Acts 21:27-30
When the seven days were nearly over, some Jews from the province of Asia saw Paul at the temple. They stirred up the whole crowd and seized him, shouting, "Men of Israel, help us! This is the man who teaches all men everywhere against our people and our law and this place. And besides, he has brought Greeks into the temple area and defiled this holy place." (They had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with Paul and assumed that Paul had brought him into the temple area.) The whole city was aroused, and the people came running from all directions. Seizing Paul, they dragged him from the temple, and immediately the gates were shut.
Traditions can be beautiful on one hand, but can be scary as well. The scary part is when people live under the bondage of tradition. In this passage we see that the Jews were so caught up in the tradition of circumcision, they were ready to put to death those who did not follow their tradition and law. In reality, tradition is not the truth. Truth must be followed, but tradition is to be respected. Otherwise, tradition will only become a bondage to people.
For example, you may get up at six o'clock the morning to do your devotion. You sing praise and worship songs before you read the Bible and you pray after you read the Bible. You think that this sequence is excellent, so you go to church and tell everyone they must wake up early to do their devotions in order to receive God's strength for the day, and promote it throughout the church. As a result, many people start to do this and before long, it becomes a law that everyone must follow to be considered "spiritual". People who do not do their devotions in the morning and are viewed as not spiritual or not being part of the church. Hence, although traditions can start off as something beautiful and helpful to others, it can easily become law. When it becomes law, the person will be trapped.
Are there some of these traditions in your life? Have you forcefully placed the burden of these traditions on others, especially your family and those around you? Jesus performed many miracles on the Sabbath, and the Jews were angry with him because they thought Jesus was violating the law of keeping the Sabbath. But Jesus himself said, "I am Lord of the Sabbath"; In fact, Jesus is not only Lord of the Sabbath, but He is also Lord of all traditions. Sabbath is a beautiful thing, and is intended to give rest to people; but Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath, He is the One who can truly grant rest and peace to us. Although tradition has its advantages, God is above all traditions. He is the One who can truly bring freedom, joy and peace.
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