Sermon Tone Analysis

Traditions

We all grew up with traditions

Finishing up your traditions for the summer

Back to school traditions

Holidays coming up

Thanksgiving

Christmas

New Years

Daily rhythms/traditions

Traditions are good.

God has designed us to crave tradition.

Traditions of Men

Mark 7.1

It serves notice that far more is involved in the exchange between the scribes and Jesus than a rabbinic debate in which alternative decisions will be preserved and made the subject of further consideration.

The eating of bread without proper concern for the removal of ritual defilement was merely the immediate occasion for this confrontation.

Its ultimate occasion was Jesus’ evident disregard for the whole structure of oral tradition which examined virtually every aspect of personal and corporate life and sought to regulate it in a manner consistent with the Law under conditions often vastly different from those in which the Law was first handed down.

In areas where the Law was silent the tradition was vocal, drawing the conclusions felt to be implicit in the mandates of the written code.

We need to notice that far more is involved in the exchange between the scribes and Jesus than a religious debate.

The eating of bread without proper concern washing hands and defilement was merely the immediate occasion for this conflict.

The ultimate issue the Scribes and the Pharisees had was Jesus’ blatant disregard for the whole structure of oral tradition which examined virtually every aspect of personal and corporate life.

The Ultimate Issue Jesus had with the Scribes and Pharisees was their desire to be God.

This is the essence of Sin - Man wanting to be God.

In areas where the Law was silent the tradition was vocal, drawing the conclusions felt to be implicit in the mandates of the written code.

Rather than man worshiping God, Man wants to worship himself.

When the disciples did not wash their hands before eating they were not breaking the law, but rather they were breaking the traditions of the elders.

The religious leaders essentially created an entire moral eco system that took the the law and then filled in the gaps with their own laws.

To the point that everything aspect of life was regulated.

The traditions of the elders have been written down in what is known as the Mishna.

EXAMPLE**

Just the past week I have been in three conversations where our traditions have enslaved people and skewed the beauty of the gospel.

A friend of mine was telling me about his conversations with a woman who is part of a church denomination/culture that does not allow woman to where pants, any bright colors, makeup, jewelry, or modern clothes.

This is part of their tradition

The tradition is determined by the pastors convictions

To please God is to live according to these traditions.

Mormons

Scriptures

KJV bible

Book of Mormon

Pearl of Great Price

Doctrine and Covenants

Motivation for Right Living

Rather than bringing glory and honor to the King

Mormons believe in three heavens

The life lived determine which heaven you will get to.

Part of earning your way into the better heaven “Terrestrial or Celestial” you have to go on mission.

Fundamental Baptist

I talked to a couple guys this week about their experience growing up in Independent Fundamental Baptist Churches

They mentioned many of the traditions

KJV only

Only certain types of clothing

Only certain types of music

Each of these examples claim to follow Jesus, yet they have added their own traditions to Christ in order for us to live lives pleasing to God.

For the Jews it was

Washing hands

washing cups and pots

washing copper vessels

washing dining couches.

Washing hands

These washings were not for health or hygiene , these washings were for holiness.

Meaning that without the washing they were defiled before God.

In verse 4 they call the washing a baptism.

Its the same greek word - This is a sacramental action done by the Pharisees thinking that they were holy before God by washing their hands.

But again, this is according to their traditions which they have imposed upon all the people of Israel.

Not according to the Law of God.

So after seeing Jesus’ disciples eating without washing they ask Jesus,

To which Jesus responds,

Mark 7:6-

Commandments of God

Mark 7.5-

Jesus calls the religious leaders hypocrites.

They were hypocrites because Jesus knew their hearts.

He knew their motivation.

They condemned the disciples for not loving God enough to wash their hands, all the while their hearts were far from God.

This is why Jesus quotes Isaiah

Mark

Hearts far from God

The religious leaders honor God with their lips, but their heart is far from Him.

This prophecy comes from .

And I love that Jesus quotes this passage because by doing so he is also calling our attention to the rest of

Thus far in the Marks gospel a common theme has been amazement and wonder toward Jesus

people marvel when he preaches

Teachers are astounded with his authority

People are amazed with his ability to cast out demons

The disciples are astonished with Jesus’ power to raise Jairus’ daughter from the dead

There is constantly a sense of wonder for Jesus because of what he has done and is doing.

Looking at the passage Jesus quotes in we will see this theme of wonder accompanying mens hearts being far from God.

Isaiah 29:

The religious leaders have seen and heard about Jesus doing wonderful things with his people, with wonder upon wonder, yet their hearts remain far from God.

WARNING**

This is the greatest danger to the American church - this is the greatest danger to Exodus Church.

This is the greatest danger to the American church - this is the greatest danger to Exodus Church.

The greatest danger is not

legislation

Same sex marriage

Free Speech

Tax exempt status

Its not persecution

Its not suffering

Its not hurt feelings

The greatest danger for Exodus Church is that we will become a people who pay lip service to God all the while our hearts are far from him.