Matthew 15:1-20
Key Verse: 15:3
Introduction: How can one keep himself clean? This question seems to be an innocuous one, because we seldom think along such lines of thought. We can also flip this question like this: why are you so unclean? This offends our pride and hurts our integrity as decent human beings. We can still ask a question that is a little more pointed: why are you so ungodly and evil?
The law of this land considers me innocent, unless I am proven guilty. I did not kill anyone, cheat anyone, fornicate, or slander anyone, so I am a good citizen of the United States. No police can come to catch me for any wrongdoing. The Pharisees, the authorities of spiritual life for the Jews, accused Jesus’ disciples of violating the tradition of the elders, more specifically not washing their hands. The Pharisees tried to prove that Jesus’ disciples were unclean, based on their traditions.
By what do we know or make judgments as to whether we are doing good works before God or not? Do we have to go by the Law of Moses, the commandments God gave, or do we have to go by the tradition of the elders? How can we keep ourselves clean or pure before God?
To answer these questions, we need to explore, in depth, what God’s commandments are and what the elders’ traditions were. So first, I will discuss the difference between the elders’ traditions and God’s law. Second, I will discuss the issue of how one can become clean and the role God’s commandments play in that process.
1. Their teachings are but rules taught by men [1-9].
It had been some time since Jesus encountered the religious leaders. During their last encounter, the Pharisees had charged Jesus with driving out demons by the power of the head of demons. Jesus rebuked them harshly, because they called God’s work the work of Satan. This was a great blasphemy, which permanently and irreparably fractured the relationship between Jesus and the Pharisees. Since then, Jesus taught extensively about the kingdom of God through parables, by which he delivered messages concerning the ultimate judgment of these weeds.
Why were the people not able to accept the plain truth displayed in Jesus? This could be answered in today’s passage:
"Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They don't wash their hands before they eat!" (Matthew 15:2).
“Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders?”; this was a heavily loaded charge. The elders’ tradition carried great weight in their religious life. It was, in some sense, much weightier than the Law of Moses for them.
What was the tradition of the elders? In speaking of this, some have claimed that it started with Moses, who handed it down to his successors orally. These oral traditions were to help the Israelites better understand the Law of Moses in its practical application. It encompassed a wide variety for how to apply the Law of Moses in their daily lives, based on interpretations of the Law of Moses. Since it was orally transmitted to many generations, each retelling was greatly influenced by circumstances and situations of history. Actually, there was no written form of such traditions, even during Jesus’ time. This was later compiled to form a document called the Mishnah, in about CE 100. It can be said that the tradition was created and owned by the elders, who knew best and had authority to implement and enforce. Since they held the authority to interpret the Law, they created their traditions out of the Law of Moses; however, they were heavily influenced by their human minds.
One example of this is shown here. This hand washing was entirely ceremonial. Even if I took a shower one hour before a meal, my hands should be washed again just before I eat. However, this cleansing had no significance for the actual cleaning of the hands; rather, it was solely for purification!
Regarding tradition in general, it was handed down through many generations, so it was hard to break it or no one dared to break it. Breaking tradition was considered taboo; it would surely incur judgment and a curse from families and friends, and particularly from the elders. Tradition was imposed on the people of Israel by the religious authorities and observed by almost all godly people. If one was to show his godliness, he must not dare to violate the tradition of the elders.
Such adherence to tradition was not unique to the Jews. Almost all human societies have their traditions which have been handed down through many hundreds of generations. Koreans have a long history of tradition based on Buddhist or Confucist ideals. They were particularly expressed in everyone’s attitude towards the elders of the town, (i.e. parents, the older family members). For this reason, ancestral worship is one of those traditions. No one dares to question its legitimacy or meaningfulness.
Tradition applies one’s worldview to their practical lives. This is seen in how Buddhism, Islam, Catholicism, and many other world religions are set and structured around traditions. So it is no wonder that traditions are so important. Among us, specifically those in our church, we also create traditions, whether knowingly or unknowingly. We, as long-time members, seldom see the distinctiveness of our traditions, but someone from outside can easily discern a few of them, which are unique to our congregation. We might even be confused that such traditions are viewed as so important that everyone must follow it, and begin to think that that person is wrong before God and our church.
