You can almost visualize Tevye pumping his arms as he sings “Tradition” in the opening scenes of Fiddler on the Roof. He is claiming that traditions are what hold his community together. Many of our family traditions have developed because they are fun, bring back fond memories, and allow closeness between generations. In the movie, Tevye has a very hard time accepting the fact that his own daughters don’t want to maintain the traditions that are important to him.
Our previous pastor told a funny story about traditions. For one holiday, the family always had baked ham. Before cooking it, the wife would cut off the end of the ham. When asked why she did that, she indicated that her mom did it, too. When her mom was asked, she replied that she learned it from her mom. When the grandmother was asked why she cut off the end of the ham, she responded, “The ham was too long for my pan.” Funny how some traditions get started!
God also established traditions. One was to be repeated weekly (Sabbath), while others were to be observed annually (e.g., Passover, Tabernacles). These festive times were instituted by God to be regular breaks from the humdrum activities of life so that people could focus on their relationship with God. But, as with many of God’s traditions, self-righteous religious men added their own traditions.
For example, God commanded that His people should do no work on the Sabbath. He wanted it to be a day for them to rest from their weekly labors and to remember that God is the Creator. However, religious leaders in Jesus’ day taught the people that it was “work” to pick grain to eat as they walked through a field on the Sabbath. These religious men considered such an act as “harvesting” the grain. They also instructed the people that it was “work” if they used their legs to walk further than a specific distance that day. In time, people were unable to distinguish man’s traditions from those of God’s.
The Pharisees must have adopted the slogan, “Cleanliness is next to godliness” because “The Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they give their hands a ceremonial washing, holding to the tradition of the elders. When they come from the marketplace they do not eat unless they wash. And they observe many other traditions, such as the washing of cups, pitchers and kettles.” (Mark 7:3–4) They assumed that washing their hands made them clean before God.
It was because Jesus did not adhere to their extra requirements that the religious leaders rejected Him as the Messiah. Because He did not bow to their ideas, they accused Him of breaking God’s commands. To these accusations Jesus replied, “‘You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men.’ And He said to them, ‘You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions!’” (Mark 7:8–9) For example, in our day many churches have the tradition that men should wear a suit and tie when they attend church. It’s not wrong to do so unless a person’s attire becomes the means by which we “measure their love for God.”
When we add to God’s traditions, we end up less joyful and more self-righteous. The Apostle Paul said, “See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.” (Colossians 2:8) All of God’s traditions were for the welfare of man and to display a facet of Christ. “Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a SHADOW of the things that were to come; the REALITY, however, is found in Christ.” (Colossians 2:16–17)
Enjoy your family traditions and use them as an opportunity to reflect upon Christ’s work on the cross for you. Worshipping Jesus is a tradition that is meant for every generation.
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