Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Evening Sermon Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/ev/ev19960922.htm

MATTHEW: JESUS AS ISRAEL'S MESSIAH AND HIS MESSIANIC KINGDOM
Part X. Christ's Messianic Kingdom Postponed
F. Exposing The Error Of Exalting Man's Tradition Above Scripture
(Matthew 15:1-9)
  1. Introduction
    1. It is difficult to disciple a party whose beliefs include the Bible, but also exalts faulty human tradition. The errant can always respond to his critic, saying, "This is what our tradition says, and it is authoritative also!"
    2. Jesus outlined an effective way to promote God's truth to those who adhere to a tradition above Scripture by his interaction with the Pharisees in Matthew 15:1-9.
  2. Exposing The Error Of Exalting Man's Tradition Above Scripture, Matthew 15:1-9.
    1. The Pharisees criticized Jesus for allowing His disciples to violate their cherished traditions.
      1. The Pharisees held to the tradition that a man cannot eat with unwashed hands, Mtt. 15:1-2.
      2. Such traditions were held in such high esteem by the rabbis that they went to greater lengths to keep these than the Law itself, Wycliffe Bible Commentary, p. 956.
    2. Knowing their deep commitment to these traditions, Jesus wisely worked to expose their error in a way that would make an impact on the Pharisees THEMSELVES, Mtt. 15:3-9:
      1. Jesus stated that the Pharisees contradicted their Scriptures by their traditions, Mtt. 15:3.
      2. To illustrate, Jesus used a command in Scripture that the Pharisees happened to feel very strongly about in an effort to expose to them their own error:
        1. The Pharisees felt that if anyone did not honor his parents, he was "to be put to death," Mtt. 15:4 with Ex. 21:17; Lev. 20:9 with Bible Knowledge Commentary, New Testament, p. 55.
        2. Thus, Jesus used this command in Scripture to show how their traditions violated this loftily-held commandment in an effort to make them face their own error directly, Mtt. 15:5-6: (a) The Jews taught that if one's parents requested fi nancial support in their old age, if he said his savings were to be given to God as a "gift," or "corban," he would not be obligated to support them with it, Ibid. (b) However, this was simply a clever way of keeping the money for one's self under the g uise of having given it to God, Ibid. (c) Jesus thus revealed that this practice honored by these men violated their sacredly-esteemed belief that one should honor his parents or be executed, Mtt. 15:5-6.
    3. Upon having cornered them into facing their error of violating Scripture by their tradition, Jesus went on to use Scripture to put icing on the cake, revealing the error of making man's tradition replace Scripture:
      1. Christ called the Pharisees hypocrites in asserting traditions while using those traditions to violate what they knew was God's sacred commands, Mtt. 15:7a.
      2. Then he quoted from Isaiah 29:13 that condemned Israel's past elevations of man's traditions, 15:7b-9.
Lesson: Jesus exampled how to expose the error of elevating man's traditions to the level of Scripture as follows: (a) first, state that their traditions CONTRADICT Scripture; (b) second, sensitively select an illustration, using a Scripture hig hly esteemed by the errant to show how their traditions violate it so the violation will prick THEIR consciences. (c) Having done so, point out the hypocrisy of their ways. (d) Finally, quote Scripture that negates the error.

Illustration: We apply Jesus' method to critique Catholic error as follows: (1) Catholicism states that laymen cannot interpret Scripture themselves, but must follow the interpretations of the pope, Boettner, Rom. Cath., p. 101. (2) The Church also teaches that papal authority (a) is derived from Peter's authority conferred in Mtt. 16:18, and (b) that laymen must heed papal assertions directly, Gibbons, Faith of Our Fathers, . 95. (3) However, Peter decreed that individuals always be ready to give an apologetic, and that would involve always being ready to interpret Scripture themselves if need be, 1 Pet. 3:15. (4) Thus, heeding Peter's alleged papal decree directly, the one whose authority is the sole authority base for the Vatican, the Church must recant its call for laymen not to interpret Scripture themselves! Laymen must also disobey all papal decrees to the contrary!