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2. 2 doubtlessliving.com What are some of your favorite family traditions?  bedtimes,  holidays,  eating,  and so on). What are some of your favorite family traditions?  bedtimes,  holidays,  eating,  and so on).  What’s good about traditions?  When can traditions become a bad thing?  What about religious traditions? Are they good or bad?

3. The Taj Mahal How many of you knew the Tah Mahal is basically an enormous tomb? In Matt. 23:27 Jesus said; “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which appear beautiful on the outside, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and every impurity.” The Taj Mahal houses the tomb of Emperor Shah Jahan’s third wife. Construction began around 1632 and was completed around 1653. In what ways does tradition put more of an emphasis on outward appearances, as opposed to inward life and health?

4. 4 doubtlessliving.com  The Pharisees, Sadducees, and scribes had established an elaborate system of religious rules, practices, and traditions.  At one point or another in Jesus' public ministry, they all challenged Him on various topics.  One of the favorite topics involved various matters of law and tradition. Today we are going to see how religiously following traditions, especially when they undermine God’s Word, can do great damage to one’s spiritual life.

5. 5 doubtlessliving.com 1 Then Pharisees and scribes came from Jerusalem to Jesus and asked, 2 “Why do Your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they don’t wash their hands when they eat!” 3 He answered them, “And why do you break God’s commandment because of your tradition? 4 For God said: Honor your father and your mother; and, The one who speaks evil of father or mother must be put to death. 5 But you say, ‘Whoever tells his father or mother, “Whatever benefit you might have received from me is a gift committed to the temple”— 6 he does not have to honor his father.’ In this way, you have revoked God’s word because of your tradition.  What was the major complaint of the Pharisees?  Why was the washing of hands such a big deal?  Was that the real issue?

6. 6 doubtlessliving.com  Ritualistic Handwashing – precise instructions on how to wash hands.  Corban rule – land could be dedicated to the temple but still used by the owner until death.  Did the hand-washing practice of the Pharisees make them any more religious?  Do you think God has much tolerance for selfishness dressed up as religious piety?  Why does that offend God so much?

7. Modern Day Traditions What are some of our current practices or traditions that might be hard for a new guest to understand?

8. 8 doubtlessliving.com  Following religious rules just for the sake of following rules or just for the sake of tradition does not make you religious.  We can often find ourselves so wrapped up in tradition that we become nothing more than religious hypocrites.  One of the top reasons given for not going to church is that "the church is full of hypocrites,“ which is not a new problem as we shall see next.

9. 9 doubtlessliving.com 7 Hypocrites! Isaiah prophesied correctly about you when he said: 8 These people honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. 9 They worship Me in vain, teaching as doctrines the commands of men.”  Why did Jesus call the Pharisees hypocrites? What does that mean?  What does it mean to honor Jesus with our lips but not with our hearts?

10. 10 doubtlessliving.com  When do you find it easiest to honor God with your lips and your heart?  When do you find it the most difficult?  Why would it be in vain to only honor God with one’s lips, rather than with one’s whole heart?

11. 11 doubtlessliving.com 10 Summoning the crowd, He told them, “Listen and understand: 11 It’s not what goes into the mouth that defiles a man, but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.” 17 “Don’t you realize that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is eliminated? 18 But what comes out of the mouth comes from the heart, and this defiles a man. 19 For from the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, sexual immoralities, thefts, false testimonies, blasphemies. 20 These are the things that defile a man, but eating with unwashed hands does not defile a man.”  A lot of the sinful attitudes Jesus mentioned seem to start with the eyes or the mouth. Why would Jesus say they come from the heart?  What are some examples of things that make us unclean, or contaminate us spiritually today?

12. 12 doubtlessliving.com  The real problem is not whether or not we obey rituals. The real problem is our corrupt human nature.  As believers, our focus should be on accurately applying God's Word to our lives.  Superficial faith based on outward conformity to rules and tradition is the enemy of true faith.

13. 13 doubtlessliving.com  Traditions must be examined to make sure they’re not contrary to Scripture; those that are must be discarded.  Traditions not based on Scripture are often more detrimental to spiritual growth than helpful.  All Christians must guard against being hypocritical, pretending to be spiritually pious while rejecting the teachings of God’s Word.

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