Where do these traditions come from? For the Jews, their traditions were based on God’s Commandments. For other people, they create their traditions around their consciences or religious beliefs. Paul explained this well in Romans:
“(Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law, since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.)” (Romans 2:14-15).
Since Jewish traditions were formed to emulate the Law of Moses, it might be a little different from traditions of other people in the world; however, they are the same in the sense that they were created by men and are greatly tainted by men’s desires and purposes. These Jewish traditions are the different from others in the sense that they were held by the elders and the authority to implement and exercise them was vested in the elders.
Why am I talking about Jewish tradition so much? When we talk about the Law, there are two laws implied: the Law of Moses, and the tradition which functions with the authority of the Law over human lives. Tradition carries out its judgment and blessing just as the Law of Moses does.
As we can see from this passage, the key issue is how one can keep himself clean — ceremonially? Here, ceremonially means before God. We can rephrase this question as ‘How can someone be acceptable to God and His Holiness?’ Am I clean enough to present myself before God?
The Pharisees thought that people must wash their hands before they eat so as to keep themselves acceptable to God and remain holy. This was based on the tradition of the elders. The Law of Moses did not say such things.
In this regard, what was Jesus’ understanding?
Jesus replied, "And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition?” (Matthew 15:3).
Here, Jesus did not directly answer their question. Instead, he answered by giving them a new question, which penetrated to the fundamental issue - by which standard can one be called clean, holy, and acceptable to God. There were two - the Law of Moses and the tradition of the elders. By following which of these two, should you keep yourself clean? Was it the Law of Moses or the tradition of the elders? Or should you meet try to keep both? Jesus told them that they had violated the Law in order to maintain traditions, but here, he emphasized ‘the command of God’, rather than the Law of Moses. In other words, the Law of Moses was from God the Creator of us all, possessing a much different weight and authority. Therefore, it should never be compared to any manmade traditions.
Jesus gave them a factual example of their violation of the Law of Moses. It was based on the 5th commandment — honor your father and mother.
What were the details of their violation?
“For God said, 'Honor your father and mother' and 'Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.' But you say that if a man says to his father or mother, 'Whatever help you might otherwise have received from me is a gift devoted to God,' he is not to 'honor his father 'with it. Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition.” (Matthew 15:4-6).
The Corban tradition is this: even if you have enough money to support your aging parents, once you have said that the money is dedicated to God, then you are excused from using that money to support your parents. By this Corban tradition, the religious leaders nullified the Law of Moses and God’s fifth commandment. In ignoring this commandment and applying the Corban tradition, Jesus implied that the person actually cursed his parents, not in words, but by denying them due respect and honor; such a person was worthy of death. This is a very sharp application of God’s commandments. Such an application is found in what Jesus did in Matthew 5:21-37, where he upheld God’s law to its fullest extent. But by their traditions, the Pharisees let people escape from the death penalty. This is amazing! It is a great escape from the trap of the Law of God and its judgment!
Through this, it is clear that traditions can be greatly tainted by human desires —greed, selfishness, lust for power and control, etc.; yet they were given as much authority as the Law of God and His commandments in the Jewish peoples’ lives. Why? For human purposes! They could justify themselves while condemning others. These traditions were implemented and exercised to control people and their lives. By whom? Those who hold authority: the elders, Pharisees, and teachers of the law. They were experts in the Law and traditions, but they nullified the Law with their man-made traditions!
How did God see such people?
“You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you: "'These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.'" (Matthew 15:7-9).
