Thoughts for the Day

The Tradition of the Elders

Now when the Pharisees and some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus, they noticed that some of his disciples were eating with defiled hands, that is, without washing them. (For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, do not eat unless they thoroughly wash their hands, thus observing the tradition of the elders; and they do not eat anything from the market unless they wash it; and there are also many other traditions that they observe, the washing of cups, pots, and bronze kettles. So the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, ‘Why do your disciples not live according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?’ He said to them, ‘Isaiah prophesied rightly about you hypocrites, as it is written,

“This people honours me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me;
 in vain do they worship me,
teaching human precepts as doctrines.”

You abandon the commandment of God and hold to human tradition.’

Then he said to them, ‘You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to keep your tradition! For Moses said, “Honour your father and your mother”; and, “Whoever speaks evil of father or mother must surely die.” But you say that if anyone tells father or mother, “Whatever support you might have had from me is Corban” (that is, an offering to God) — then you no longer permit doing anything for a father or mother, thus making void the word of God through your tradition that you have handed on. And you do many things like this.’

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

According to experts our moral development begins to start between the ages of three and seven years old. It seems that we want to be seen as good children and don't want to get into trouble and lying is a way to avoid punishment. (eg "No, Mum, I didn't eat the chocolate!" despite having chocolate all over their face!). But children can also lie to get a reward. As children get older, their lies can become more complex, rather than silly, and they start to view morality differently - for example, lying not to hurt someone’s feelings. However, lying to to gain a reward never goes away for some people, eg House seller lying to buyer: "The insulation is still under warranty, but I've lost the certificate!"

Jesus accuses the Pharisees of breaking the 5th Commandment: 'You sonour your father and mother', by claiming falsely that they cannot afford to help their parents who ae in need, because what spare money they have is 'corban', that is, it is dedicated to God's work. Such a lie would make them appear honourable in the eyes of others, while benefiting from keeping what they possess for themselves.

We too need to listen hard to Jesus when he says “This people honours me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me." Just as the Pharisees appear outwardly honourable and God-fearing men, but their hearts are full of deceit, so we too can appear outwardly God-fearing Christians, but inside are full of selfish impulses and desires. Jesus' Kingdom of Love calls us to change our inward reality, and we can only that with His help.

Lord Jesus Christ,
only You know when our inward thoughts
match up to our outward behaviour.
Help us to be less critical of others;
less inclined to be sceptical of those around us;
and more generous in our hearts and in our actions,
that we may be worthy members of our Kingdom.
Amen.