He answered and said to them, “Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition? For God commanded, saying, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’ But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother, whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to God’ —then he need not honor his father or mother. Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition.” Matthew 15:3-6

It Is Man’s Traditions v. God’s Commands!

Jesus then teaches the scribes and Pharisees that they have messed up God’s commands through their man-made traditions. Here (the church says) it is okay to give all your money to them and then let your mother and father starve or otherwise go in need (because you have no money left in which to honor them according to God’s Word). In fact, the church leaders say that by doing this—you honor God. This is the same dogma I have heard in the 21st Century “Word of Faith” church. Nothing has changed in this regard in 2000 years. Should you obey God’s commands or the traditions of the elders of your church? The answer should be clear if God speaks to your heart. It must be God’s commandments first. They take priority over the church and its doctrines.

For now, what about those priorities shown above? Nobody should seriously argue about whether God should be first in his or her life. If they do, it simply indicates that they are among those whom Jesus is talking about in Matthew 7:22-23 or they are simply NOT meant to be with God. But should your own family be placed ahead of the church in priority? If so, why? God has ordained the church to get the message of “repentance and salvation” out to the world. This is the Gospel of Christ. So, doesn’t the church have to take priority over your family? I don’t know of any verse that tells you to “take care of the church or you are worse than an infidel” but, the Bible teaches this very message concerning the [your] family.

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