The Holy Martyrs Proclus and Hilary (98-117); Venerable Father Michael of Maleon (961)
1 Corinthians 7:12-24; Matthew 14:35-15:11.
Read Matthew 14:35-15:11
Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!
The scribes and Pharisees from Jerusalem questioned Jesus for His disciples’ failure to follow the “tradition of the elders” (Mt. 15:2). Jesus responds to them with a question: “Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition?” (Mt. 15:3). The scribes and Pharisees put their tradition higher than the commandment of God.
Today’s reading began with all the people from the region surrounding Gennesaret bringing to Jesus those who were sick, begging that they may only touch the hem of His garment (Mt. 14:34-36). Jesus, Who is the Life (Jn. 14:6), brings restoration and healing to those who come to Him in faith. Just as Jesus gives life, so do the commandments of God (see Mt. 19:17). However, the tradition of the elders is not lifegiving and should never be exalted above or be set opposed to God’s commandments.
The scribes and Pharisees were specifically concerned with the disciples’ failure to ritually “wash their hands when they eat bread” (Mt. 15:2), but today’s reading ends with Jesus explaining, “Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man” (Mt. 15:11). A person’s purity is not determined by outward appearances, ritual actions, or washed hands but rather by the state of one’s heart.
Human traditions as a whole are not being condemned in this passage. Each of our families passes down certain traditions from one generation to the next, and so does the Church. What is being condemned is the disorder caused by raising traditions above God’s commandments. Nothing should stand in the way of our relationship with God. It is the purity of our souls before God which matters most and not superficial appearances.