Pray:
God, You are full of light and truth. You see the heart and do not look as humans look. Thank You.
Read:
Matthew 15:1-20
Reflect:
Do you prioritize things that God counts unimportant?
I have a friend who is reluctant to play Scrabble with us, not because that she thinks we cheat, but some of our "traditions" aren't in the rule book. Nevertheless it is all very light-hearted.
Not so when the Pharisees got on the subject of tradition. They paid a great deal of attention to anything they saw as flouting the rules of the elders (2), and they could not wait to challenge Jesus on the behavior of his disciples. But he is more than able to answer them, pointing out the discrepancies in their codes and showing them that they are placing importance on wrong things (3-6).
Traditions can be good and helpful in their place, but they are only a part of the whole picture of life. And if they assume too much importance, they can actually lead to harm. Jesus' view of honoring father and mother is different from that of the Pharisees. By devoting things to God that could have helped their parents (5,6), they are far from doing the best for them.
Apply:
What priorities need correcting in your life today? Pray about any relationships you may need to put right.
Pray:
Father of lights, I want Your light to shine in my heart. Help me to live a life that reflects what truly matters to You.
