Man's Mandates

In quoting Isaiah, Jesus says that vain worship consists in "teaching as doctrine (teachings) the precepts (entalama) of men." (Mark.7:7) Jesus fought this battle consistently throughout His earthly ministry, and there is no reason to believe we must not continue the same fight. However, caution is in order lest we simply switch our man-made mandates for those of others. We rightly reject the precepts and ordinances that religious systems impose on men as a means of their salvation. We who teach others must also teach ourselves. We must not come up with our own list of man-made rules and make them essential for salvation. These rules are meant to control men and their behaviors. They do almost nothing to bring about holiness. Paul uses the same word in Colossians 2:20-23:

"If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees such as 'Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!' (which all refer to things destined to perish with the using) in accordance with the commandments (entalama) and teachings of men? These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence."

Here is your Pauline commentary on Jesus words in Mark 7. The entire context of Colossians relates to this. What are we talking about, really? We are seeking a binding, permanent relationship with God. But we are consistent law-breakers. So let's understand this whole deal. Someone comes up with the bright idea that in order to bring chronic law-breakers closer to a holy God we must make up more laws for them to keep. That ought to do it, right? If we break ten rules, lets make ten more, and that should do it. There is one more twist to this. The ones making the rules think they are OK already and only need to make more rules to keep the rest of us in line. So now not only is the whole "plan" crazy, it creates a system by which we are controlled by the new law-givers. If God had wanted to save us by law-keeping, He would have sent another Moses to give us more laws. Instead He sent one like Moses who came and kept all the laws that were already in place, died for the ones we already broke, and gave us His own righteousness. I like God's plan better.

But what of the commandments of God, and there are plenty of legitimate commands? A command is much easier to follow when I am not depending on the keeping of it for my salvation. Now my command-keeping, summed up in love for God and love for neighbor, is a response to the relationship secured by the one who sinlessly kept all His Father's commandments on our behalf. That is the principle Jesus is going to war over.