1912 Watch Tower - A2Z.org

--to be very careful to always wash their hands beforeeating, as a religious duty. We may be sure thatJesus set His followers no example of filthiness or impurity.Indeed, we know that in proportion as truthenters the heart it has a cleansing and purifying effectupon the entire life, upon the whole person--mental,moral and physical. What the Pharisees meant was aceremonial washing, whether the hands were clean orunclean--to make a formal washing a part of their religion.This was what Jesus objected to. He could notso teach because it would have been ceremonial hypocrisy.As He said on another occasion, These customs of thePharisees, of wonderful washings of their persons andof the vessels in a perfunctory and ceremonial way, consumedmuch of their time and were burdensome upon thepoor, who had no servants to do these things for them,and not doing them were considered unclean, unholy, outof accord with the Divine arrangements, not true Jews.Answering the Pharisees on these points, Jesus saidto them, You are the holy people mentioned by Isaiahthe Prophet saying, "This people seeketh Me with theirR5096 : page 283lips, but their heart is far from Me. But in vain do yeworship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandmentsof men," for ye leave the commandments of God and holdfast the traditions of men.Jesus gave them an example of how they neglectedthe Divine commandments while giving so much attentionto ceremonial washings, which were commanded, notof God, but of the Talmud. The illustration was that theMosaic Law commanded that father and mother shouldbe honored and that he that spoke evil of either of themshould be put to death. But this command had beenchanged by the Talmud and any man might be free fromhis parents by consecrating himself and substance to Godand religious uses. Having done so, according to theTalmud, he was freed from all obligations to his parents.Thus they had made God's direct commandment on thissubject null and void, which they had no right to do.This was the conflict between the teachings of Jesusand the teachings of the Pharisees. Both claimed holinessand strict observance of the Divine Law, but Jesusheld to the Word of God and rejected the Talmud, thetraditions of the Elders, and the Pharisees neglected theR5097 : page 283Word of God and held to the traditions. What are weas Christians doing today? "Let us hold fast the faithfulWord," "The Word of God, which is able to make uswise." Let us search the Scriptures daily and critically,and let us abandon everything which conflicts therewith.WHAT IS GOD'S KINGDOM?