Matthew 15:1–9

Do you “transgress the commandment of God by your tradition”?

Jesus talking to Pharisees in Jerusalem. Movie still from The Life of Jesus Christ Bible Videos.

When scribes and Pharisees asked why Jesus’s disciples did not follow their traditions, the Savior responded by rebuking those who use tradition as an excuse to break the commandments of God. This lesson can help you determine which of your traditions are helping you become more like Jesus Christ and which may be separating you from Him.

Traditions

Read the following scenarios.

A young woman’s family has a tradition of taking education very seriously. She is expected to perform well on assignments and tests.
For generations, a young man’s family has made it a priority to pray every morning and every night.
A large social event to which many girls wear immodest attire is coming up. A young woman must decide how she will dress for the occasion.
For years, many of the youth in a particular ward have not sincerely participated in their Sunday School classes. This includes being late, not paying attention, and texting or playing games on their phones during class.
It is a tradition at one school for the older students to pick on the younger students.

Answer the following questions, which relate to the previous scenarios.

Why do you think our traditions matter?
How might our traditions affect our ability to become like Jesus Christ?
Why might it be difficult for someone to evaluate their traditions or to change their improper traditions?

As you study this lesson, you will learn some of the teachings of Jesus Christ about traditions. Traditions are “beliefs and practices that are passed on from one generation to another” (Guide to the Scriptures, “ Traditions,” ChurchofJesusChrist.org). In your study journal, list some traditions that are a part of your life.

The Savior’s teachings on traditions

To understand what the Savior taught, it can be helpful to know the context, or background, of Matthew 15.

First read Matthew 15:1–9. Then read the following contextual help, and then read the same scriptures again, noticing the difference that understanding the context makes.

Contextual help for Matthew 15: In the Savior’s day, Jewish leaders taught the written law of Moses as well as an oral law that was not given by God but was tradition among the people. This included things like counting steps on the Sabbath and excessively washing one’s hands before meals, which represented a person’s spiritual purity. Parts of the traditional law were being used for selfish reasons. For example, honoring your father and mother is a commandment in the law of Moses (see Exodus 20:12), but some individuals used the oral law to justify breaking this commandment by claiming that their money or resources were dedicated as “a gift” to God (Matthew 15:5) and therefore not available to be used to help care for their elderly parents. These changes were not part of the original intent of the law and commandments and were not pleasing to God.

Read Matthew 15:1–9, looking for what the Savior taught about traditions.

What do you think the Savior is teaching in these verses? Identify one or two of the truths you find.

Some truths you may have identified are that improper traditions can lead people to reject or neglect the word of God and that if we desire to draw near to God, we must place His commandments above any traditions we might have.

The challenge of choosing between following worldly traditions and following God’s standards has always existed for His people (see Leviticus 18:30; Acts 16:19–24; Mosiah 1:5; Doctrine and Covenants 93:39). Reflect on one of the traditions you discussed at the beginning of this lesson, or think of another tradition. As you answer the following question, think about how this tradition affects your ability to draw closer to the Savior.

How can we tell if a tradition is leading our hearts away from God (see Matthew 15:8) or bringing our hearts toward Him?

Recall the traditions that you recorded in your study journal. Consider adding any additional traditions you have thought of as you have studied today. You might also include traditions of the area or country you live in. Prepare to evaluate these traditions by reading the following statement by President Cheryl C. Lant, former Primary General President. Her message is also available to watch on ChurchofJesusChrist.org. Then reflect on the questions that follow.

Righteous Traditions
Are the traditions that we are creating in our families going to make it easier for our children to follow the living prophets?

What kinds of traditions do we have? Some of them may have come from our fathers, and now we are passing them along to our own children. Are they what we want them to be? Are they based on actions of righteousness and faith? Are they mostly material in nature, or are they eternal? Are we consciously creating righteous traditions, or is life just happening to us? Are our traditions being created in response to the loud voices of the world, or are they influenced by the still, small voice of the Spirit? Are the traditions that we are creating in our families going to make it easier for our children to follow the living prophets, or will they make it difficult for them?

(Cheryl C. Lant, “Righteous Traditions,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2008, 13)

Optional: Want to Learn More?

What are some worldly traditions that I might need to remove from my life?

In his address “Repentance and Change” (Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2003, 39), President Dallin H. Oaks of the First Presidency gave many examples of “elements of … behavior that [may be] in conflict with gospel commandments, covenants, and culture.” Our behavior might differ from the traditions of the world when it comes to things like chastity and pornography, church attendance, honesty, and rank or social status. Consider watching or reading all or parts of President Oaks’s address, available on ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

Repentance and Change
Repenting means giving up all of our practices—personal, family, ethnic, and national—that are contrary to the commandments of God.

In his address “The Culture of Christ” (Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2020, 48–50), Elder William K. Jackson of the Seventy compared earthly cultures to the culture of Christ. Consider watching or reading all or parts of his address, which is available on ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

The Culture of Christ
Elder Jackson teaches that we can all celebrate our individual earthly cultures while being part of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Is it possible to retain my cultural traditions and still follow the Savior?

The following video gives one example of how to maintain cultural traditions and still follow the Savior.