Rejecting Rationalization

[Walter and Deborah]

Thursday 6-9-22 4th. Day Of The Weekly Cycle, Sivan 9, 5782 82nd. Spring Day

Rejecting Rationalization

Read: Mark 7:6–13 | Bible in a Year: 2 Chronicles 32–33; John 18:19–40

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You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions. Mark 7:8

An Atlanta police officer asked a driver if she knew why he’d stopped her. “No idea!” she said in bewilderment. “Ma’am, you were texting while driving,” the officer gently told her. “No, no!” she protested, holding up her cell phone as evidence. “It’s an email.”
Using a cell phone to send an email doesn’t grant us a loophole from a law that prohibits texting while driving! The point of the law isn’t to prevent texting; it’s to prevent distracted driving.

Jesus accused the religious leaders of His day of creating far worse loopholes. “You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God,” He said, quoting the command to “Honor your father and mother” as evidence (Mark 7:9–10). Under the hypocritical cloak of religious devotion, these wealthy leaders were neglecting their families. They simply declared their money as “devoted to God,” and voila, no need to help Mom and Dad in their old age. Jesus quickly got to the heart of the problem. “You nullify the word of God by your tradition,” He said (v. 13). They weren’t honoring God; they were dishonoring their parents.

Rationalization can be so subtle. With it we avoid responsibilities, explain away selfish behavior, and reject God’s direct commands. If that describes our behavior, we’re merely deceiving ourselves. Jesus offers us the opportunity to exchange our selfish tendencies for the guidance of the Spirit behind His Father’s good instructions.
In what areas of your life do you find yourself rationalizing? How do these rationalizations square with the wisdom of the Bible?
God, I need Your wise discernment. Rescue me from my denial of my own guilt. Help me live in step with Your Spirit.

INSIGHT

The weight of Jesus’ indictment of the religious leaders (Mark 7:1, 5), the Pharisees and scribes, becomes even more striking when we explore the words He used. He called them “hypocrites” (hypokritēs, v. 6). These religious leaders appeared to be something that they weren’t. They had “let go of the commands of God and [were] holding on to human traditions” (v. 8). The word translated “let go of” (aphiēmi) is widely used in the New Testament and includes the idea of “sending away” or “releasing.”

Though they had “let go” of God’s authoritative commands, they were “holding on to” (krateō) their traditions. Another word that brings the error of the religious gatekeepers into focus is “nullify” (akyroō, a legal term for “to invalidate,” v. 13). Adherents to any system where “tradition” trumps God’s “truth” are ripe for rebuke.
Learn more about hypocrisy in the church.
By Tim Gustafson|June 9th, 2022

Holiness Mark 7:6-13

6 He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.

7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

8 For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.

9 And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.

10 For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death:

11 But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free.

12 And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother;

13 Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.

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Love, Walter and Debbie

[Mama Etna]

Rationalization seems to also be a cultural phenomenon.   It is used to justify sinful behavior.