“ ‘Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They don’t wash their hands before they eat!’ Jesus replied, ‘And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition?’ ” (Matthew 15:2-3).

The problem Jesus addressed then is still an issue today. Many have attached rules to religious practices and treat them as though God was the Author of them. Religious tradition is usually well-intentioned. The problem is that it often assumes the same level of authority as God’s Word and can easily contradict what God says. Religion that goes beyond faith in Christ says we must try hard to earn a right standing with God. Faith in Jesus is always the key to our relationship with God. Trusting human tradition apart from Christ never works. The Bible teaches that the gift of righteousness is based on Jesus and what He did for us.

The Pharisees practiced a form of righteousness based on religious performance. Jesus came to correct that and point us to true righteousness that comes from Him and what He did for us on the Cross. The Pharisees even specified the amount of water one had to use in washing his hands in order to satisfy the law. No matter how many times we wash our hands according to man-made traditions and work hard at being religious we are only clean because of the blood of Jesus that cleanses us from all unrighteousness.