Their hearts are far from me! With their lips, they talk about God, His law, obedience, and observance of the Law by way of tradition, but in the essence of their being, they have no heart for God. Not at all! All the lips, knowledge of God’s word, and traditions of men attempt to manipulate or concoct things for their own power and authority, to enrich themselves with so many things of the world. It is a means to control and manipulate, to extort and uphold their authority. From the beginning to the end, all that they do is for themselves, not for God. What is the tool by which they can accomplish this? It is their tradition. Certainly, we cannot deny that all traditions have some merits for human goodness, but after all, they work like pseudo truths that defy the genuine truth of God.
As we know, traditions are a means of controlling people throughout the entire world. In every nation and tribe, tradition is a formidable force among the people. But in this, there is no truth; no one can meet God face-to-face in tradition alone! Traditions are man-made and man-concocted; they change as time flows and history moves on.
But God’s word remains forever. The truth of His Commandments is the same now as it was 5,000 years ago. When God commanded the Israelites to honor their fathers and mother, we must continue to do it today. If not, we are disobeying God and shall incur His judgment. As it was then, so it is now. When one curses his brother, it is still murder [Matthew 5:21-26]. God said it and He holds it as true, even today.
Only in and through God’s laws can we clearly see how we look, inside and out. This brings us to the truth before God’s eyes. Tradition cannot reveal the truth or bring us to a closer understanding of the truth. They may be partly right and partly true; however, from God’s perspective, they have no power or authority to judge or condemn. Traditionalists are those who deny the power and authority of the Law of Moses. They want to change and modulate God’s Law, according to the needs of men and the situation or time of history in which they are living. A clear example of this is seen here in the Pharisees. In order to escape the judgment of God’s law, they put an escape clause alongside it.
Read v8 again.
““These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.”” (Matthew 15:8).
The traditions were the justifier and shield for the sinfulness of their hearts!
2. God’s Commandments have the only authority to judge the depths of one’s heart [Matthew 15:10-20].
Jesus made this clear by saying in v10-11:
“Jesus called the crowd to him and said, "Listen and understand. What goes into a man's mouth does not make him 'unclean,' but what comes out of his mouth, that is what makes him 'unclean.”” (Matthew 15:10-11).
Simply speaking, the elders’ traditions were wrong and had missed the point! Jesus pointed this out clearly and unambiguously. They only dealt with the outside appearance; they had no ability to handle what was inside the people. How did this sound to the disciples?
“Then the disciples came to him and asked, "Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this?" (Matthew 15:12).
When the disciples heard of Jesus’ condemnation of the ungodly use of the elders’ traditions, they were somewhat surprised.
It would be naturally surprising for them, since the disciples also held the traditions of the elders so highly. They did not notice or discern the ‘heretical’ nature of the traditions.
But what more did Jesus say about their traditions?
“He replied, "Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots. Leave them; they are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit." (Matthew 15:13-14).
Here, Jesus condemned the traditions as well as those who used them as a means to justify themselves. The traditions of the elders had their origin not in God’s will, but in man’s. Whatever is established by men can never stand the test of time! The traditions as well as those who uphold them would surely be uprooted in time, because they had their foundation in men and, as men perish, so do their traditions! Those who use the traditions of men as their guide for life will surely fall into a pit.
Then why can God’s commandments be our only true guide?
1. They were created by God and He is everlasting.
2. God is the judge and He will judge, according to His Commandments, rather than the traditions of men.
3. The commandments reflect who God is, His holiness, and His righteousness, to which we are to conform.
4. Since God is truth, only His commandments contain truth and have power to reveal the truth to us.
5. Only God’s commandments have power to judge and condemn the depths of men’s hearts. Traditions have no such authority.
Why is it so important to accept God’s law as our only truth and authority? It is only through His law that we can see ourselves clearly, according to God’s perspective. If we do not see from His perspective, the only alternative is men’s perspective, which says, ‘You are ok’, ‘everyone else does the same thing!’
Accepting the law of God is the beginning of truth, salvation, and cleansing in my life.
