1682. I. A Cult Must Not Have Precedence to Christ

I. A Cult Must Not Have Precedence to Christ

Our key verse, plainly shows the passion of the Pharisees for cult–they would compass sea and land to make a proselyte; but their proselyte was twofold more the child of hell than they themselves.

Let us observe how the Pharisees were very zealous for their religion.

1. The Jewish Sabbath. The disciples were walking through the cornfield on the Sabbath Day, and they began to pluck ears of corn as they went.

"And the Pharisees said unto him, Behold, why do they on the sabbath day that which is not lawful?" (Mar_2:24).

In this, the Pharisees placed the Sabbath, a part of their cult, above the Son of God; for Christ was Lord even of the Sabbath.

2. The washing of pots. The Pharisees and all the Jews laid great stress on bathing their hands before they ate. This they did, not as a matter of cleanliness, but as a matter of tradition.

The Pharisees also had many other traditions, such as the washing of cups, and of pots, and of brazen vessels, and of reclining couches, from which they ate at their tables.

When the disciples did not walk according to their tradition, they were horrified, and they questioned Christ, finding fault.

The Pharisees in every way, gave evidence that they were worshipers of their religious conceptions, and not of Jehovah.

3. Paul in Jerusalem (see Act_21:24-26). Cult before Christ played a great part in the early Church. When Paul was in Jerusalem, he was prevailed upon to go through a form of purification, before he entered the Temple.

This act had been pressed upon Paul, in order to placate the Pharisees, in fulfilling their foolish forms.

Paul, for the once, yielded to their advice, and got into a great deal of trouble thereby.

Paul, in his early days had been very zealous for the traditions of the Jews' religion, but when he was saved, he turned from a dead cult to the living Christ, and he should not have yielded his new liberty.

4. Peter separating himself (see Gal_2:11-14). Peter had gone to Antioch, and he ate with the Gentiles; but, when certain of the Jewish brethren came, he separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.

"And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation."

When Paul saw what they were doing, he withstood Peter to the face. Peter was putting cult, and customs, and Judaistic prejudices before Christ, and he needed to be condemned.

In all of this, there is a tremendous lesson for the Christian of the twentieth century. We are continually in danger of following the demands of cult, and of neglecting the commands of Christ.

It is churchanity and not Christ which governs many. The question is not, What does Christ say?–but, What does the church say?

Denominational "traditions" overstep obedience to the Lord Jesus; men listen to the church instead of listening to the great Head of the church.

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR