The Fence That Became a Cage
Read: Matthew 15:1–2
The common question we are asked each day, supplies the typical response: “How are you? Yeah. Good, thanks.” Even though many times, we’re not. We all get very good at looking fine, and pretending and putting on a show on the outside, and church might be where we’re best at it.
In Matthew 15, a delegation from Jerusalem arrives to inspect Jesus’ disciples. Their complaint is that the disciples don’t wash their hands before eating. This isn’t about hygiene. It’s about a tradition the elders had built, a “fence around the Torah,” meant to keep God’s people from ever drifting near disobedience. What began as love for God’s Word, had turned into a cage to trap and burden the people.
Fences aren’t the enemy. If you own a pool, you know a good fence is an act of love. Even praying before a meal is a fence, since Deuteronomy only commands thanks after eating. Jesus kept that tradition Himself. The ‘traditions of the elders’ the scribes and Pharisees were referring to had been set up to protect the people from breaking God’s laws again in a way that had previously led to the Babylonian captivity. The thinking was: ‘if breaking God’s law leads to this, let’s set up these traditions as fences to prevent getting even close to disobeying’. The trouble was, now these commands of men were being regarded more highly than God’s laws!
The trouble comes when a fence gets added to, promoted, and weaponised. Rules meant to protect people end up sorting them into “in” and “out.” A tradition is a good servant and a terrible master.
Reflect: What are your fences? Are you holding them as wisdom, or have you quietly made them commandments for everyone else?
Pray: Lord, make me someone who loves Your Word more than my own way of doing things.
▶ Watch the full sermon: Clean Hands, Pure Heart