Sake of tradition
Why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition?
Jesus replied, “And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition? For God said, ‘Honor your father and mother’ and ‘Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.’
Dear brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ, warm wishes and greetings!
Brethren, the subject verses (Matthew 15:3-4) are aptly applicable to the current generation of people as it was applicable before. Here our Lord Jesus questions some of those Pharisees and teachers of the law for their hypocrisy and false practices in the name of tradition. From the words of Jesus, it is clear that those Pharisees and teachers are not doing what they preach. Instead of honoring their parents, they let their curses upon them. Moreover, in the garb of giving to God, there are stealing what should rightly be given to their parents. For this reason, Jesus quoted the prophecy of Isaiah about these very people.
The Lord says: “These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is based on merely human rules they have been taught.
Isaiah 29:13 NIV
Honor God from the core of your heart
Therefore brethren, the above verse which Jesus has referred to the Pharisees and teachers of law makes it plain the state of our hearts. Many of us are likely to be in the same category of those people. We go near to God with our mouth and honor Him with our lips, but our hearts are on the things of the world. Our Lord is living God. He wants our hearts not mere babbling lips. Most of us go only by the human rules which are put in our places of worship.
So brethren, leave what are meaningless in the sight of God. And fully turn to Him for He alone is our God. Approach Him with humility and seek His forgiveness. By all means honor your father and mother for the glory of the almighty God. And also do everything in the mighty and matchless name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.