LD Fincher Ministries - Doctrines of Men

This article and its second part ask the question, "When, if ever, are the doctrines and commandments of men acceptable to God?"

This particular article deals with Matthew 15:1-14 as the second part will deal with 1st Timothy 4:1-16 to answer this question.

Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying, Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? For God commanded, saying, Honor thy father and mother: and, He that curses father or mother, let him die the death. But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; And honor not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. Ye hypocrites , well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand: Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man. Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying? But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch. [Emphasis mine]

First, Jesus, after His question to the Pharisees concerning their transgressing the commandment of God by their traditions said, “For God commanded…” indicating that God is the one who makes commandments, not men. God is King; men are simply subjects of the king. To set the commands of men on the same level as God’s commands is to be guilty of treason in any Monarchy.

Second, The Pharisees had made up a command that allowed men to wiggle out of their responsibility to “honor their father and mother” which meant taking care of them monetarily as well as rendering respect. If men today come up with ways to wiggle out of keeping God’s commands by amending God’s commands with their own, they are as guilty as the Pharisees. If not, why not?

Third, It’s tremendously important to view men and situations as God views them, not as men see them. We must remember that “God’s ways are not your ways, God’s thoughts are not your thoughts.” Isa 55:8. Peter rebuked Christ for His plan to go to Jerusalem and there be betrayed and condemned. Jesus rebuked him sharply, Mar 8:33 “But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.” Jesus called the Pharisees, “Hypocrites” and revealed how God sees men who set aside the commandments of God.

Forth, Jesus reveals that a prophesy of the Old Testament was fulfilled in this setting aside of God’s commands. He further reveals that this was and is a matter of heart. They honor him with their lips and mouth, but in setting aside God’s command, their heart was far from God. The same is true in any time; Our diligence to follow the commands of God and diligently study His word that we might hold to His truth and do that which is pleasing to the Lord is a matter of Heart…a heart set on doing His will first and foremost.

Fifth, Jesus then points out that because of this action of setting aside God’s command, their worship of God was vain. Their worship of God was useless and unheeded by the Lord. It was wasted time.

Sixth, Jesus clearly points out that God considered their “tradition” and “the commandments of men” as equivalents. Hence, the commandments of men will negate worship, offend God, usurp God’s authority, place one in the lost condition of hypocrisy, and reveal an evil heart as God sees it.

Seventh, Jesus’ command to the faithful of God that listened to his discourse concerning these men who set aside the command of God was to “let them alone:” Why? He clearly states they are “Blind” and if one follows this sort of man, they are considered to be “blind” as well and the result of the following is that “Both shall fall into the ditch.” Hence, to follow men who set aside the commandment of God is to be viewed by God as “blind” and the end of the following is to “fall”.

Eighth, Jesus called these men who set aside the commandment of God and those who follow them as “blind”. Addressing the same group of men before his crucifixion, the rebuke of these men intensified. Five times in Matthew 23 Jesus called the “blind guides”, “fools and blind”. Speaking to this group of men who had set aside the commands of God, Jesus further indicates their eternal jeopardy:

“You are the sons of those who kill the prophets; and you fill up the measure of your fathers” vs31, 32;

“Serpents! Offspring of vipers! How can you escape the condemnation of hell?” vs.33;

The seriousness of teaching the doctrines and commandments of men is clearly seen in Matthew 15:1-14. The question is, will we see it and act accordingly?

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