But He answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the Commandment of GOD by your tradition? For GOD commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death. But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the Commandment of GOD of none effect by your tradition. Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto Me with their mouth, and honoureth Me with their lips; but their heart is far from Me. But in vain they do worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. (Mat 15:3-9)
Our Lord decries those who would add to His commands and precepts, and thereby nullify them. He cries against those who give lip service to Him, and yet in practice, do not follow or obey Him. He chastises those here who worship a GOD they do not know, for they do not worship Him in Spirit and in Truth. They have a form of godliness, but not the power thereof. Having rightly divided the Word of Truth, for He knew the Scriptures well, being its Author, He applied the judgment from the Word of GOD and pointed out their hypocrisy and their wresting the Scriptures to their own destruction.
Well we should take heed, that our traditions do not add to or take away from GOD's Word, nor should they nullify the Statutes of our Lord. There are many things which some in the Church, and some others in the name of religion, have added, twisted, or ignored, that now it is tradition and we should carefully examine all things whether it be of GOD. Today, for the Church, in this age of Grace, we are not under the Law. That is not a license to sIn, nor should we do those things which are contrary to GOD's Moral and eternal Law, for that would be sIn. Nor should our Liberty lead others who are weaker to transgress in ignorance.
We have a responsibility, a command, and a mandate, to study to shew ourselves approved unto GOD, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth. To know Christ, through His Word; and to know Doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in Righteousness, by our disciplined and committed intake of the Bread of Life. We must let GOD speak to us through His Word, that we might observe to do according to all that is written therein.
As His ambassadors, we are ministers of reconciliation, to share Jesus Christ with those who do not know Him. We are to reach out in comfort, and as GOD provides, to meet the needs of the hurting, and in need. We are to disciple one another, in Word, and in love, that all may know we are His disciples. We are to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ, that those who hear may believe and receive forgiveness of their sIn through faith in His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary. We are to live the Gospel we preach, and share His love and mercy, while also telling of the Judgment and condemnation, that those who hear and believe might have life in His Name.
For GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. GOD calls you to trust Him and what He has already done for you to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with GOD with forgiveness and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.
In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet