The New Testament deals with religious human traditions. Christ and the apostles gave attention to this issue. The word tradition is not in and of itself bad. It simply refers to observances passed down. Example as would be anniversaries, birthdays, and our national Thanksgiving holiday.
"Tradition" is even used in a good sense in scripture/ The tradition of the apostles is mentioned in 1 Corinthians 11:2. See also 2 Thessalonians 2:15; 3:6.
However, some traditions are of a different kind. God has not and does not accept some traditions. Some of these are:
1) Those traditions that were a part of the Old Testament law.
These traditions Gad had taken out of the way when the Old Law was fulfilled. Even so, the Jews were still wanting to keep them (Galatians 4:9-11; 5:1-4; Colossians 2:6-8,14). The Bible refers to these things as "traditions" and in context they were unacceptable. Today it would be wrong for the Christian to go back and keep the traditions of the Old Law.2) Those traditions that have their origin in men (Matthew 15:1-3,6; Mark 7:1-4,8,9).
Men would wash their hands and feet. Men would also wash pots, plates and tables - not as a matter of cleanliness, but rather as a matter of ceremony, to symbolize as cleaning in regards to a contrasting of other sects, groups and cultures. Doing these things were wrong because men were attempting to create "religious" tradition which God never authorized.Many traditions have been "forced into" the framework of the Bible. Some of these appear to be biblical but are not:
Easter
Easter originated in the Catholic church and had its roots in the Pagan world. The practice as a religious observance has no biblical authority. If this day was to be set aside and observed as the resurrection day of Jesus, then surely it would have been revealed to us in the New Testament.Christmas
Christmas also originated with Catholicism and had its roots in Paganism. It also has no biblical authority. The date of December 25th is not found in scripture. Actually other dates as well have been ascribed to the birth of Christ - June 25, January 6 and April 20. Various ideas which are assumed to be factual are found to be false in light of the scripture. For instance, we have know knowledge that there were exactly three wise men - we only assume this because of the three gifts presented to Jesus (Matthew 2:11). Also, the idea that the wise men visited Jesus while he was in the manger is erroneous because the New Testament reveals that they found the "young child" in a "house." (Matthew 2:11) Let us remember, though, that some traditions associated with Christmas, such as decorating a tree and exchanging presents, are not wrong in that they hold no religious affiliation.
1 Corinthians 11:2 Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances (traditions), as I delivered them to you.
2 Thessalonians 2:15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.
2 Thessalonians 3:6 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.
Galatians 4:9-11
9 But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?
10 Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.
11 I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.Galatians 5:1-4
1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
2 Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.
3 For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.
4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.Colossians 2:6-8,14
6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;Matthew 15:1-3,6
1 Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying,
2 Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.
3 But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?
6 And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.Mark 7:1-4,8,9
1 Then came together unto him the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, which came from Jerusalem.
2 And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault.
3 For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders.
4 And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brasen vessels, and of tables.
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.Matthew 2:11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshiped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh.
