear of the power. One notable example is the institutionalization of gay marriage as a national law. The church strongly protests this instruction, particularly the FJKM church, as God's word teaches us about Christian, explicitly stating that it is the union of one man and one woman. Therefore, stand firmly by the truth taught in the scriptures, as it defines us as true Christians.

Barinarivo Rajosoa Mpitandrina