For the 12th Sunday after Pentecost the three assigned readings for Series B are Isaiah 29:11-19; Ephesians 5:22-33 and Mark 7:1-13. The text for analysis is Mark 7:7 which reads, “And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.”

It is fairly obvious what charges Jesus is bringing against the leading spiritual leaders of His day. But is it that easy for the pastor to levy similar charges against the members of the congregation today? While it is true that the Pharisees of Jesus’ day were by and large unbelievers in Him as the fulfillment of the coming of the Messiah, it is not true that believers also cannot be charged with teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.

First, let’s examine what Jesus means by “doctrine” in this conversation. “Doctrine” is not simply anything the Bible says but that which is God’s revelation to mankind as to the path of salvation. For example, it would not be a “doctrine” that Nimrod was a hunter (Genesis 10:8-9) but it would be a “doctrine” that we are saved by grace, thorugh faith, not by works (Ephesians 2:8-9). Where the problem arises is that Judaism was substituting the Word of God doctrines with man-made traditions. Some of them are listed by Jesus in verses 8 and following.

The teachings of Judaism were different that the Old Testament faith of true Israel. It is thought that Judaism began when the temple was destroyed by the Babylonians in 583 B.C. resulting in synagogues replacing the temple, rabbis replacing priests and teaching of the law replacing sacrifices. Judaism became a man-made religion of works from which the prayer of the Pharisee in Luke 18 could take place thanking God that he wasn’t the sinner as were others.

While Christians today may not be following ceremonial laws to boast of their meriting heaven, there are definite instances when the Word of God is replaced with the tradition of certain men. For example, the denial of infant baptism, the denial of the true body and blood of Jesus being in, with and under the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper, and a decision theology by which unbelievers can choose to invite Christ into the heart are all ways in which man’s ideas have replaced God’s inerrant doctrine.

Yet even members of congregations which do not reject these doctrines of God can still be seen as replacing the Word of God with the commandments of men. There are pastors who appear to set aside the teachings of God when they do not speak forthrightly against the sins of our day such as abortion, same sex marriage, homosexuality and the like. So the sin can take place not only by speaking contrary to the Word of God but also when remaining silent about the Word of God.

This is a Law and Gospel problem for when the Law of God is not used properly to accuse people of their sinful condition, the Gospel loses its importance in being received. And the sinful condition of members of a congregation are not evident only from disobedience against God’s clear Word but also as to how one regards the “good works” he does. For anytime the Christian concludes that God loves him or her more because of frequent church attendance, volunteering in the congregation for various tasks or through large donations, such “good works” are seen as a plate of worms by God. How so?

When you do not realize that none of your “good works” ever reach the level of sinlessness because of your old Adam, to attempt to impress God with such works is to add to the cross of Christ. And when you add to the cross of Christ, you subtract from the cross of Christ. Yes, the problem of sustituting our commandments with God’s doctrine continues to take place every time we sin. That is why as theologians of the cross, the maturing life of the Christian is one of daily repentance and a return to the blessed promises connected with our having been baptized into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.