“And he continued, ‘You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions!’ ” (Mark 7:9).

Traditions arose in Judaism because someone felt the need to apply the principles of law to every particular situation. These specific interpretations, passed down, were the “tradition of the elders” which were highly developed by Jesus’ day. Those traditions extended well beyond what God had said and became the authoritative descriptions of what men said God had meant. One rabbi said it was worse to disobey tradition than to disobey the law.

The problem with the tradition of men is that it separates us from God and His Word. The picture of a God of love is replaced by a harsh view of God. When my wife, Gwen, was young she wasn’t allowed to read the Sunday comics. Donald Duck may not feed the mind, but it seems relatively harmless by today’s standards. All God said about observing the Sabbath was “rest.” Religious tradition became, for her, a Sunday prohibition against Donald Duck, Peanuts and Woody Woodpecker. Crazy!

You cannot hold traditions of men to be your final authority without displacing God’s Word as the ultimate authority. Martin Luther, during the Protestant Reformation, contended for “Scripture alone.” Every believer has the right of direct access to God and direct access to Scripture. Those of us who teach want to be helpful to the degree that we can explain Scripture, but it is still Scripture that holds the final authority. Our individual freedom comes through direct contact with God and His Word.

What Jesus taught then is true now. God’s Word is reliable and it is the basis of a healthy, successful spiritual life. It is our guide, not men’s traditions.