TEXT: Mark 7::1-7
MEMORY VERSE: Mark 7:3
The Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they give their hands a ceremonial washing, holding to the tradition of the elders.” (NIV)
INTRODUCTION:
People get along because of what they believe in common or that for which they have agreed to work together. This is a unifying force and serves as a means of admitting others into their fold. This is what obtains whether in thinly or densely populated people as an identifiable or particular way of life. Not all belonging to a people group have been so biologically. Some submit to indoctrinations of such identity convincingly enough for such status to be granted them by the heritage owners (cf. Hebrew Proselytes Acts 2:5).
OBJECTIVE: This lesson is for our knowledge of how various traditional mores of various people serve as unifying force that binds such people to continue as one indivisible people or union.
PRESENTATION:
Step I: BUSINESS INTEREST AND RELIGIOUS TRADITION OF THE GODDESS “ARTEMIS” BROUGHT SOME PEOPLE IN EPHESUS TOGETHER
(a) Demetrius, the silversmith, took advantage of what the traditional belief of the Ephesians was for his business interest (See Acts 19:23-27, 35-41).
i. There is a lesson here that what God has made us to be must not be concealed.
ii. Peter, by inspiration, admonishes us to be always ready to give a defense of why we live the life of Christ even though tough (See 1 Pet. 3:13-15).
STEP Il: THE TRADITION OF MOSES (THE TORAH) AND THAT OF THE ELDERS (THE TALMUD) UNIFIED THE PEOPLE AGAINST JESUS
(a) The people of Jesus’ day declared their allegiance to Moses because of what God handed down to them through him (cf. John 9:27-29).
i. This is a reference to the instructions of life Moses collected at Horeb (Mount Sanai in Arabia) (See Gal. 4:21-31).
ii. This is in line with Jesus’ enquiry in “Luke 6:46” to ascertain the justification for men to declare Him as Lord with mouth without concomitant obedience with daily living.
STEP IlI: THE BELIEFS OF THE SADDUCEES UNIFIED THEM (Acts 23:8)
(a) At any level, what it is that a people take as their tradition or belief must unite them.
(b) In the Scripture above, the Sadducees accepted and defended anyone who agreed with them that there is neither resurrection, spirit nor angel.
i. Whether or not this was correct united them which is the goal of every tradition.
ii. Every people must know their right to their tradition provided such tradition does not run counter to the tradition of Christ.
CONCLUSION:
Any tradition – whether political, social, economic or worship (religious), primarily becomes meaningful to those binding themselves with such tradition. It is their fundamental human right anyway. The next in importance for such people to be mindful of is divine endorsement without which their continued existence will be threatened (cf. Acts 17:24-28). Men may misunderstand us with regards to our way of life (customs and/or tradition) (cf. Rom. 14:22). But we must be sure they do not run counter to our Creator’s order.
EVALUATION:
1. How was it possible for the people of Jesus’ day to follow Moses who was not among them but reject Jesus Who was living with them?
2. Tradition is a people’s fundamental human right unless … (complete).
3. It is only God-ordained traditions and/or customs that can unite subjects. (True or False)
4. “Those who practice their customs and/or traditions in secret are both cowards and sinners.” Why?
PRAYER: Thank God for His Word and pray for the love of
Christ to permeate the hearts of men always as guide to
every thought and action.
For terms’ definition, read the previous lesson here.