When we do not know the status of our health, we can never know how sick we are or where the sickness is. God created us and He is the doctor; in His eyes alone, we come to know whether we are healthy or not. God gave us a miracle mirror through which we can see ourselves - the Law of Moses. The moment one ignores the Law, he loses any hope of being healthy or getting better; his sickness will only get worse, as we know from the Pharisees’ rejection of John’s baptism. It is clear that they rejected the Law of God that demands repentance, so it was quite natural for them to reject Jesus, even after seeing him perform so many miracles.
[[Tradition is not of God and He never planted anything in men’s tradition. Instead, He made His law clear and distinct, leaving no ambiguity in His commandments. At Mount Sinai, they were given, engraved in stone by His glory. No one should dare to change or modulate them! This truth will endure to the end of the earth!]]
Yet Peter was still unsure, so he asked Jesus again. He answered him:
"Don't you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man 'unclean.' For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. These are what make a man 'unclean'; but eating with unwashed hands does not make him 'unclean.'" (Matthew 15:17-20).
It is obvious that what goes inside comes out and does little to the mind and spirit, but what is inside of our hearts makes us unclean; what are these things?
Evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander — there are seven in all. Everything on this list is something that is prohibited by the Ten Commandments. In other words, God’s commandments unveil what is inside of men’s hearts of men and judges them with power and authority.
None of us want to take the road of these Pharisees, but one question remains: how can we be clean?
Let us look at Matthew 15: 19 again.
Here, Jesus listed different types of evil thoughts. The first of these is thoughts in the heart. This does not refer to an action that has already happened, but that which God’s Commandments already judge. The Law works even at the stage of discernment, so the utmost standard for discerning evil from good is the Law of Moses. The apostle Paul said that he could not escape the Law of Moses, particularly the commandment: “do not covet”. God’s Commandments alone have such power to penetrate men’s hearts for the purpose of discerning, judging, and condemning.
Out of the Ten Commandments, here are five violations that are already at play in men’s hearts. When one fears God and accepts these Ten Commandments, he realizes that his heart is filled with murder, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, and slander.
At this stage of discernment, if his eyes are good through focusing on God’s laws, he can see his own sins and their consequences. Through the law, one can see himself clearly.
This is the beginning of cleansing one’s heart and coming to God in truth.
This is particularly clear from when John the Baptist preached repentance. Also we can see that Jesus’ first message was for men to repent because the kingdom of God was at hand. When there is no knowledge of God’s laws, there is no sin; there is no way to see the truth about oneself.
The Pharisees had never begun this process, primarily because they rejected God’s laws.
Here, Jesus did not discuss how to be clean; instead, he pointed out how God’s commandments judgethe wickedness of men’s hearts. The law already condemned men’s wickedness; only then can the true cure for ungodly and unclean thoughts begin.
So salvation begins with the truth, which is revealed in God’s commandments, the Law of Moses.
As we look upon ourselves, we are like the disciples. In one hand, we sympathize with the Pharisees and their rage, for we also enjoy the comfort we find in the traditions of men. On the other hand, what Jesus said is absolutely true — there is one law, that is God’s commandments — the Law of Moses.
The society in which we live is rife with many opinions on the question of ‘if the Ten Commandments are still applicable or relevant today or not’. Most of us have already sided with the idea that the Ten Commandments are too old and no longer relevant. We also entertain the idea that the ethics and rules of this age are good enough to control or rein in the evils of humanity.
Yet we must acknowledge that these commandments were the only things that God planted as a measure of life. All else is not of God, but of man and will surely be uprooted. We must hear more about the power and authority of God’s Commandments:
“For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12).
We must be careful not to snuff out the power of God’s words by our own ideas. What can we say then? God’s commandments are the beginning of understanding the truth about ourselves. This understanding leads us to salvation provided by God in Jesus. Through His commandments, we know we are all sinners filled with all kinds of sins. Only these commandments have authority to uncompromisingly and truthfully judge and condemn the sins buried in the depths of every human being. Then we need Jesus, the Redeemer, to save us from that judgment and condemnation.
So what should do? We must fully uphold God’s commandments, both now and throughout our lives of faith.
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