Matthew 15:1–9

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

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.

Understanding the context of the scriptures. Context includes the circumstances that surround or provide background for a particular passage or account in the scriptures. Context can help students better understand the accounts, teachings, doctrine, and principles in the scriptures.

Student preparation: Ask students to think about their traditions, or their “beliefs and practices that are passed on from one generation to another” (Guide to the Scriptures, “Traditions,” ChurchofJesusChrist.org) and why they do them. It may help students to include their families in this preparation activity.

Possible Learning Activities

Traditions

Be aware that traditions can be a sensitive topic. Some students may have strong feelings about holding on to traditions. Pray for help to teach this concept. Through His Spirit, Heavenly Father can provide guidance to help students feel safe as they evaluate their traditions within the context of gospel standards.

Read the following scenarios.

If necessary, consider adapting the following traditions to be more relevant to students. Alternatively, students could begin by sharing some of their own family traditions or common traditions in the area where they live.

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 teach the importance of scriptural context and if time permits, consider inviting students to first read Matthew 15:1–9 without the following contextual helps. Then give students the following contextual explanation, and invite them to read the same block again, noticing the difference that understanding the context makes.

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

Consider explaining or displaying the following contextual help.

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.

How did understanding the context help you better understand the Savior’s teachings?
Why do you think the Savior felt so strongly about correcting or doing away with these traditions?

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.

8:58

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)

What traditions are helping you become more like Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and focus on what matters most?
What traditions may be taking you away from Jesus Christ and preventing you from accomplishing those things that matter most? What steps might you need to take to remove these traditions from your life?
How can the Savior’s example help you recognize and focus on the traditions that matter most?

Commentary and Background Information

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.

17:20

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.

10:9

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.

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Supplemental Learning Activities

An alternative way to begin the lesson

Help students understand that traditions are “beliefs and practices that are passed on from one generation to another” (Guide to the Scriptures, “Traditions,” ChurchofJesusChrist.org). Invite students to read the quote by President Lant, found near the end of the lesson. Invite them to discuss why traditions matter and to list the traditions they have.

Additional scenarios to use to begin the lesson

Like many others in their school, a young man and a young woman are 16 and are seriously dating.
A young couple is preparing for marriage, and they live in a place where sexual intimacy before marriage is widely accepted.