Why do you think Jesus said to the scribes and Pharisees (in Matthew
15:1-3) when he answered them back about not washing their hands
before they ate “why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by
your traditions?”
Did you know in the old testament in the laws of Moses given by God
that there is no mention anywhere in scripture that they had to wash
before they ate? In the laws of the Jewish people, there were many
laws added later by the Pharisees and scribes.
This was a tradition of man. So, Jesus was pointing out to the
scribes and Pharisees that they were following the laws of man and
not God.
Then Jesus says in Matthew 15:4 (where it was written in the law “For
God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that
curseth father or mother, let him die the death.”
Could it be that the scribes and pharasees were more hung up on their
laws then the law of God to Moses? They followed the tradition of
man and not what God’s word said?
Does that sound familiar in the church today? Do we follow or do
rituals that are not in the written word? For example, look at all
the traditions in the Catholic church, many of the traditions came
after about 400 years later.
I”m not picking on the Catholic church but using them as an example
of how the church bring division within each other through traditions
of man. I’m sure all denominations are guilty in one form or
another. Here are examples of what I”m talking about. This is after
the death of Christ.
375 – Veneration of angels and dead saints. What does the word say
about praying to dead saints. It is forbidden in the word of God.
394 – The Mass, as a daily celebration, adopted.
431 – The worship of Mary, the mother of Jesus, and the use of the
term, “Mother of God”, as applied to her, originated in the Council
of Ephesus.
500 – Priests began to dress differently from the laity.
593 – The doctrine of Purgatory was first established by Gregory the
Great. The Latin language, as the language of prayer and worship in
churches, was also imposed by Pope Gregory I. 600 years after Christ
The Word of God forbids praying and teaching in an unknown tongue. (I
Cor. 14:9).
600 – The Bible teaches that we pray to God alone. In the primitive
church never were prayers directed to Mary, or to dead saints. This
practice began in the Roman Church
(Matt. 11:28; Luke 1:46; Acts 10:25-26; 14:14-18)
610 – The Papacy is of pagan origin. The title of pope or universal
bishop, was first given to the bishop of Rome by the wicked emperor
Phocas
This he did to spite Bishop Ciriacus of Constantinople, who had
justly excommunicated him for his having caused the assassination of
his predecessor emperor Mauritius. Gregory 1, then bishop of Rome,
refused the title, but his successor, Boniface III, first assumed
title “pope.”
Jesus did not appoint Peter to the headship of the apostles and
forbade any such notion. (Lk. 22:24-26; Eph. 1:22-23; Col. 1:18; I
Cor. 3:11).
Note:– Nor is there any mention in Scripture, nor in history, that
Peter ever was in Rome, much less that he was pope there for 25
years; Clement, 3rd bishop of Rome, remarks that there is no real 1st
century evidence that Peter ever was in Rome.”
709 – The kissing of the Pope’s feet
It had been a pagan custom to kiss the feet of emperors. The Word of
God forbids such practices. (Read Acts 10:25-26; Rev. 19:10; 22:9).
750 – The Temporal power of the Popes
When Pepin, the usurper of the throne of France, descended into
Italy, called by Pope Stephen II, to war against the Italian
Lombards, he defeated them and gave the city of Rome and surrounding
territory to the pope. Jesus expressly forbade such a thing, and He
himself refused worldly kingship. (Read Matt. 4:8-9; 20:25-26; John
18:38).
788 – Worship of the cross, images and relics was authorized
This was by order of Dowager Empress Irene of Constantinople, who
first caused to pluck the eyes of her own son, Constantine VI, and
then called a church council at the request of Hadrian I, pope of
Rome at that time.
Such practice is called simply IDOLATRY in the Bible, and is severly
condemned. (Read Ex. 20:4; 3:17; Deut. 27:15; Psalm 115).
850 – Holy Water, mixed with a pinch of salt and blessed by the
priest, was authorized.
890 – The veneration of St. Joseph began
965 – The baptism of bells was instituted by Pope John XIV
995 – Canonization of dead saints, first by Pope John XV
Every believer and follower of Christ is called saint in the Bible.
(Read Rom. 1:7; I Col. 1:2).
998 – Fasting on Fridays and during Lent were imposed
Imposed by popes said to be interested in the commerce of fish.
(Bull, or permit to eat meat), some authorities say, began in the
year 700. This is against the plain teaching of the Bible. (Read
Matt. 15:10; I Cor. 10:25; I Tim. 4:1-3).
The Mass was developed gradually as a sacrifice; attendance made
obligatory in the 11th century.
The Bible teaches that the sacrifice of Christ was offered once and
for all, and is not to be repeated, but only commemorated in the
Lord’s Supper. (Read Heb. 7:27; 9:26-28; 10:10-14).
1079 – The celibacy of the priesthood was decreed by Pope Hildebrand,
Boniface VII
Jesus imposed no such rule, nor did any of the apostles. On the
contrary, St. Peter was a married man, and St. Paul says that bishops
were to have wife and children. (Read I Tim. 3:2,5, and 12; Matt.
8:14-15).
1090 – The Rosary, or prayer beads was introduced by Peter the
Hermit, in the year 1090. Copied from Hindus and Mohammedans
The counting of prayers is a pagan practice and is expressly
condemned by Christ. (Matt. 6:5-13).
This list goes on and on but these are traditions of man. I’m using
this as an example. We are all guilty of doing so in our lives.
What I’m trying to say is that when man created traditions regardless
of what denomination, it brought division between the churches.
Can you imagine what it would be like if we all followed the word of
God and we all could be in harmony with each other? Maybe the laws
of the land against the church might not have ever come about? Think
about it?
I want to hear your thoughts on this. Again, I’m not picking on the
Catholic church but using them as an example of traditions of man.
by: Traci Morin
Touch of God Healing Ministries (a healing and deliverance ministry located in Dallas, Texas). If you live in the Dallas area, come to our set free bible study and start your journey of healing!
Need prayer, fill out our online prayer request!
Read the testimony of Traci Morin healed of 13 diseases body soul and spirit
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