The tradition of the elders

 

The tradition of the elders

 

Mark 7:5-9 『Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed hands? He answered and said to them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.』

In the Galilee region, Pharisees and scribes from Jerusalem came to Jesus. They came with accusations against Jesus. This is because Jesus' disciples neglected washing their hands, a Jewish ritual of purification. They called it “the tradition of the elders.” The Jewish leaders criticized Jesus because the disciples did not strictly follow the teachings of the religious leaders. Since it was not something that God commanded, it is not appropriate to say that he committed a sin. However, they wanted to condemn Jesus' disciples as blasphemous to God because they did not keep the traditions of the elders.

The “tradition of the elders” was developed by the Pharisees into a traditional custom due to their obsession with obedience to the law. It became a bondage and barrier to the commandments of the Bible. The idea is to act as a barrier to protect Jews from falling from Biblical commandments.

Exodus 20:8-11 “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any. work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates. For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in they are, and rested on the seventh day: before the LORD blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it.”

Regarding this, the tradition of the elders says, “When Jesus’ disciples cut the grain, it is the harvest. Therefore, considering the tradition of the elders, when Jesus' disciples cut the grain and ate it as they passed through the fields, they were considered to have committed the sin of breaking the Sabbath.

In Exodus 30:17-21, the Bible commands the priests to wash their hands and feet at the laver before offering sacrifices. The elders' tradition regarding this is that "everyone should wash their hands before eating to prevent uncleanness from being passed on to the food." Otherwise, they think, the whole body will become unclean. But the elders' tradition was that "rather than as a sanitary precaution, they would pour water over their wrists as a ritualistic act."

Exodus 20:12 “Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee”. The elders' tradition on this is that "when money is offered to God, it frees the son from the obligation to use it in providing for his old parents."

Jesus scolded the Pharisees and the scribes who were knowledgeable about the law. That is, they placed the burden and yoke of the law excessively on people in a way that God never wanted. Also, many of them are hypocrites and put more effort into showing outward piety and righteousness than people with poor hearts toward God. Jesus wanted practical faith.

Jesus says, “People become unclean not by lack of outwardly conventional behavior, but by the evil thoughts in their hearts.” Jesus spoke only of essential actions that people should follow and practice. Therefore, Jesus scolded them for perverting God's will by putting forward the traditions of the elders.

“Jesus’ criticism and hostile actions against the social leaders” enraged them and gave them a reason to harm Jesus. The disciples recognized that “Jesus’ teachings would stimulate the Jewish leaders.” Although Jesus preached “the essential intention and teachings that God wants humans to carry out,” there was a risk that this would be accepted by the Jewish leaders as “a complete denial of the existing value system, their legitimacy, and their identity.” It was a teaching so shocking that it caused them to stumble.”