Commandments are Required, Traditions are not.

Mark 7 The religious leaders challenged Jesus about hand washing and asked him: 

 “Why do your disciples not live according to the tradition of the elders but eat with eat with unwashed hands?”  

Jesus shows us how we can answer those questions from so-called religious people about why we do or do not do certain things. Jesus carefully reminded them that nowhere did Moses command the washing of hands prior to eating. It may be beneficial but there is no law regarding this. The Pharisees had taken what is beneficial and made it mandatory which God had not.  

So how do we interpret this and understand what we are to do. First, there are the Ten Commandments which are required for men to follow. Anything beyond that is your tradition or suggestions to follow. Church groups and religious people use this to circumvent what is required. Jesus carefully pointed his audience to what God said must be done: Honor thy mother and father but professing to honor God but doing something else is hypocritical.  

Today watch what I say and what I do for that reveals my heart’s devotion to God.