Day 5

Matthew 13-15

In this reading there are several parables, John the Baptist is killed, Jesus feeds thousands twice and walks on water. Also, Jesus takes on a tradition of the Pharisees. The issue that the Pharisees had with Jesus and the disciples was they didn't wash their hands before they ate. With the warnings for swine flu, I agree that not washing your hand before eating is a bad practice. Actually, swine flu or not it is a bad habit.
Jesus made the point that the heart is what causes bad fruit rather than what one eats. Jesus used strong language when He called them hypocrite and then quoted Scripture from Isaiah 29:13.

These people honor me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me.
They worship me in vain;
their teachings are but rules taught by men.

Just as Jesus was on guard for traditions that were passed on to people as if it were Scripture, we too must watch for it as well. There is no substitution for every single Christian to apply Scripture to their own life rather than just listening to what others say the Bible says. Preaching and teaching the Word is vital to the church but it was never intended to replace personal application of Scripture on an ongoing consistent basis.
I challenge you, as we continue in Chasing99, to be on the watch for traditions that are merely just the teachings of men. Ultimately, holding people to the traditions of men will produce bad fruit or no fruit!