The Traditions of Judaism
December 12, 2021
Commentary
The disciples of John the Baptist questioned Jesus as to why He and His disciples were not fasting as they and the Pharisees were doing (vv. 14-15)? Jesus compared His conduct to that of a King having a wedding banquet. He said that at a wedding people are happy and eating and not mourning or fasting. It had been right for John and his disciples to fast, for they were seeking to bring about repentance to those steeped in the traditions of Judaism. However Jesus had not come to patch up an old system like sewing new cloth to an old garment or pouring new wine into old wineskins (vv. 16-17). The principle expressed here is that Jesus Christ has come to bring in a new dispensation altogether, which cannot be fitted into the forms of the old Jewish economy. The principle taught here by illustration is that the rule of the Law must be replaced by that of Grace, which will now have free reign in the hearts of all believers. He had not come to add things to Pharisaic traditions.
At this point Jesus performs two miracles. A woman who had been hemorrhaging for twelve years touches His garment and because of her faith she is healed (vv. 18-26). From this scene Jesus goes to the house of Jairus whose daughter has died. According to tradition, it was typical in a Middle Eastern home where someone was dead, mourners had been hired to make noise and were already assembled to weep for the family. After the crowd was dismissed, Jesus restored the girl to life. “And they ridiculed Him” (v. 24). Because Jesus looked beyond what people could see to what God sees, they made fun of Him. Faith in Jesus often looks ridiculous to those who don’t have it.
Application
Church traditions can still get in the way of my relationship with Jesus Christ. For many going to Church and going through a formality of worship has become more important than in having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. I never want to let my worship just become a tradition.
Matthew 9:14– 26 (NET)
14 Then John’s disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples don’t fast?” 15 Jesus said to them, “The wedding guests cannot mourn while the bridegroom is with them, can they? But the days are coming when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and then they will fast. 16 No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, because the patch will pull away from the garment and the tear will be worse. 17 And no one pours new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the skins burst and the wine is spilled out and the skins are destroyed. Instead they put new wine into new wineskins and both are preserved.”
18 As he was saying these things, a leader came, bowed low before him, and said, “My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her and she will live.” 19 Jesus and his disciples got up and followed him. 20 But a woman who had been suffering from a hemorrhage for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. 21 For she kept saying to herself, “If only I touch his cloak, I will be healed.” 22 But when Jesus turned and saw her he said, “Have courage, daughter! Your faith has made you well.” And the woman was healed from that hour. 23 When Jesus entered the leader’s house and saw the flute players and the disorderly crowd, 24 he said, “Go away, for the girl is not dead but asleep!” And they began making fun of him. 25 But when the crowd had been forced outside, he went in and gently took her by the hand, and the girl got up. 26 And the news of this spread throughout that region.
Illustration: The Butter and Cat Tradition
A very poor holy man lived in a remote part of China. Every day before his time of meditation in order to show his devotion, he put a dish of butter up on the window sill as an offering to God, since food was so scarce. One day his cat came in and ate the butter. To remedy this, he began tying the cat to the bedpost each day before the quiet time. This man was so revered for his piety that others joined him as disciples and worshiped as he did. Generations later, long after the religious man was dead, his followers placed an offering of butter on the window sill during their time of prayer and meditation. Furthermore, each one bought a cat and tied it to the bedpost. (Source Unknown).