Matthew 15:1-9
Do
you remember where you were when the news broke about 9/11? I do. I was in a
meeting. At first nobody realized the magnitude of what was happening, but as
details were released it became clear. The United States had been attacked by
Islamic terrorists resulting in over 3000 deaths. Unbelievable!
How
could people rationalize or justify such evil behavior? In reality though, the
human condition has rationalized behavior since the beginning of time, and then
blamed someone else. Adam blamed Eve and Eve blamed the snake; but both
justified their rebellious actions. Not much has changed since then.
Consider
then, the Pharisees and teachers of the Law in today’s passage. “Why do your disciples break the tradition
of the elders?” (Have you ever noticed how a why question is actually an
accusation?)
According
to my NIV study Bible, the “tradition of the elders” was developed “after the
Babylonian exile, when the Jewish rabbis began to make meticulous rules and
regulations governing the daily life of the people. These were interpretations
and applications of the law of Moses, handed down from generation to
generation.”
It
seems then, that in the beginning there may have been good intentions in the
“tradition of the elders”. Ultimately though, it became a tool to rationalize
and justify sinful behavior.
Here
is Jesus’ response to their question above. “And
why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition?” Jesus was
good with why questions too. He didn’t pull any punches.
If
we are honest with ourselves, we recognize that we justify and rationalize our
behavior. Granted, we may not fly a jet into a building killing thousands; we
may not rebel against God’s causing humanity to fall into sin; but we justify
and rationalize our sinful behavior every day.
Jesus
condemned the Pharisees. Are we any better? No. However, I am reminded of
Paul’s words to the Romans: “Wretched man
that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God
through Jesus Christ our Lord... Therefore, there is now no condemnation for
those who are in Christ Jesus.”
9/11
was the epitome of the pain and damage that rationalization and justification
can do. In light of our sinful nature and what it is capable of, Paul’s words bring
us great hope. They are words filled with life not death; words to help us turn
from our sinful nature to become a new creation in Christ. Thanks be to God.https://www.biblegateway.com/audio/mclean/niv/Matt.15.1-Matt.15.9
