Smoodock's Blog

At this point in our study, we need to keep in mind that Jesus is still speaking about the traditions of the elders, vis-à-vis the Oral Law, which, when written down, would later make up the contents of the Babylonian Talmud. Jesus was not, at this time doing away with the ceremonial laws of clean and unclean food. If the latter were true, the scribes and Pharisees would have reason to arrest Jesus and, perhaps, have him slain for teaching folks to break the Law. On the other hand, ordinary Jews didn’t keep the traditions of the elders with all of the washings etc. The authorities could hardly arrest 80 to 90 % of the Jewish population for not adhering to the traditions of the elders, and neither could they, logically, arrest Jesus for speaking against them. In other words, Jesus made a point of addressing the question of defilement with the common people in the presence of the Jewish authorities, vis-à-vis the scribes (rabbis) and Pharisees (Matthew 15:1). Remember, they had accused Jesus’ disciples of sinning, not against the Mosaic Law but said they transgressed the tradition of the elders (Matthew 15:2).

Is it possible for a man to sin against man, vis-à-vis if I glide through an intersection that is four-way stop, and no one is at the intersection or approaching the intersection, have I sinned against mankind? Certainly, I can get a ticket because, technically, I didn’t stop. I glided through at about one mile per hour. I broke the law of a local community and a policeman could and did give me a ticket for such an infraction. One may view this as a small infraction, but the law was broken, I received my ticket and paid my fine. Am I also in trouble with God? Traffic laws are never mentioned or inferred in scripture. Frankly, I don’t think God cares that I broke the local traffic law that day, and it is not within the authority of man to define what is and what is not sin. The Law of God defines sin for us (Romans 7:7). Therefore, the Jewish authorities were wrong to accuse Jesus disciples of “sinning” against or transgressing (G3862) the traditions of the elders (Matthew 15:1-2).

The word used for transgress in Matthew 15:2 is parabaino (G3862). It is used only three times in the New Covenant text, here, at Acts 1:25, where Peter explains that Judas by transgression fell from his office as Apostle and had to be replaced. The third place the word is used is at 2John 1:9. There the writer of the epistle explains that whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ, doesn’t have either the Father or the Son. Therefore, according to the context of Acts 1:25 and 2John 1:9, the Jewish authorities were accusing Jesus’ disciples of sinning against the elders.

At that time, Jesus called the multitude together, telling them to listen to what he has to say, because it was important (Matthew 15:10). What he told them contradicted what they had been taught. There are no plants that God created to be eaten by men that could defile him, when he ate them. What he eats and takes into himself cannot defile him, whether or not he has washed his hands. On the other hand, what comes out of the man’s mouth, vis-à-vis his words defile him, because our words come from our hearts (Matthew 15:11). Making laws about how food should or should not be eaten, cannot defile him, because it is God who has given the meat and the herb to man for his living (Genesis 9:3-4). Rather, it is what comes out of the man, vis-à-vis his speech defiles him, for by his words he will be justified or condemned (Matthew 12:37; cp. 1Kings 22:13-14).

Later, when they were alone with Jesus, his disciples came to him and asked, if he realized how much he offended the Pharisees, when he taught the people that the traditions of the elders were not only not binding, but were erroneous (Matthew 15:12).

Jesus responded with, “Every plant, which my heavenly Father has not planted, shall be rooted up” (Matthew 15:13). In the language of the good seed and the weeds/tares, both grow together for the present for the sake of not rooting up what the Lord has planted (cp. Matthew 13:37-43). In the language of what the Father has not planted (Matthew 15:13), Jesus’ disciples shouldn’t concern themselves with those who teach error, because the spiritually blind, who think to lead other folks who are also spiritually blind, will in the end lead their followers into destruction (Matthew 15:14). Jesus’ point is not that we shouldn’t care that error is preached or the ignorant are overcome, but that the children of God are blessed, and that blessing does not extend to those who work against him (cp. Psalm 92:4). Although the wicked flourish for a season, this doesn’t occur as a result of God’s blessing, because in the end they will be destroyed (Psalm 92:5-7). When judgment comes, those who work iniquity will perish and be scattered, vis-à-vis among the nations (Psalm 92:9). Nevertheless, those, whom the Lord had planted in his House/Kingdom, shall bring forth fruit to him even in their old age, proving the righteousness of the Lord (Psalm 92:13-15).