Comment: During his days on earth, the Scribes and Pharisees in Jerusalem sought to know from our Lord Jesus Christ why he was not observing the tradition of the elders. This tradition is explained in Mark 7:3, 4, thus, “For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders. And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brasen vessels, and of tables.” What this event highlights is that people, over time, do create various traditions which they then pass from generation to generation. Sometimes an ethnic group copies the customs of their neighbours or have such traditions gradually infused into their ways of life through marriage, and various forms of social, economic and diplomatic relations. But as our Lord said in the citation for today, people should not break the laws of God in the name of observing tradition. The laws of God give people dignity, peace and prosperity by His grace. (Deuteronomy 4:6-8) It is well known that some people still keep to certain traditions when it has become outdated and no longer meaningful. People of God are enlightened and should not be led by the nose. – Acts 17:30, 31; Isaiah 60:1.
Sunday, December 6, 2020
Text: “For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.” – Deuteronomy 7:6.
Comment: God Almighty created the nation of Israel from one man, Abraham, for the purpose of using them to transmit His laws as well as examples of right conduct to mankind. He told Abraham: “And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” (Genesis 12: 3) This promise was repeated by the leader of the angels who went to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah and by the angel who spoke on behalf of God after Abraham had passed the test of faith by offering his only son as sacrifice to God. (Genesis 18:17, 18; 22:16-18).
Most of the laws God gave to His people, as stated in the Ten Commandments and other laws, have become the standard for nations of the world. For instance, the law of circumcision which God gave to Abraham was held sacred by the Israelites across their generations. This has been copied by nations of the world who accepted circumcision in view of its health benefits. However, before the knowledge of God got to people in far-flung parts of the world, they had been observing aspects of the law of God since man was created with the basic understanding of right and wrong. It is by maintaining our peculiarity as Christians that we have “riches, honour and life”. – Proverbs 22:4; 1 Peter 2:9