The Traditions of Judaism

A very poor holy man lived in a remote part of China. Every day before his time of meditation in order to show his devotion, he put a dish of butter up on the window sill as an offering to God, since food was so scarce. One day his cat came in and ate the butter. To remedy this, … More

Traditions

The disciples of John the Baptist questioned Jesus as to why He and His disciples were not fasting as they and the Pharisees were doing (vv. 14-15)? Jesus compared His conduct to that of a King having a wedding banquet. He said that at a wedding people are happy and eating and not mourning or fasting. It had been right for John and his disciples to fast, for they were seeking to bring about repentance to those steeped in the traditions of Judaism. However Jesus had not come to patch up an old system like sewing new cloth to an old garment or pouring new wine into old wineskins (vv. 16-17). The principle expressed here is that Jesus Christ has come to bring in a new dispensation altogether, which cannot be fitted into the forms of the old Jewish economy. The principle taught here by illustration is that the rule of the Law must be replaced by that of Grace, which will now have free reign in the hearts of all believers. He had not come to add things to Pharisaic traditions.

At this point Jesus performs two miracles. A woman who had been hemorrhaging  for twelve years touches His garment and because of her faith she is healed (vv. 18-26). From this scene Jesus goes to the house of Jairus whose daughter has died. According to tradition, it was typical in a Middle Eastern home where someone was dead, mourners had been hired to make noise and were already assembled to weep for the family. After the crowd was dismissed, Jesus restored the girl to life. “And they ridiculed Him” (v. 24). Because Jesus looked beyond what people could see to what God sees, they made fun of Him. Faith in Jesus often looks ridiculous to those who don’t have it. 

Application

Church traditions can still get in the way of my relationship with Jesus Christ. For many going to Church and going through a formality of worship has become more important than in having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. I never want to let my worship just become a tradition.

Matthew 9:14-26 (English Standard Version)


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