Closer To the Heart

Traditions of man versus the will of God. This has always been a hot-button issue during Jesus' time, and sadly, it still is today. In thirty years of ministry, I have found this to be true: if you really want to upset a congregation (or Christians in general), upset with you, then start messing with their traditions. Try moving the sacred cows in the sanctuary of well-established churches or question why a church does what it does, and the claws come out. Unfortunately, I learned this lesson the hard way, but the “trouble” I have gotten myself into has not stopped me from continuing to challenge people to ask why we do what we do with regard to man-made traditions within the church. In my career as a pastor in multiple churches, I have sat through countless hours of discussions about who can use the coffee maker, what qualifies as using the “good silverware” versus plasticware or “not so good silverware,” whether we should move or keep the pulpit, and whether we can paint a room any color other than flat white. The stories are numerous.
 
Many years ago, I asked a pastor at a nearby church if I could borrow their candelabras for a wedding, and he said I could. When I went to pick them up, we were immediately approached by the church secretary, who asked us what we were doing. The pastor explained the situation, and she responded, “You cannot loan those out. In fact, you should not even touch these candelabras without wearing gloves.” We were then told to put them back. The pastor looked at me, apologized, and I went on my way. 
 
In today’s text, Jesus challenges the traditions of his time. Contrary to what many believe or teach, I don’t think his goal was to upset people or create unnecessary conflict among the leaders. In fact, whenever Jesus confronted tradition during his earthly ministry, it was usually because the tradition had become more important than genuine worship. Today, we will explore this and look at what Jesus said about traditions and true worship.
 
Many people have issues with traditions; some are valid, and some are not. The most common question asked is, "Are traditions bad?” We will explore this today and see what Jesus has to say about traditions.
 
Mark 7:1 – 8, 14 - 23
 
In this passage, Jesus makes a statement that drastically changed how we view worship. He shares a brief parable about defilement and purity. Many people wonder why Jesus used parables. They ask why he didn’t just plainly state what he wanted to say. Why didn’t he say, “I know the law and tradition say you should always wash your hands before eating, and that you shouldn’t eat unclean food. But, by following this tradition, you’re not any cleaner or holier than a pagan who eats pork, because what you eat doesn’t make you dirty; it’s what’s in your heart that counts.” In this parable, he told the religious leaders that everything they were doing was not God’s design for worship. Just like we need to be very careful when telling someone their traditions are pointless and empty.  
 
Jesus didn’t realize that His vague parable wouldn’t be understood by His disciples. When He finds out they didn’t truly understand what He was saying, He privately explains the parable in simple language. From this point, Jesus gets to the heart of the matter.  
 
Jesus is not saying that the tradition of eating kosher foods and washing hands is wrong; he is saying that people who focus on external observance of the law are missing the point of what God has intended as true worship. Jesus explains that traditions become harmful when they take precedence over obeying God. Traditions can be detrimental when we are blinded by adhering to them and ignoring the ways God is guiding us, because they interfere with our focus on God's will. Theologian N.T. Wright states, “By focusing on outward purity, they are avoiding the much deeper challenge of the gospel, the challenge to the human heart.” Jesus is emphasizing that external purity or outward law observance is less important than internal heart change. Ultimately, he clarifies that both are connected.
 
The Pharisees focused on following external laws, such as handwashing, ceremonial cleanliness, and dietary regulations. However, they overlooked the fact that God cares more about internal purity than outward traditions. True cleansing comes from within, having a changed heart, not just following rules on the surface.
 
This brings us to the core issue. In the Bible, the heart usually does not refer to the physical organ; it refers to what Dallas Willard writes in his book RENOVATION OF THE HEART, “The human heart, will or spirit, is the executive center of the human life. The heart is where decisions and choices are made for the whole person. That is its function.” In other words, the heart represents who we are at our very core, and Jesus teaches us that this core is not very good. The heart is often portrayed as evil, black, and decayed, and it needs to be transformed. 
 
Jesus tells the Pharisees in the gospel of Luke, “What you say flows from what is in your heart.” This means the words that come out of your mouth reflect who you are deep down. The words you speak reflect your heart. So, who are you at the core of your being?
 
English Anglican priest J.C. Ryle writes, “We need no bad company to teach us (to sin), and no devil to tempt us, in order to run to sin. We have within us the beginning of every sin under heaven (in our hearts) … (The Lord) is not only speaking of the notorious profligate, or the prisoner in jail. He is speaking of all mankind.” This may be a hard pill for some to swallow. The depravity of humanity is not well-received among humans. There may be some people here who have a problem with it. I think it is fair to say that some don’t like to think of themselves as bad people, and, generally speaking, most humans are not bad outwardly. Yet, God says in Jeremiah 17:9, “The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?” Everything that is bad within us and all of humanity is found in the heart. Jesus takes all of this one step further when he says, “You have heard the commandment that says, ‘You must not commit adultery.’ But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”  Jesus tells us that sin is not always an outward act; it is often found in the heart as well.  This was a game-changer because sin is no longer just an outward act of disobedience, but it is also something that can be done in secret without anyone ever knowing.

People often wonder how humans can commit some of the most heinous crimes. We are shocked when someone does something so evil that we cannot fathom how someone could be so evil. However, when we consider God's words in Jeremiah, we see that all humanity has the root of sin within their hearts. This helps us understand the tendency and ability of humans to do evil. That's why many of Jesus’ statements were so radical during his time. He was telling a group of outwardly religious rule-followers that they were just as capable of evil as pagans, and if they believed otherwise, they were mistaken. Jesus often rebuked the religious leaders by calling them whitewashed tombs, meaning they appeared nice, pretty, and clean on the outside, but were dead on the inside because their hearts were desperately wicked.
 
There is good news, though. The heart can be cleansed, transformed, and made pure. Through the work of Jesus Christ on the cross and the Holy Spirit in our lives, our hearts can be renewed. King David writes in Psalm 51:10, “Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me.” New, clean, and pure hearts are what Jesus is talking about in His message about the Kingdom. This is significant in many ways. Jesus is saying that keeping laws and traditions will not make you right with God; only a life and heart submitted to Him will.
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Conclusion
So, what is the main message for today? What life lesson can you take with you? How can these words of Jesus help you understand God’s ultimate plan for us?  
 
First, always question your traditions. Why do you do what you do (whether in church, at home, personally, etc.)? Remember, not all traditions are bad, nor are all of them good. Then determine whether this tradition conflicts with God’s commands or prevents you from hearing from Him.
 
Next, examine your heart. Who are you at your core? Have you experienced that inner transformation only available through Jesus Christ? Do a heart inventory. Assess your life, relationships, and inner self to see if you're living a life that honors God. Are there still things lingering in your heart that hinder you from becoming the man or woman God calls you to be? Have you allowed yourself to become someone who does the right things, says the right things, and maintains the outward appearance of having it all together, but inside you feel dead? Are you relying on your salvation because you keep all the rules by avoiding lying, cheating, stealing, murdering, or committing adultery? I warn you, it's easy for religious people to obey all the rules, keep all the commandments, believe (in what they think are) the right doctrines in a dutiful way, and still have a heart that is empty, dark, evil, vile, and decaying. I encourage you to take some time today to search your heart, ask God to search your heart, and create a clean, new heart that is devoted and submitted to Him in every aspect of your life.
 
 

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