Title
Tradition or Obedience?
Scripture
The Pharisee…marveled that He had not first washed before dinner.
(Luke 11:38)
Devotional
Even when judging the seemingly obvious, there is always at lest one thing of which we do not know. You and I would judge with the obvious question, “why wouldn’t have Jesus washed before dinner?” We have been rightly taught from childhood that we are to wash our hands before eating. Furthermore, even though it was a common courtesy, surely it would have been the polite thing to do. Here is just one of the things to consider: Jesus was at the home of a religious leader. He had a different relationship to the Pharisee than to those not in authority. The washing of the hands was a ceremonial religious tradition; it had nothing to do with health issues or common courtesy. Jesus was demonstrating the hold that tradition had on the people over the laws of God. Religiosity was more important to the Pharisees than obeying the Word of the Lord. How about you, is religious tradition more important to you the obeying the Word of the Lord?