Heart vs Tradition

As I read through Mark 7, my mind is conflicted because there's so much to talk about. For this, I’ll stick with the first section. Jesus is challenged by the Pharisees at the very beginning of the chapter because his disciples wouldn’t partake in the ceremonial cleansing of their hands. This was a tradition created by man (among other traditions). Jesus knew this legalism ultimately led the people further away from God. For this he pointed out them not obeying the command to “Honor your father and mother”. The Jews could use “Corban” (devotion to God) as a scapegoat to not provide aid to the parents of whomever making this claim. This infuriated Jesus because this legalistic ritual was taught and ingrained into the hearts of people but their hearts were hardened from the commandments “thus making void the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And many such things you do” vs 13. 

I often think to myself “what would make God proud of me?” I create some sort of self-derived charge to go out and “do something for God”, which I feel and think come from a place of moral goodness. The patterns I establish using this mindset then become ritualistic in a sense and are then rooted in the routine of my day to day life. As time goes on, I start to feel empty and not satisfied by my own “charge” and I become numb to the feeling.

I love how Jesus indicates the motives of the heart is what leads to honoring or dishonoring God vs the physical acts. He clarifies that following the commands of His father is what draws us near to Him and fills us vs religious acts that could inadvertently lead our hearts further away.