So far we have studied the Old and the New Covenant to gain an understanding of what God has called us to today. Our aim is to reveal whether or not traditions or ordinances have a place for us today now that we are living under the New Covenant.

Let’s begin today by looking at how Jesus viewed the man made traditions that arose during the time of the Old Covenant.

Mark 7:1-8
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.
⁵ Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands?
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.

In these verses we find the Pharisees bringing accusations against God’s people, the disciples, because they did not wash their hands before eating. The religious people were offended at their failure to adhere to the tradition or ordinance.

Jesus then went on to point out to the Pharisees that their adherence to the traditions did not make them spiritual. Now this alone should tell us that while ordinances had a place under the Old Testament, there was no spiritual benefit in the works of the outward.

Many of the religious people of the day created the appearance of honouring God by holding fast to the traditions of their elders and the commandments of men. To many people it would seem that they were pious. However, the all-seeing eyes of Jesus Christ perceived that their hearts revealed a different attitude as He declared that Isaiah’s prophecy regarding those whose hearts were far from God was fulfilled in them.

I believe that still today there are many who hold fast to traditions and ordinances, such as feet washing, communion and water baptism, while their heart declares a love for something other than God when they are outside the church building. For this reason (and many more), I believe that there is no virtue in traditions and ordinances today, even if they are wrapped in a spiritual covering.

To understand why this is so, we must firstly look at how God dealt with His people under the Old Covenant.

Hebrews 9:1-10
¹ Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary.  
² For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary.
³ And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all;
⁴ Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant;
⁵ And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly.
⁶ Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God.
⁷ But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people:
⁸ The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing:
⁹ Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience;
¹⁰ Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.

Verse one starts by telling us that the first covenant had ordinances. This was God’s chosen way for His people at that time. As it was the right way for them we could say that it was their righteousness. Righteousness, simply put, is the right way. While we can see that the ordinances were right for the first covenant, we must not assume that it is right for us today as we are living under a different covenant.

After the writer describes the “worldly sanctuary” he then explains that it was a figure for the time then present. It was for THEN, however it is not for now. The meats, drinks and diverse washings were practices and their service to God for those living at that time. Again, it was their righteousness or it was the right way for them.

The ordinances were put in place for a specific purpose – to be a figure for the time then present. They were a picture or an outward demonstration of a spiritual truth. The ordinances, meats, drinks, diverse washings, feasts and ceremonies did not have any effect on the heart of the person practising them. Hebrews 9 tells us they could not make the comer perfect as pertaining to the conscience. It had no effect on the inner man, but rather served as a way of teaching us the spiritual truths of Jesus Christ, His sacrifice, His Church, His people etc.

As you read the gospels you will notice that many times Jesus demonstrated a spiritual truth by using the examples of earthly elements; we call these parables. In the same way, under the Old Covenant God instituted the ordinances and the worldly sanctuary as a means of us being able to use things which we can see and understand to teach us the truths of those things we cannot see or touch. This is how we may understand that the Old Covenant was a figure for the time then present.

Now as we are considering whether or not ordinances are still to be practised today, we should take special note of the words in verse ten.

Hebrews 9:10
Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.

The ordinances were to be imposed until the time of reformation. The word reformation means correction or straightening. It was Jesus Christ who brought the reformation. He is the plumbline  who made the building straight.

The way that was right for those under the Old Covenant, was only right until the time of reformation. That time has come and now we are living under a new dispensation. So what is our righteousness today? Which way is right for us?

1 Corinthians 1:23 says that we preach Christ. Jesus Christ is our righteousness, not ordinances. We do not follow after the things of the outward or the things of the flesh. We follow Jesus Christ as we follow His Word. Let us also consider this verse…

1 Corinthians 15:34
Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.

When this verse tells us to awake to righteousness, what is it saying? Is it saying that we are to awake to ordinances such as feet washing, communion and water baptism? Absolutely not.

It is as we awake to Christ that we may sin not. We read from Mark 7 that the ordinances and traditions did not keep them from sinning as Christ was able to declare some of them hypocrites. Jesus is the one that keeps us from sinning.

Jude 1:24
Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,

You see, the ordinances under the Old Covenant forced the flesh. It did not change their hearts as the heart cannot be changed by the practice of outward traditions. The heart can only be changed by a spiritual experience. This happened on the day of Pentecost as the Holy Spirit entered into the hearts of men and women.

This is why Paul taught that the traditions that forced the flesh are no more.

Hebrews 9:8-9
⁸ The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing:
⁹ Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience;

In verse eight you may notice the use of the word “signifying”. This signifying suggests symbolism in the worldly sanctuary of the Old Covenant. Verse nine confirms this as it says it “was a figure for the time then present”. It was a figure, or a picture pointing to a spiritual reality. What is that reality? Let’s read on.

Hebrews 9:10-11
¹⁰ Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.
¹¹ But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;

Jesus Christ is the reality!

He is our righteousness. He is our justification. He declared this Himself when He said…

John 14:6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Jesus does not point to the way but He IS the way. He is our righteousness. He is the Spiritual reality that the ordinances of the Old Covenant were pointing to. He fulfilled the law that we might be released from carnal ordinances and free to worship Him in spirit and in truth.

Brothers and sisters, it should encourage us to know that rather than follow the practices of the Old Covenant, which could not make the conscience perfect, we are living in a day where we may seek the spiritual truth that we may know God today.

Filed under: Category The Daily Desk | Tags: by Gil Reitsma